The Artisan
The Story of Christian Carbonnel a.k.a. Chris Maurice
Christian Carbonnel, who goes by Chris Maurice, represents a rare breed of perfumer: one born into legacy and still driven by restless curiosity. He grew up inside Carbonnel S.A., the family-owned Spanish fragrance house founded in 1925, watching his elders transform raw materials into olfactory art. By 1996, he had joined the family business as Export Manager, building relationships across the Middle East and Far East while absorbing the commercial and creative mechanics of perfume making. He stepped into the perfumer's role at Carbonnel in 2010, eventually serving as a director before founding his own venture, C De La Niche, in 2019. His work caught the attention of prestigious niche houses including Xerjoff, Nishane, Fragrance Du Bois, Masque Milano, and Zoologist. He has since become one of the most sought-after independent noses bridging Spanish craftsmanship with global fragrance culture, collaborating with over two dozen houses and creating fragrances that consistently earn high ratings from enthusiasts worldwide.
Philosophy
Chris Maurice approaches each fragrance as a conversation between tradition and audacity. He believes rare and exceptional ingredients deserve respect, but he refuses to treat them as museum pieces. His philosophy centers on creating scents that feel both innovative and timeless, compositions that surprise without alienating, that reward repeat wearing with new discoveries. He speaks six languages and draws creative energy from diverse cultural perspectives, a fluency that shows in fragrances that translate beautifully across markets and skin types. For Maurice, perfume is never decoration. It is memory, identity, and emotion captured in liquid form.
Creative Approach
Maurice favors bold constructions built on strong foundations. His work frequently features rich oriental bases, gourmand warmth, and vibrant citrus tempered by deep woods and resins. He has a particular talent for amplifying oud, amber, and saffron into something more approachable without sacrificing complexity. His work with Xerjoff on Lira and Alexandria II demonstrates his skill with sweet-spicy florals, while La Capitale and More Than Words showcase his architectural approach to layering. He gravitates toward ingredients with stories, materials that carry weight and history. Signature techniques include slow maceration practices learned at Carbonnel and a meticulous eye for balance that keeps even his most opulent creations from tipping into excess.
At a Glance
1996
30+ years of craft
Signature Style
“Maurice favors bold constructions built on strong foundations. His work frequently features rich oriental bases, gourmand warmth, and vibrant citrus tempered by deep woods and resins.”
Notable Creations
Lira
Alexandria II
More Than Words
La Capitale
Tony Iommi Monkey Special