VI
EN
Pierre Guillaume, owner of the two perfume houses Phaedon and Pierre Guillaume, with much-loved fragrances such as L'Eau Phaedon and Liqueur Charnelle, doesn't consider himself a perfumer, but rather an alchemist. According to him, oneperfumer(The perfumer) simply makes the bottles of perfume, but anotherachemist- The alchemist, that's much more complicated.
An alchemist's perfume not only smells good, he...mix-matchThe alchemist Pierre Guillaume combines and blends artificial and natural chemical compounds in a way that does not conflict with or harm the skin of his clients. His fragrance creations must also be legal, meaning they do not violate the laws and regulations of fragrance associations and organizations such as IFF and IFRA. These bodies are responsible for monitoring fragrance manufacturers to ensure they use raw materials that do not harm nature and that they use fragrance ingredients within safe limits (for example, cinnamon, if used in excessive amounts, can cause allergic reactions and skin rashes).
Pierre Guillaume was born in 1977 in Clemont-Ferrand, France. His father was a renowned independent chemist, and he inherited the family business, continuing his father's illustrious career while developing himself into a respected perfumer in the world of fragrances. Pierre Guillaume's "introductory" fragrance, Coze, is inspired by his father, a connoisseur of wine and tobacco. Of course, the artist doesn't simply rely on childhood inspiration. When asked about the six senses—hearing, sight, smell, taste, touch, and feeling—Pierre Guillaume unhesitatingly stated that, for him, sight is the most important. Therefore, Pierre Guillaume is particularly passionate about travel. On his journeys, Pierre Guillaume collects rare local aromatic ingredients and records what he sees through scent. This allows fragrance lovers to travel with Pierre Guillaume through his scents—a unique and evocative travel diary.
1. Indochine
Europeans, especially the French, love ancient Asian culture; however, few have truly explored and understood it. Pierre Guillaume embarked on a pilgrimage along the Mekong River, visiting Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Upon returning to France, he compiled *Indochine*, meaning Indochina. *Indochine* is fragrant with the scent of the setting sun, gently, simply, and peacefully caressing the thanaka trees (a traditional wood that can be ground into powder for traditional makeup), reflecting the clear color and taste of honey. The scent is both strange and familiar, whispering into the mind a gentle and affectionate aroma of honey and wood.
Along with Indochine, a scent of love from Indochina, Pierre Guillaume also has scented candles named Saigon.
2, Isparta
Isparta, Türkiye, is famous for its summer persimmons. In the early morning of summer, when the persimmons are just beginning to bloom, they are harvested and distilled to extract the essential oil. Spartan summer persimmons have an intensely fragrant effect, a distinctive blend of freshness and immaturity that is unmistakable; on one hand, they are juicy and red like freshly ripened wild berries, and on the other, they possess a deep, profound, wild mountain persimmon scent.
Pierre Guillaume loves the scenery and rhythm of this city and created Isparta. Belonging to the rose theme, a familiar fragrance note, however, thanks to the use of Isparta rose essential oil combined with agarwood, we have a contemporary Rose-Oud fragrance that is ethereal, mysterious, emotionally rich, and unique.
3. Aomassai and Noir Okoume
Aomassai and Noir Okoume are two fragrances that celebrate the African continent, a destination that Pierre Guillaume loves and is always captivated by.
Aomassai celebrates South African culture and its produce: cocoa and coffee. The fragrance is a blend of roasted nuts intertwined with ebony wood, creating a unique and stimulating coffee-chocolate aroma. The scent is deep, vibrant, and undeniably captivating.
While Aomassai transports us to an irresistible South Africa thanks to its cocoa and coffee specialties, Noir Okoume is the fragrance of African heritage. Deep in the equatorial forests, ancient tribes with their unique wood carvings are gradually disappearing. Pierre Guillaume had the opportunity to admire and interact with the people who created Africa's precious heritage, and gave birth to Noir Okoume, celebrating and reminding us of the beauty and diverse aesthetics of the indigenous peoples who exist in isolation on this planet. The fragrance is created from a special African wood, its resin, combined with tea and sandalwood, evoking a sense of profound wilderness, yet also a strangely free and tranquil feeling.
4. Rouge Avignon
Rouge Avignon is part of Pierre Guillaume's Phaedon fragrance project. The scent is recognized as a contemporary fragrance creation with an intriguing, vibrant, intoxicating red wine effect that is highly appreciated. Therefore, it's no surprise that the fragrance includes the word "Rouge," meaning red.
In fact, Rouge Avignon is not just the intoxicating scent of ripe wine. Pierre Guillaume created this fragrance inspired by Avignon. Avignon, France, is an ancient and sacred place with many glorious historical monuments. Visiting Avignon, amazed by the Gothic beauty of the Papal Palace, Pierre Guillaume created the mysterious and gothic fragrance Rouge Avignon. Rouge Avignon evokes the timeless and enchanting atmosphere of the ancient city with notes of rose, black truffle, and cocoa beans.
5. Musc Maori
Musc Maori is perhaps Pierre Guillaume's most famous fragrance. This chocolate-based scent is beloved by both men and women – those with a sweet tooth. The interesting thing about Musc Maori is that on each person's skin, it sometimes appears rich in dark chocolate, and other times smooth and delicate like white chocolate. Whether dark or white, it's sweet and genuine, like first love.
In fact, with *Musco Maori*, Pierre Guillaume takes travelers to Australia, the world's most linguistically and ethnically rich land, and the Maori are one of its most "original" ethnic groups. Australian cuisine and culture are deeply influenced by the Maori. You might find the Maori less unfamiliar through their famous animated film.MoanaFrom Walt Disney. The Maori people are famous for their art of tattooing. Inspired by Maori tattoos, Pierre Guillaume uses musk, a fragrance note known as the "second skin," combined with woods and spices to create an incredibly authentic and addictive chocolate scent.
Above are five fragrances – five beautiful and memorable journeys from Pierre Guillaume's many travels. If you still want to wander, we can take a road trip across America on a Harley with the leather-based fragrance Metal Hurlant, then visit ancient Greece with the resinous scent Myrrhiad, explore India with the tuberose fragrance Tubereuse Couture, and enjoy the breezy Mediterranean summer with the sparkling floral and fruity scent Pluie de So leil...
Are you ready to take a deep breath for the next leg of your journey?
