ParfumPlus Arabia

mother was very modern and experimented with several fragrances, including fresh fragrances such as First by Van Cleef & Arpels or Fidji by Guy Laroche, to Mitsouko or For Her by Narciso Rodriguez. She loved Chypre notes. My father wore the original Paco Rabanne, Kouros, and Le Male, he now indulges in fragrances from my own collection. PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME HOW I PERCEIVE MY CREATIONS AND IF THERE’S A PROCESS I FOLLOW. But my approach to creation is always the same. Inspiration is the invisible part of creation. So far, my inspirations have been driven by culture, art, fashion, couture, and my own personal experiences and vision. Typically, creating a new fragrance takes up to 18 months. First, there is reflection during which I envision the creative territory I want to explore. At this stage it is about the purpose of the scent. Once I have gained my inspiration, I set out for the name. The fragrance name always comes before the scent. It sums up what I want to say, the emotions I feel and the story I want to tell. It’s like the title of a book or the name of a painting. Then I start writing the formula using raw material as words. Once I have a clarity on the name and where to go with my emotions, I create the formula in the lab. Although it is a team effort to manufacture and launch a product, the first creative steps are rather lonely. The heart of my inspiration is Paris. My travels take me away, but they also bring me back to Paris and its diverse population, to its monuments, the greys of its rooftops, and the bursts of magic as its golden spires puncture its incredible skyline. THE TOUGHEST QUESTION THAT I CAN’T EVER ANSWER IS WHICH OF MY OWN FRAGRANCES DO I ENJOY THE MOST. Each new fragrance is a creative challenge, a new story to tell and in the end, it has to become an ideal olfactory form. As a perfumer, the fragrances I have in mind for the future are always for me the most intriguing and appealing. In fact, the most exciting in life is always what lies ahead. So, I guess they are for me the most enjoyable, even if they are not created yet. P A R F U M P L U S 14