ThisThatBeauty Reviews: Olfactive Studio Perfumes

Which came first, the perfume or the perfume photography? If you answered the perfume, you  obviously have  never experienced Olfactive Studio Perfumes. Until now, I’ve seen fragrances developed, followed by photography and ad campaigns and other visual media created based on the story being told by the fragrance.  Olfactive Studios flipped the script on perfume creation in a very real way by starting with the photograph and creating a scent that captures the essence of the image and essentially a moment in time.

Olfactive Studio perfumes

In 2011 Olfactive Studio launched with 3 unisex fragrances; Autoportrait, Chambre Noire, and Still Life. Blanche followed in 2012 and Flashback in 2013.  With each fragrance the olfactory essence, or perfumers proof,  of the photograph is captured by master perfumers.

Autoportrait

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The image inspiration behind this musky powdery scent was captured by Luc Laporte and the fragrance was developed by  Nathalie Lorson. Notes include bergamot, elemi, Benzoin Siam, incense, masks, oak moss, cedar and vetiver.

Chambre Noire

CHAMBRE_NOIRE_300

Photographer Clemence Rene-bazin is the eye behind Chambre Noire. Her image expertly captures two scenes, one of solitude of being alone in a hotel  room but with promise of discovery of something beyond the glass window. The scent was created by Dorothee Piot with a sensual spiciness that could have originated from the Far East. Notes include schinus, jasmine, papyrus, violet, incense, prune, sandalwood, patchouli, musk, vanilla and leather accord.

Still Life

STILL_LIFE_300

Perfumer, Dora Arnaud, is the nose behind Still Life.  The young perfumer uses a trio of peppers (pink, black and  sichuan) as top notes for this very energetic fragrance. Other notes include star anise, Gabanum, dark rum,  cedar wood  and ambrox. The image that inspired the creation of this fragrance is a playful arrangement of pictures of  disco balls  (Yes, so pictures within pictures. I feel like I’m in the Matrix.).

Lumière Blanche

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For perfumer Sidone Lancesseur, Lumière Blanche is a “fragrance with beautifully contrasting hot and cold notes”. Sidone uses notes of  cardamon star anise and cinnamon to give the opening of the fragrance a light inviting feel.  It is balanced with notes of iris, almond milk and cashmere wood and anchored by cedarwood, sandalwood, tonka bean and white musk. The end result is mellow and calming. Like the fragrance, the  photographic inspiration capture by Massimo Vitali has an equally conflicting, yet harmonious feel.

Flashback

Flash Back olfactive studio

Perfumer Oliver Cesp took the image created by photographer Segretier Laurent and created a fragrance that is warm, inviting and delicious. Flashback  will take you on a journey back to  your childhood where you  might find yourself sitting impatiently waiting to sink your teeth in a warm apple rhubarb treat. It starts with notes of  rhubarb, grapefruit and orange and closes with warm notes of vetiver, cedar, amber and musk. Pepper and granny smith apple give this fragrance a perfect balance and make it my favorite from all 5 Olfactive Studio fragrances so far.

After seeing the images and experiencing the Olfactive Studio Perfumes, I sometimes see a  picture  and ask myself “How would this moment smell?”  This is something I never did before. Is it normal? Maybe not. However, it is definitely interesting.

Shop Olfactive Studio Perfumes

 

Find Christene, @ChristeneCarr, on  Twitter,  Instagram,  Tumblr,  Pinterest  and her  blog

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1 Comment

  • Hi Christene,

    I would really love to try those perfumes. I am actually thinking of things to be given to my family for this holiday season. I think this is the perfect item for them. Glad that I have found your post.

    – Jeanne

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