ParfumPlus Arabia

PP : SUSTAINABILITY IS INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT IN PERFUMERY. HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOUR CREATIONS REMAIN LUXURIOUS AND MEMORABLE WHILE EMBRACING ECO-CONSCIOUS PRACTICES? MB : Sustainability is one of the greatest responsibilities for perfumers today. It’s not just a trend but a shift in how we create. Eco-conscious practices mean reexamining every step: growing, harvesting, extracting raw materials, and honouring the people and environments behind them. It’s a journey of changing habits, continuously evolving toward mindful creation. The challenge is keeping fragrances luxurious and memorable while respecting the planet. True creativity thrives within constraints; by using sustainable ingredients innovatively, perfumes can smell beautiful and carry a deeper meaning, a promise to future generations that beauty and responsibility coexist. PP : GROWING UP SURROUNDED BY HERBS, FLOWERS AND CORIANDER IN BELGIUM, WHICH CHILDHOOD SCENTS CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE YOUR CREATIONS TODAY? MB : Belgium shaped my sensibilities. Aromatic herbs like basil, thyme and coriander remain influential. Flowers such as peony, rose, and linden evoke nostalgia and timeless elegance. And of course, chocolate and pralines, gourmand notes that align perfectly with current trends celebrating warmth and indulgence. Every perfume I create is a journey back to those early memories, weaving my childhood essence into fragrances that speak to the hearts of others. PP : YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THAI CULTURE AND MINDFUL HOBBIES LIKE GOLF AND WATERCOLOUR PAINTING HAVE CLEARLY SHAPED YOUR PERSPECTIVE. DO YOU FIND PARALLELS BETWEEN THESE PURSUITS AND YOUR PERFUMERY PROCESS? MB : Yes. Thai culture, golf, and watercolours all cultivate peace of mind, presence and balance, qualities essential in creating a perfume. They also reflect the harmony between science and art. When a creation doesn’t spark the right feelings, I refine it until structure and soul are in harmony. This reflects Iberchem’s philosophy of ‘creativity through science.’ Science provides tools, while creativity gives poetry and emotional depth. My role is to merge the two so every perfume feels masterfully crafted and deeply moving. PP : IF YOU HAD TO CAPTURE YOUR OLFACTORY SIGNATURE, ‘PERFORMANCE AND HEDONISM’ IN ONE FRAGRANCE, WHICH NOTES WOULD YOU CHOOSE, AND WHY? MB : I wouldn’t just choose ingredients, but focus on how they are woven together, like musical notes in different rhythms and harmonies. A ballad and a hard rock song may use the same chords, but the experience is entirely different. To express performance, notes like woody/amber, galbanum, or opulent tuberose work well. For hedonism, I like peony, neroli, modern musks and pink grapefruit. The soul of a fragrance lies in balance: sharp and soft, light and shadow, discipline and desire. It should feel like a tightly choreographed dance, swinging between restraint and release. This is where the true signature emerges, not from what is used, but how it is orchestrated. P A R F U M P L U S 38