Nathalie Feisthauer has been cheerfully writing her new book of fragrances (not a chapter!) as an independent perfumer, since 2014! You might know her work reaching back to 1986, from the range of Azzaro, Cartier, and Versace while she was working for Givaudan, or drool over her niche fragrance creations as I do over the Putain des Palaces for Etat Libre de Orange (2006) for example, but let’s see what’s Nathalie doing here (in around 30 countries, to be precise), and now.
Jean Claude Ellena, by appearance only, created quite a buzz with his presence at Laboratorio Olfattivo’s stand at Esxence 20023. Yes, there were many perfumers present, more than ever before. And yes, they should be treated as stars of the show. It was fascinating to observe fans flocking around JCE, his contagious smile, and to finally grab a chance to interview him.
Three kinds of jasmine for Jasmin de Toscane! Indian Jasmine, Jasmine Sambac, and an accord portraying Jasmine Sambac Grand Duke of Tuscany variety (with a little help of headspace technology) plus a clever connection with Vetiver Gris, also composed by JC Herault for Jacques Fath – the hazelnut accord.
Rania Naim, the creative director, closes her eyes when she speaks about the inspiration behind this perfume. Here’s their story behind the perfume, perfumers’ take, and my review of Jasmin de Toscane, the newest addition to the Jacques Fath collection!
Pierre Benard Segu (Osmoart) managed to find some time in his quite busy schedule to answer my questions, for which I’m grateful!
My only disclaimer regarding this interview is this: as always, when my professor happens to teach with all of his/her heart and soul, sharing knowledge generously and with genuine love – I do fall in love. The most surprising thing for me is that after all these years – I fell in love with – chemistry! I have begun to see it as poetry!
Meet Pierre Benard Segu, and find out more about so many ways he lives, breathes, and shares his knowledge about perfumery!
“The Ghost Perfumer” is the true story of a seductive clothing empire heir – Olivier Creed – who brainwashed perhaps the world’s best perfumer into becoming his secret scent-creator for decades, nicking his byline for nothing but a few custom suits and turning that fragrant output into a company sold in 2020 for about $1 billion to the world’s largest asset manager – all of it amounting perhaps to the greatest con in luxury retail history. – Gabe Oppenheim
Gabe wrote a fascinating and breathtaking true story about people of perfume, art, relationships in the perfume industry, profit, fame, love, deceit, and here is my interview with him!
Born and raised in Grasse, Aurelien Guichard – coming from a family of perfumers for 7 generations and trained in the famous Givaudan School, is a perfumer signing close to one hundred creations prior to co-founding his own brand in 2019, amidst the Covid19 crisis.