Bertrand Duchaufour | Perfumer

Journeys, observation and the desire to tell a story in scent

Bertrand Duchaufour came to perfume through a fascination discovered in his teenage years. In a later interview, he traced that beginning to a friend who introduced him to fragrances when he was sixteen. It became the basis of a long professional life in composition.

His work has encompassed commissions for fashion houses and independent perfume brands, including Givenchy, Christian Dior, The Different Company and AMAFFI. Rather than restricting himself to one type of brief, he has developed a body of work across varied creative settings.

Travel is a recurring source of ideas. Duchaufour describes remembering the smells of particular places and returning to those impressions when composing in the studio. The interest lies in the story and atmosphere of a location as much as in an individual ingredient. His interviews also stress the importance of retaining a recognisable creative voice, even when a perfume must answer the needs of a client.