Olfactive Studio

What do photography and perfumery have in common? Both capture a moment and its atmosphere. This is where contemporary art photography meets perfumery, bringing together the eye and the nose, as Celine Verleure sees it. She is the creator of a new niche fragrance line launched in 2011. With extensive experience in the fragrance industry, Celine first launched a blog about scents that had yet to be created, seeking inspiration and ideas from her readers. That is how the Olfactive Studio line was born. Olfactive Studio is a blend of modern art photography and the world of perfumery. First the name, then the scent: in a break with convention, Celine Verleure came up with the names of the fragrances first, then gave three different photographers the freedom to offer their interpretations of the same idea. Their photographs later served as inspiration for the fragrances and their compositions. The first three fragrances in the collection were inspired by self-portrait, darkroom and still life, and became the scents Autoportrait, Chambre Noire and Still Life. The relatively new brand Olfactive Studio currently has 18 fragrances in its collection. The earliest fragrance from the brand was created in 2011, and the most recent in 2019. These scents were created in collaboration with perfumers Nathalie Lorson, Dorothée Piot, Annick Menardo, Olivier Cresp, Jérôme Epinette, Sidonie Lancesseur, Mylène Alran, Clément Gavarry, Thomas Fontaine, Dora Baghriche, Bertrand Duchaufour and Dominique Ropion. Autoportrait The Autoportrait fragrance by Olfactive Studio is an Atzi oriental scent for women and men, launched in 2011. The nose behind this fragrance is Nathalie Lorson. The top notes are Elemi and Bergamot; the middle notes are Incense, Benzoin and Musk; the base notes are Virginia Cedar, Vetiver and oakmoss. It is suited to sunny autumn and spring days, has a moderate presence and lasts a reasonable amount of time on the skin. As mentioned, this fragrance was inspired by self-portrait. The new SEPIA collection is Olfactive Studio's latest collection. It comprises six fragrances, each inspired by a different raw material. The first trio, created by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour and inspired by landscapes photographed by Martin Hill, showcases Vanil, Or and a chypre accord, with Vanil Shot, Or Or and Chypre Shot. Duchaufour was also behind fragrances for Christian Dior, Amouage, Acqua di Parma and others. The second fragrance, by contrast, is a masterpiece by perfumer Dominique Ropion, inspired by three photographs by Roberto Greco. This Pirchoni fragrance brings scents together with visual worlds, with Iris Shot, Viyolet Shot and Rose Shot enhancing one another. Dominique Ropion has received wide recognition in perfumery. He won an award from the magazine Cosmetics in 2010, the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2012, and the International Fragrance Prize from Cosmetic Valley (formerly the François Coty France Prize) in 2008. Dominique Ropion received the title of Master Perfumer at IFF in 2018. At first glance, the bottle looks quite different from the previous collections, making it unique, yet it continues the line of the earlier collections. It is also wrapped in a leather covering in an earthy sienna shade. The cap is copper-toned ochre, like the metal, and a plaque is fitted below the bottle's neck. The color palette recalls sepia tones as seen in old photographs and their memories. Wrapping the bottles in leather, a noble, soft and warm material, makes them much more precious and elegant, and is certainly a new and interesting direction for the brand.