The Founder

“I want to create universally good fragrances, the kind that will go down in history. That is the fundamental premise. I believe they emerge where the well-crafted structures of established major houses meet the newness of independent, so-called niche fragrances. Scents like these will still be around ten to thirty years from now.” — Yuta Watanabe, creator and founder of çanoma

“The body should be experienced as a garden, with each of its parts understood as a plant that gives off scent. These smells are a mirror of our soul.” — Alessandro Gualtieri, founder of Orto Parisi

“Perfume is power. It is the power to express who you are, change your mood, and leave your mark wherever you go. With Perroy, I wanted to make that power accessible: playful, bold, and beautifully made.” — Arnaud Poulain, founder

“Africa has held a key place in the perfume industry for centuries. But there are not many people like us, perfumers and founders. We are trying to create something truly special that resonates with consumers both within and beyond the continent.” — Etienne Haddad, co-founder

“An iconic fragrance doesn't just smell good. It haunts.” (An iconic fragrance does more than simply smell good. It possesses the mind and will not let go.) — Michael Partouche, also known as Dr. Mike, founder of Room 1015

“Today, Sora Dora, the perfume brand named after this Portuguese immigrant, has built its reputation across four generations. These perfumes hold all the power and emotion of the journey of a man named Antoine Soradora. Each of his bottles contains all his upheavals and tenderness. Experience, through fragrance, the presence of this man who had the courage to leave his homeland and loved ones behind to realize his dreams.” — From the brand’s official story

“Developing the fragrance is the most important part of the product. I am confident in my visual sense, but equally confident in the sense of smell I have trained throughout my life.” — Ulrich Lang

“We often say that we were born from a drop of wax and grew up in a drop of perfume. From our family, we learned the old artisan skills. As children, it was normal to distinguish every kind of smell and play games guessing scents while blindfolded. Only when we grew up did we realise that we had been learning the perfumer’s craft, passed down through three generations.” — Tiziana Terenzi (from an interview with L’Officiel Monaco)

“Every event gives me an excuse to create.” — Marcel Rochas

“I created Chloé because, although I thought couture was beautiful, I also felt it was a little old-fashioned and artificial. I believed that beautiful, high-quality things should be seen on women walking in the street.” — Gaby Aghion, founder of Chloé