Atelier Cologne co-founder Christophe Cervasel says the perfect scents are inspired by moments
Parisian fragrance house Atelier Cologne has been creating long-lasting and luxurious perfumes since 2009. Lane Crawford introduced the brand in Hong Kong earlier, and now the brand has set up a store at IFC Mall. Famous for its signature “Cologne Absolue”, a series featuring natural and blended scents, the brand’s Hong Kong store offers in-house leather case customisation service to complement the bottles. Atelier Cologne co-founder Christophe Cervasel talked to STYLE about the opening of their first store in Hong Kong and more.
Q: Tell us how Atelier Cologne sets itself apart from its competition?
A: In 2006, almost nine years ago, after [my wife Sylvie] and I had worked together for a year, she told me, “Christophe, I want to do something else. I want to realise my dream, which is to create a maison de parfum dedicated to cologne … to create the first cologne that lasts.”
That’s when we [created] Cologne Absolue. We have two things that are very different – the first one is the concentration. We have a pure perfume concentration – 15%, 18% and 20%, depending on the scent. We use a combination of the best essential oils, which is not always the case with other colognes. The traditional cologne usually has a low concentration – less than 5% – and the rest is alcohol. When you spray, it’s good but it doesn’t last.
Secondly, we use ingredients of the highest quality, which is usually what brands do for perfumes, but not for the eu de toilette. We have this [unique] formula – especially in Asia – we are really developing fast. A citrus-based scent with a lot of personality and long-lasting power is what I think that Hong Kong, Korean or Japanese customers are looking for, and even Chinese customers.
Q: Can you give us some tips on choosing the perfect scent?
A: All our perfumes are inspired by our moments in life. It’s good to read the story behind [the scent]. For example, Jasmin Angélique is about a man organising a scavenger hunt and secret messages to his fiancée; and the messages take her from place to place. The last place she goes is somewhere she doesn’t know – a roof deck on a terrace. When she opens the door, it’s full of Jasmine – the scent is very strong – and the man is on the terrace with a ring to propose to her. So the tip is – you should really know the story. If you like the story, you will like the scent. The second tip is – when you have decided on two or three that you like, you need to try it on your skin. We work with the best natural materials and essential oils, [the scent] might change on your skin. And because of that, it will become unique to you. Another tip is to change perfumes. Have three or four that you like, and change them [from time to time]. If you always use the same perfume, your nose gets used to it … We all have a lifestyle in which we are not always exactly the same, so we think you should have a different perfume for different occasions.
