Pierre Guguen worked with perfume by day and played in a band at night. L'Orchestre began with his wish to bring those two parts of his life together. In his conversation with Divinity, he recalled a concert where the audience could smell a fragrance made for the song they were hearing. This is an editorial summary of that conversation.
Fragrance by day, a band at night
Guguen first learned about perfume creation through internships during his studies, and later worked with Comme des Garçons. In Barcelona, he played in a band alongside his job. Music and perfume were both part of his daily life.
A perfumer friend helped him create a scent for one of the band’s songs. They sprayed it during a concert, and the audience’s response encouraged him to develop the idea. It became L'Orchestre, a brand where perfumers and musicians work on the same project.
L'Orchestre – Piano Santal
Turning a memory into a collaboration
Guguen says a new perfume usually begins with a memory. It might be a trip, a concert or a place whose smell has stayed with him. He shares that memory first with a perfumer, then with a musician.
It matters to him that the memory comes from his own experience. A perfume need not smell literally of a musical instrument. The connection might be a place, a material or a mood he remembers.
L'Orchestre – Cocktail Appalaches
Why he returns to Piano Santal
Asked about his favourite fragrance, he chooses Piano Santal. He never tires of its milky, woody scent. He credits perfumer Jean Jacques and musician Edouard Ferlet for its creation.
If soft, milky woods appeal to you, Piano Santal is worth trying. The collection also includes Cocktail Appalaches and Encens Asakusa; you can explore their notes on the perfume pages.
L'Orchestre – Encens Asakusa
What Guguen wants to keep
Trust in his collaborators and creative freedom recur in Guguen’s answers. When asked to describe L'Orchestre in a few words, he chooses “Trust. Freedom. Passion.”
The official L'Orchestre website also introduces the musicians involved in creating individual perfumes.
L'Orchestre – Bouquet Encore
More perfumes and founders’ stories
You can explore the perfumes in the L'Orchestre collection at Divinity. For more stories about the people who create them, read our conversation with Sora Dora’s Quentin Dorado and Tomáš Ric’s account of Pigmentarium.
