Parfumerie Générale: Interview with Pierre Guillaume
June 28th, 2006
I’m thrilled to bring you this interview with the nose behind Parfumerie Générale, Pierre Guillaume. But first, his official biography:
Pierre Guillaume was born in 1977. After studying Fine Chemistry, Pierre Guillaume joined the Laboratoire de Formulation Industrielle founded by his father, Christian. Here he worked in the Research and Development department and in particular was involved in the design of speciality products for cosmetics. Fascinated by the artistic expression of Chemistry in the form of Fine Perfumery, he enriched his traditional “Perfumer’s Organ” with a palette of varied ingredients drawn from the worlds of cosmetics and botanical research. Exploring new possibilities, he then applied the techniques and knowhow of industrial chemistry to the work of composing perfumes. Going a step further than the simple manipulation of ingredients in terms of quantity and formulation, he worked on the resulting material itself, and on the interaction of physical factors — light, temperature and ultrasound, to mention just a few. The result was Photo-affinage® or “photo-refining” which creates links between spicy and fruity notes, giving a perfume the “vibrant” character which is a sign of recognition for his creations. When he uses an unusual ingredient, this is solely for the contribution it makes to the olfactive construction of the perfume, not a simple marketing ploy. Today Pierre Guillaume has created 15 fragrances that he formulates in total creative and financial independence in his own workshops. Under the name “Parfumerie Générale,” echoing his own initials and saluting the Alternative Perfumery which he finds so inspiring, his perfumes are identified by a number so that they can be discovered free of any distinction or preconceived classification as men’s or women’s fragrances. PG by Pierre Guillaume is making its mark as an innovating spirit in the world of Perfumery, stimulating it and breaking its rules with invention yet respect. (Copyrights © Pierre Guillaume Parfumeur – February 2005. Marque déposée. N° national 05 3 345 328 www.parfumspierreguillaume.com)
1. How did Parfumerie Générale come about?
The meeting with Mr B., a Swiss businessman and major collector of art and perfumes was the deciding factor… We were introduced at a party and he fell in love with “Cozé” which at that time had been created for the exclusive use of my father and myself … I gave him a bottle and 3 weeks later he called me and dictated his first order: he had introduced the perfume to his circle of friends — businessmen and celebrities from many different fields — and they too had been instantly captivated. The following year saw the addition of female clients, as “Brûlure de Rose” and “Cuir Venenum” were created at his request… Faced with the necessity of designing packaging that didn’t resemble laboratory-type bottles, the choice of 20th century French industrial design immediately seemed to me the obvious solution, like an echo of my initials: “Parfumerie Générale” was born.
2. What is your perfume motto?
“Awakening new emotions…”
3. Are all Parfumerie Générale scents created by you?
To this day all the PGs are the result of my own work, I find it difficult to work as part of a team…However, I do intend to produce creations by young and as yet unknown perfume-makers to help them make their name: I want “Parfumerie Générale” to retain its image as an inventive and innovative company!
4. Have you had any perfume mentors?
I have just one friend in the world of perfume, that’s Francis (Kurkdjian), I also have a great fondness for the work of Alberto Morillas…
5. What are your favorite perfumes?
M7 by YSL, Miss Dior, Shalimar, Fracas……
6. Which of your creations are your favorite?
Always on to the next one …
7. Does Parfumerie Générale plan to export the line to the U.S.?
PG sells to the USA via its internet shop, we do not yet have any sales agreements in place with USA distributors, if a shop wants to work with us it has to be because they’ve fallen madly in love with our products, which is why we don’t go out looking for trade contacts: we want them to come to us.
8. Does your shop have a sample program?
All the perfumes are available in mini-bottles from the internet shop, www.boutique-parfumerie-generale.com
9. Parfumerie Générale perfumes have very unique names. How do you choose names for your creations?
The choice of a name is a difficult task, but also intellectually very stimulating, the important thing is to get across the essential elements of the story of a fragrance, the journey that it takes you on, while retaining a certain poetry and a style which reminds the public that this perfume belongs to a particular Company. Sometimes a name I have thought of has inspired the perfume: this happened with “Jasmin Prédateur” which is coming out in a few months’ time: I wanted a “feline” perfume, the image of a white tiger asleep on a bed of jasmine… revisited!
10. What piece of advice would you give to a perfume lover?
It’s about asking yourself what a perfume contributes to the development of an olfactory family – and about following your heart of course!
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23 Comments
1. Cait | June 29th, 2006 at 12:29 am
Simply great interview. I am of course on tenterhooks waiting for the Jasmin Predateur.
2. Elle | June 29th, 2006 at 7:52 am
Fantastic interview!! I absolutely must try M7 now and I’m hoping the Jasmin Predateur’s release is pushed up by a few months to…now? I’m surprised that Brulure de Rose came out so early yet was only released w/ the second group. Love that one…well, I am in love w/ all of that group.
