Antoine Maisondieu had to seek his path for a while, through a process that nourished his love for the creative world. He found that the art of perfumery allowed him to express his intuitions and translate his sensitivity. He now works for "Comme des Garçons", where he has found an outlet for creativity that also matches his singularity.

What is your motto?

I don’t have a motto; I just stay faithful to myself!

You were born in Grasse, the perfume capital. What is your oldest olfactory memory?

My father and grandfather both worked in the perfume industry, at Charabot. When I was a child I would go there to see them and I would play with little wooden towers that held samples of Bulgarian Rose. Very good memories indeed!

Why did you choose to quit the legal world for the perfume industry?

I was already getting bored after my first year in law school and I was feeling more attracted to the artistic professions, such as cinema or photography. The perfume industry seemed too obvious a choice since my father was already worked there, and I had always declined to take that path. I thought it was less creative. That was up until the day when I accepted an internship in perfumery, and I realised that it was in fact very creative.

What are your favourite ingredients?

I love citrus notes, lemon and bergamot. Fragrances in bright colours make me happy and I really appreciate the light and ephemeral side of citrus. This is also due to the fact that I’m from the south [of France] and I that I love Italy (Capri, Sicily). Generally, I find these notes to be very elegant scents. I also like orange blossom and jasmine. The better things are, the more I like to treat these notes with simplicity.

What are the other senses that inspire you?

What inspire me are the emotions that are evoked by each of my senses, even if the sense of taste is, to me, the least inspiring. I find that sensuality, in the sense of “opening ones heart” - to really sense the world around us, is one of the most beautiful things in life!

How do perceive exceptional (niche) perfumery today as opposed to traditional perfumery?

I’ve often found niche perfumery to be boring and overpriced, with a few exceptions (such as Comme des Garçons, L’Artisan Parfumeur, etc.). I like the idea of perfumery that remains accessible and reasonably priced.

You are one of the perfume makers at “Comme des Garçons”. What is your olfactory common thread, your signature touch?

Originality. A different vision of beauty that does not have to be 100% perfect and consensual. A different touch. Christian Astuguevieille is the common thread; he is a real artist who always has new and original ideas.

What is your next olfactory project?

To express a new femininity in the perfume. Floral. Suspense!