Nathalie Grainger - Quintessentially Perfume

Published by Quintessentially Publishing Ltd.
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London W1D 3BR
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Copyright 2010 Quintessentially Publishing Ltd.
All rights Reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any forms or by any means, electronics, mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise expect for the purpose of review, without written permission of the publisher.

ISBN 9780955827068
Printed and bound in the UK by Solutions In Ink Limited.

Design by:
Quintessentially Design Ltd.
10 Carlisle Street
London W1D 3BR
Tel: +44 (0)207 758 3331
www.quintessentiallydesign.com

QUINTESSENTIALLY PERFUME

Introduction

Im very proud to introduce you to Quintessentially Publishings first fragrance title, Quintessentially Perfume. This book will take you on a journey of discovery revealing the stories, details and inspiration behind a selection of world class perfumers, their brands and the creations they offer us.

My fascination with perfume started very young and quickly evolved into a full blown and life-long love affair. I have been fortunate to work with a wide variety of perfumers and creators over the last decade and to gain understanding and knowledge that has inspired me in my consulting work and the creation of this book.

Quintessentially Publishings dedication to luxurious services and products continues today with the perfume brands and houses featured within these pages. Quintessentially Perfume presents a rich and varied cross section of collections that cover different styles and approaches; brands whose appeal has gained mainstream recognition, as well as those who have deliberately sought to retain their niche identity. They hail from all corners of the world: France whose southern town of Grasse has long been considered the world capital of perfume Italy, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Austria, the United States and of course the UK, which boasts some of the worlds most respected and influential perfume creators.

These featured perfume brands share an exceptional quality and beauty in their fragrances; a sense of innovation, a desire to honour the most precious raw materials and a ceaseless quest to captivate their followers at all times. Their works are inspired by emotions and tell moving, heartfelt stories. These pages showcase and applaud their merits and achievements; highlight their enduring relevance and reveal the role they play in the future of the perfume business.

In an age when instant response is the order of the day; when technology is omnipresent and we have witnessed the demise of face to face interaction, it seems vital to re-introduce some fundamentally human feeling into our everyday lives. Since the beginning of time our sense of smell has been key to our existence warning us of danger and leading us to food. In the past perfume has been used to hide less pleasant smells by evoking thoughts of freshness and cleanliness. But fragrance also has the ability to play with our emotions, to stir up thoughts of love and romance, to revive distant memories and significant moments. It seems apt to cherish this sense which has direct access to what makes us special: our heart and our brain. And who better to turn to than the worlds renowned experts and creators documented right here? I hope you enjoy this celebration as much as I have.

NATHALIE GRAINGER

Photo by Paul Raeside

Foreword

Fragrance is the perfect example of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. Hopefully this book will create a chink in a door that encourages you to step further in to explore the breadth of its creativity, the groundbreaking scents, the beauty of the bottles, the incredible artwork, the erudite penmanship, the raw materials, the places where the materials are sourced. Each aspect of perfumery is vast; each hope and dream huge.

I was utterly delighted when Quintessentially asked me to be Creative Advisor for this book. We drew up a list of some of the houses which represent the diversity of perfumery, and in their own ways have shaped the olfactory universe. We gathered together journalists who have distinctive voices, a point of view and a thorough understanding of what makes us, the brand and a scent tick. The result is a fantastic, eclectic melting pot of modern perfumery. Each of the houses represented has a very specific story to tell; the one constant passion.

We wanted to create a book which looked at perfumery from different perspectives that of the perfumer, the house, the owner, and the journalist. We wanted to create a book which looked at the old and the new, the large and the small. In doing so we hoped to create a book like no other; that is as eclectic as the industry itself.

As the great perfumer Edmond Roudnitska said, The more we penetrate odours, the more they end up possessing us. They live within us and become an integral part of us....

We hope you like the book we have created.

Roja Dove Perfumer

ROJA DOVE

PERFUME THROUGH THE YEARS