3. Marina | June 29th, 2006 at 8:16 am
How wonderful, Ina!! Awesome!
So handsome and so tlaneted he is…
Jasmin Prédateur is such a great name, I cannot wait to try that one.
Thank yuo so much for the interview, it was a treat!!
4. Sara | June 29th, 2006 at 8:45 am
Great interview Ina–congrats! I cannot wait to try Jasmin Predateur!
5. Kelley | June 29th, 2006 at 9:05 am
Love the website and great interview! I have been interested in PG for a while and am looking forward to trying some of them. I was shopping online and found that the Perfume Shoppe in Vancouver is selling these fragrances. Hey, at least it’s closer than France!
theperfumeshoppe.com
I am going to go back and shop some more. Keep up the good work!
6. Christina H. | June 29th, 2006 at 9:10 am
Thanks for the wonderful interview! I love how they choose to be a little different with their scents and not churn out the same boring stuff that seems so prevalent today.
7. Ina | June 29th, 2006 at 9:31 am
Cait, thank you! I’m eager to try Jasmin Predateur, too.
8. Ina | June 29th, 2006 at 9:31 am
Elle, I adore Brulure de Rose and now must try M7!
9. Ina | June 29th, 2006 at 9:32 am
Marina, thank you! I second your sentiments.
10. Ina | June 29th, 2006 at 9:32 am
Sara, thank you! Me too! Glad to see you here.
11. Ina | June 29th, 2006 at 9:33 am
Kelley, thank you! The Perfume Shoppe doesn’t carry the entire line at the moment. Not sure if they will. I sure hope so!
12. Ina | June 29th, 2006 at 9:34 am
Christina, you’re welcome! I love the uniqueness of PG as well.
13. Patty | June 29th, 2006 at 10:04 am
Thanks, Ina! So far everything I have tried from this line has been interesting, even if some of them didn’t suit me.
Jasmine Predateur, how can anyone resist that? I need to get the first chapter of scents still.
14. Ina | June 29th, 2006 at 10:11 am
Patty, I agree with you. They’re all totally unique. A “feline” jasmine – man, I’m sold.
15. The Scented Salamander | June 29th, 2006 at 10:19 am
I found his comment regarding how a name or words may trigger the idea for a perfume very interesting. I think I understand that.
16. Ina | June 29th, 2006 at 10:21 am
Helene, yes, I find that fascinating as well.
17. Judith | June 29th, 2006 at 10:46 am
Wonderful interview, Ina! Thank you so much. And I, like everyone else, am completely taken with the name Jasmin Predateur. I can only hope the perfume lives up to it!
When I was in Vacouver (just before the second series came out), The Perfume Shoppe seemed to have all of the first series. Nasrin, the owner, is a great fan of PG, so I assume she will get the second series if she can.
18. Ina | June 29th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Thanks, Judith! I sure hope Nasrin gets them!
19. violetnoir | June 29th, 2006 at 11:22 am
I think I like this man a lot! I have not sampled any of the fragrances, but that new one, Jasmine Predateur, certainly caught my eye.
I knew I should have become a chemist. I did very well in chemistry in high school. Talk about 20-20 hindsight, lol!
He’s pretty cute, too.
:)
Hugs!
20. Ina | June 29th, 2006 at 11:33 am
Robin, you *must* sample them soon! Their samples are in 7 ml spray bottles and fairly affordable for what you get. He’s cute all right. ;D
21. Aromascope » Cozé &hellip | November 7th, 2006 at 12:42 am
[...] Parfumerie Generale rocked my world the minute I heard about the line earlier this year, and the rocking continues as I revisit some of the scents. The line was founded by Pierre Guillaume, a French chemist/perfumer, and consists of two installments or chapters (the Chapitre II was talked about earlier). Since it’s just recently become available in the U.S. through the lovely Luckyscent, I got curious to play with some of the scents from the Chapitre I. Curiosity killed the cat, as they say, and, even though it’s hardly had a dramatic effect on me (quite the opposite, actually), it has caused a certain amount of uneasiness over not being able to buy up the entire line immediately. So, here I am today, with a new lemming – Cozé. [...]
22. Aromascope » Créat&hellip | December 11th, 2006 at 2:39 am
[...] Création Privée No 47 (Private Collection) is the latest set of scents in the Parfumerie Generale line, created by Pierre Guillaume. While the previously reviewed Chapitre II was marked by kaleidoscopic variety, the newest additions possess a classic character, perhaps not as unique and striking but noteworthy nonetheless. I find the whole line fascinating and successfully innovative and highly recommend testing all the scents (which can be purchased in convenient sets of minis from their online shop). [...]
23. Aromascope » Perfum&hellip | August 21st, 2007 at 11:37 pm
[...] style. While I do not have equal appreciation for all Parfumerie Generale scents, I respect Pierre Guillaume’s approach, commitment, and taste. The news of every new Parfumerie Generale scent always brings me [...]