Perfume interview: meet perfumer Nicolas Beaulieu

"I became a perfumer for the love of simple smells, those of everyday life." - Nicolas Beaulieu

Today, we take you to meet Nicolas Beaulieu, perfumer at IFF, who has created two eaux de parfum in the collection: Paradis Nuit, our woody amber fragrance, and Bataille, our incandescent woody fragrance.

Bold and passionate, discover his story, his career path, his inspirations for the creation of Bataille and Paradis Nuit, and the challenges he faced when composing natural fragrances.

Enjoy your reading!

Nicolas Beaulieu's background and inspirations

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your background?

I grew up in the countryside, in Seine et Marne, far from the flower fields of Grasse! But I was lucky enough to meet a guidance counsellor in high school who told me about the perfume profession and ISIPCA*: I had found my way! So I applied to ISIPCA, which I joined in a work-study program in quality control at IFF.

Once I graduated, I was selected to join IFF's newly reopened in-house perfumery school... And that was it!

* ISIPCA is a French school of higher education in perfumery, cosmetics and food flavor formulation, with an apprenticeship period in the industry. It was founded in 1970 by Jean-Jacques Guerlain.

What finally made you want to become a perfumer?

The love of simple smells, those of everyday life.

What are your inspirations?

First of all, the ingredients, but also the emotions provoked by a moment or a gustatory experience.

How do you manage to transcribe words, an inspiration or a memory in a perfume?

This is the magic of my job!

We feel the raw materials. Personally, I believe in synesthesia: olfaction gives me impressions of texture, colors... It is an important source of inspiration!

Do you have an olfactory signature? If yes, which one ?

Hard to say... you'd have to ask the people who work with me!

Nicolas Beaulieu and Bastille...

What are the challenges of composing fragrances with 95% natural ingredients?

When I created Bataille for Bastille, the concept of a 95% natural fragrance was totally new to me. So I had to completely rethink the way I formulated it! Quite a challenge, but I love challenges.

What did you like/like about the Bastille adventure?

A strong concept, in the air of time, but without compromising the creation nor the quality.

Can you describe in 3 words the Bataille fragrance you've signed with Bastille ?

Bataille : burning, racy, intense

What did Bataille 's brief inspire you when you were presented with it?

I immediately thought of the Burning Man gathering in the US: the arty atmosphere, with this alternative and inclusive side... The idea of a spicy patchouli, both hot and cold, came to mind.

Can you describe in 3 words the Paradis Nuit fragrance you've signed with Bastille ?

Paradis Nuit: reassuring, bewitching, sensual

What did the Paradis Nuit brief inspire you to do when you were presented with it?

It's Van Gogh's painting "Starry Night". Qhen " night is more alive and colorful than day "he said.

Like the stars flooding the sky with their soft, serene hues, cassia flower illuminates the fragrance with its reassuring light over the bewitching, sensual heart of New Caledonian sandalwood combined with bitter cocoa. A mysterious fragrance between addiction and florality exotic florality.

And we end this fragrant interview with these last 3 questions:

For you, a perfume is...

An olfactory emotion.

And a perfumer is... 

A magician of smell.

Finally, what is your motto?

You have to be happy to create beautiful things.

The olfactory portrait of Nicolas Beaulieu

We now move on to the olfactory portrait. Here we go!

Your personality in 3 words? Passionate, friendly, reliable.

Your first olfactory memory? Arpège by Lanvin that my grandmother wore.

A smell you hate? None at all!

A scent you love? Can we give two? Cut grass and clean laundry.

A favorite raw material that you like or would like to work with? Sandalwood

An original association? I like unexpected associations. I recently tasted an ice cream with Beaufort cheese: a powerful and incredible sweet and sour taste!

A mythical perfume? Aromatics Elixir, Clinique

Natural, synthetic or both? Both, of course!

That's it! Now you know Nicolas Beaulieu inside out.

To discover the perfumed interviews of the other perfumers who have designed Bastille fragrances, go to the "Perfumed Interviews" section of our blog - they're coming soon, so please be patient!

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Photos : Michael Avedon