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For those in the know, when it comes to a signature scent, there is no greater flex than wearing a one-of-a-kind fragrance. Henry Jacques is one such haute parfumerie for those seeking an exceptional personalised creation.
Since the maison launched in 1975, it has specialised in the creation of sur- mesure, or tailor-made, perfumes and is one of the most highly regarded bespoke perfume houses in the industry today. More than a simple blend or a cursory tweak of an existing formulation, sur- mesure perfumes are meticulously constructed in order to revive fond memories or evoke cherished emotions in a single whiff.
It’s no surprise why the maison’s chief executive officer, Anne-Lise Cremona, likens her craft to fashion’s rarefied haute couture apparel. “In my vision of things, haute perfumery must come close to the criteria of haute couture. These criteria include, for example, handmade production in one’s own workshop in France,” she says.
“We also use multiple skills — often ancestral — many crafts, and most importantly, precious and rare materials and components. Another criterion that means a lot to me is the ability to create a bridge, a link between the past and the future, and to constantly reinvent oneself.”
Commissioning such a bespoke potion comes with a starting price tag of $133,000 and is a process that will typically take between four and six months. It begins with a personalised consultation featuring a “maze of scents” to map out an individual’s olfactory personality.
The experts in the maison’s laboratory in the south of France will then proceed to formulate three different scents using preserved ancestral methods of French high perfumery.
Once Cremona has personally given her seal of approval, these scents are shared with the client. The house says, in almost every case to date, the client’s dream perfume is discovered within these perfumes. Otherwise, it’s back to the drawing board until “perfection is achieved”.
Not convinced yet? Check out the brand’s In All Intimacy collection of three perfumes, which began as a bespoke perfume project for tennis superstar Rafael Nadal and his wife Maria Perello.
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Following the creation of their personalised scents — two for Nadal and one for Perello — the tennis champ was so enamoured by the perfume-making process that he allowed the scents to be sold commercially. “It is a unique moment in their lives where they made the choice to slightly open their door to reveal themselves through the story of the creation of their perfume,” observes Cremona.
She remains tight-lipped on whether or not there will be more partnerships in the future, saying instead, “We have, for nearly 50 years, created many perfumes for ‘recognised figures’ that have never been put forward. Rather, [this is] a way of highlighting this activity which has remained hidden for a long time. The In All Intimacy collection is a great way to move ahead and share our beautiful profession, sense of beauty, fine craftsmanship, and our brand with a greater audience.”
