Born in Grasse, the home of perfumery, and the daughter of a chemist at the fragrance house Roure (Now, Givaudan), perfumery seems like a natural path in life. But Nathalie Lorson was a trailblazer with little to no women in the industry in the 80s when she started out.
While distinguishing between smells may be harder for the general population, Lorson’s Grasse upbringing made her quite the natural at it. She went on to learn the profession at the Roure Bertrand Dupont perfumery school, beginning the journey of great contributions to the world of fragrances.
Career
After graduating from the Roure Bertrand Dupont perfumery school in1982, she continued as a perfumer at Roure (now Givaudan), the very company she accompanied her father to as a child. She worked with Roure until 1987.
After Roure, she went on to IFF (International Flavors and Fragrances), where she was the VP Senior Perfumer. After 13 years at the IFF, she moved on to Firmenich in 2000, where she continues to be Master Perfumer to this day along with fellow legends of perfumery Olivier Cresp, Honorine Blanc, Alberto Morillas, and Marie Salamagne.
Her first creation in the world of fine fragrances was a fresh floral named Romeo for Romeo Gigli.
Style and Philosophy
In the eternal debate about whether perfumery is an art of a science, Lorson believes it is a craft. She compares her work as a perfumer to digging for gold, stating she looks for gold nuggets and while the nuggets are rare, the gold dust is plenty.
She follows French poet, journalist, and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s wisdom of perfection:
“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing else to add but when there is nothing else to take away.”
Adapted to perfumery, this philosophy gives way to minimalism and the removal of anything that isn’t absolutely necessary for the perfection of a scent profile, something reflected in her well-rounded, harmonious creations.
She prefers to work with musky notes, vetiver, rose, patchouli, vanilla, and pepper, giving us minimalist yet sophisticated fragrances.
Creations
Of her few hundred spectacular creations, it is difficult to choose the most notable, but we tried anyway…
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium
Her most popular creation is Black Opium, a group effort with her Firmenich team of Marie Salamagne, Honorine Blanc, and Olivier Cresp. The fragrance offers a deep and delicious coffee with white floral and nutty notes perfect for the winter.
Lalique Encre Noire
Encre Noir is an ode to vetiver, the perfume a mysterious, woody, earthy classic that changed the interpretation of the star ingredient in perfumery forever. It turned vetiver smooth to deliver an experience that is both mindblowing yet minimalist, in-line with her philosophy.
Mugler Alien Goddess
In Alien Goddess, she takes the sparkling sweetness of coconut water and pairs it with a creamy yet airy vanilla and the cosy cashmeran accord. Creamy, powdery and magical, this fragrance lives up to the Goddess in its name.
Find Nathalie Lorson’s creations and more at V Perfumes, your go-to perfume shop in Dubai. Shop at the best prices in the UAE and Gulf region and don’t miss out on exclusive offers online and in-store.
