Page 56 - OCEAN BLUE - SPRING 2015
P. 56
ART & DESIGN
Jean-Claude Ellena
A PERFUME POET WHO
CREATES OLFACTORY POEMS
T he rarefied world of perfume,
Jean-Claude Ellena, the Parfumeur
Exclusif at Hermès, is exceptionally
famous. In fact he is one of the few true
celebrities, a Nose, in the world of scent.
In his current position, Ellena gets little to no
direction about new fragrances and he faces no
deadlines. A perfume is ready when he decides
it is and consists of what he says it should.
The cost of ingredients is no object. It sounds
ideal but, qualifies Ellena at Hermès Paris
headquarters, “Liberty has a high price and
there is no one to blame but him if a fragrance
fails.”
Ellena was born in Grasse, which is lauded
as the world’s perfume capital. He is often
called a perfume revolutionary and rock star.
He created Van Cleef & Arpels’ First, as well
as Bulgari’s Parfumée Eau au Thé Vert, and
Sisley’s Eau de Campagne. His recently released
unisex perfume, Cuir d’Ange is inspired by
French novelist Jean Giono. It took Ellena
ten years of laboratory trials for him to decide
that this Hermessence collection creation
was ready. Cuir d’Ange features animalistic,
leather, smoke and violet accords.
Photos: Stephanie Tetu & Courtesy Hermès
“A woman’s perfume tells more about her than her handwriting.”
- Christian Dior
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