“My work has always involved the human body, its social identity, how it communicates, how it is represented. First through the study of architecture; then fashion design and creation; I was finally drawn away from the visual sphere, down to the closest intimacy with the skin. Here, passions of my childhood began to come back to me; carefree culinary and botanical experimentations, unburdened by social expectations, activities indulged in spontaneously, instinctively. This same childlike freedom accompanies my exploration of fragrance and perfume.
I created ‘Marlou’ so that, from an olfactory perspective, the body could take its place in society. This implies the acceptance and even ownership of faults, of imperfections inherent to that living object which is never wholly clean. ‘Marlou’ is a perfumery which intertwines with the body’s presence, embraces its flaws and creates it a new olfactory personality. This work is based around animal notes that blur an individual’s olfactory appearance, emanating trails of illusion. The body speaks, arousing the senses, sparking dialogue.
Why ‘Marlou’?
The word has a colorful history in the French language. At first it referred to a ‘pimp’, though few today know this archaic meaning. Later, ‘Marlou’ became the cunning, crafty lad who, beneath his shenanigans, hid an endearing side. Now used for children, the word evokes mischief, harmless devilment. For a long time, ‘Marlou’ was my own nickname. It has its own history and, like many things in life, conjures impressions of both the clean and the tainted.
Glass, cork, aluminum, uncoated paper, and as little plastic as possible: this is our simple formula. We favor that modest beauty which adds value to our perfume but not cost. Lovers of crafts, all cutting, printing, and assembly is also our own handiwork.
Our æsthetic is pragmatic, plain, understated: applied design with function in mind. Destined for disposal, all our materials biodegrade or can be recycled. Amber glass protects what it contains, avoiding the need for additives in the liquid. Like a medicine, the bottle is generic and informative, the contents unique and precious”.