Jean Jacques | Perfumer

Material, music and a close engagement with perfume heritage

Jean Jacques recalls smell through both intimate family memories and the practical experience of working in Grasse. An early summer job measuring the acid value of lemongrass oil gave him a vivid introduction to the less romantic but essential work behind fragrance materials.

He studied at ISIPCA. One of his first compositions there was a spicy jasmine, accompanied by a short piece of music and a written scene set in India. The exercise brought together sound, story and smell, offering an early example of a broad creative imagination.

His later career included the role of house perfumer at Caron. In a Fragrance Foundation interview, he discussed natural materials, the house’s inheritance and the possibilities offered by particular ingredients, including oak wood with whisky-like and smoky facets. His account connects sensory pleasure with a close knowledge of materials and the responsibility of creating within an established perfume house.