A Rose, a Perfumer, an Artist

The rose is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. For Mémoire de Roses, perfumer Christophe Raynaud has captured an early rose in its purest forms. The artist Guillaume Sardin reveals its enveloping facet illustrated by climbing rose vines embracing Paris.

Mandarin
Musk
Rose

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The Botanist's Rose

Jean Laporte enjoyed exploring the splendor of the rose in his Jardin du Parfumeur in Mézilles, a haven of peace populated by rose gardens: oriental roses and botanical roses. Among a selection of 700 different varieties, the perfumery sector elects the most fragrant ones: Rose Centifolia and Rose Damascena. While enfleurage once made it possible to capture its scent, today it is distillation or solvent extraction that reveals the warm, honeyed scent of Rose Centifolia or the lively, spicy notes of Rose Damascena. It is therefore this precise rose, zesty and luminous, that Christophe Raynaud used to create Mémoire de Roses.

The inspiration of the rose

The rose is a flower that has fascinated him since childhood. Pierre de Ronsard's poem Mignonne, allons voir si la rose awakens in him the desire to discover its perfume. The artist Guillaume Sardin was also moved by the scent of the rose. An almost Proustian flower according to him, and once again literature is present. He therefore reproduces the rose that he guesses in the wake of Odette, heroine of the novel À la Recherche du Temps Perdu.

The rose and art

It is through the illustrations of Guillaume Sardin that the memory of this rose comes to life. Captivated by the scent of the rose, both intense and romantic, he imagines climbing vines embracing Paris. This flower, which grace and fragrance became forever iconic, has always inspired artists. Present in various fields, whether it's music, literature, or painting... as a symbol of love. The color pink, however, appears in art from the Renaissance, before imposing itself in the 20th century, from Fauvism to Pop Art.

"My inspiration came from a trip to India where I smelled a rose that inspired me a lot. A zesty rose, very fresh, very bright."

Christophe Raynaud

The roses of L'Artisan Parfumeur

Layering or the art of marrying fragrances, reveals the suave and rebellious side of Mémoire de Roses when partnered with Mûre et Musc. Blackberry highlights the fruity nuances of Damask Rose. The musky dimension of Mûre et Musc marries the one of Mémoire de Roses in a sensual embrace, as gentle as a caress on the skin. At L'Artisan Parfumeur this rich flower takes on a thousand facets. Fresh for Mémoire de Roses, or opulent for Contes du Levant. Androgynous for Voleur de Roses, mysterious for Arcana Rosa. Only the queen of flowers can tell so many stories.