Creators

Born in Cannes and trained in Grasse, François Demachy spent twenty-two years at Chanel before becoming Christian Dior's principal nose in 2006. For fifteen years he defined the house's olfactory identity, from Sauvage to the Collection Privée. He retired in 2021, succeeded by Francis Kurkdjian.

«When I create a perfume, I flout technical constraints, schedules, fashions, and trends.»

The son of Jacques Polge, Olivier took over Chanel's olfactory creation in 2013 after training in Grasse and working at Firmenich and IFF. Before joining Chanel, he composed the original Dior Homme (2005) and co-created fragrances that are now icons for other houses, from La Vie Est Belle to Flowerbomb.

«Every Chanel fragrance should feel inevitable, as if it had always existed.»

Trained at Roure, Jacques Polge led Chanel's olfactory creation for 37 years. He created the entire Chance family — Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, Eau Fraîche, and Eau Tendre — plus Coco Mademoiselle and Allure Homme Sport, before handing the role to his son Olivier in 2015.

«A perfume should have the lightness of an idea and the solidity of a memory.»

Born in Seville in 1950 and trained in Geneva, Alberto Morillas is one of the most prolific noses in modern perfumery. In 1996 he created Acqua di Giò for Giorgio Armani, founding the aquatic fragrance genre. Winner of the Prix François Coty in 2003, his catalogue spans CK One, Daisy, and dozens of Versace and Carolina Herrera references.

«A good perfume should evoke a memory before it describes a scent.»

Trained in Grasse, Dominique Ropion debuted at 27 with Givenchy's Ysatis. Considered one of the most decorated living perfumers (Prix François Coty 2008, Master Perfumer 2018), his catalogue includes Flowerbomb, Portrait of a Lady, and — alongside Olivier Polge — Lancôme's La Vie Est Belle.

«A formula is polished over months; an emotion is created in an instant.»

At 24, Francis Kurkdjian composed Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Male (1995), one of the best-selling men's fragrances in history. In 2015 he launched Baccarat Rouge 540 under his own maison. He also authored the entire Burberry Her family. In 2021 he succeeded François Demachy at Christian Dior.

«Perfume is the only luxury you wear that no one can see.»

An award-winning French perfumer, Quentin Bisch is the signature behind Jean Paul Gaultier's current Le Male and Le Beau lines, and — alongside Louise Turner — Carolina Herrera's Good Girl and Bad Boy. His work with Parfums de Marly (Delina, Valaya) cemented him as one of the most influential noses of his generation.

«Good or bad, every woman contains both — that contrast is the fragrance.»

A British perfumer trained via Givaudan, Louise Turner has created for Dior, Gucci, Mugler, and Roberto Cavalli over nearly thirty years. She co-authored, with Quentin Bisch, Carolina Herrera's Good Girl and Bad Boy, and composed Tom Ford's Lost Cherry.

«A memorable fragrance always hides a small contradiction.»

A French perfumer famous for Dolce&Gabbana's Light Blue and Mugler's Angel, Olivier Cresp has composed fragrances for houses as varied as Versace, Dolce&Gabbana, Givenchy, and Kenzo across more than three decades at Firmenich.

«Summer isn't a season, it's an accord.»

Olivier Creed, sixth generation to lead the house founded in 1760, created Aventus in 2010 together with his son Erwin and perfumer Jean-Christophe Hérault. Inspired by the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, it became the most influential niche launch of the 21st century.

«Elegance never goes out of fashion; neither does good taste.»

Frank Voelkl composed Santal 33 for Le Labo in 2011, inspired by the American cowboy by the fire under indigo skies; it became the 'cult secret' of a whole generation. Eleven years later he composed Mod Blush for Ariana Grande.

«I wanted a scent that smelled like a place, not a product.»

A third-generation Grasse perfumer, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud has composed every Louis Vuitton fragrance in-house since the line launched in 2016 — a rare case of exclusive authorship in contemporary high perfumery.

«A travel fragrance should smell like a place, not a suitcase.»

A veteran French perfumer at Robertet, Michel Almairac co-authored the gasoline/violet-leaf accord of Dior's Fahrenheit (1988) and composed Starwalker for Montblanc in 2005, as well as Miss Dior Chérie and YSL Cinéma.

«Wood is memory; spice is character.»