The Artisan
The Story of Olivier Creed, Julien Rasquinet
Olivier Creed inherited more than a business name. Born in Nice during the Italian occupation of World War II, he became the sixth-generation steward of the House of Creed, founded in 1760 as a bespoke tailoring house that gradually built a scent collection for royal clients including Empress Eugénie and Napoleon III. At 18, with encouragement from his father and grandmother, Olivier assumed control and strategically repositioned the house toward perfumery, transforming a boutique operation into a global luxury fragrance brand. His education at Paris's École des Beaux-Arts under painter Georges Braque sharpened an eye for composition that would define his creative philosophy. Julien Rasquinet emerged as a distinct creative force within this world, trained under perfumer Pierre Bourdon before joining Creed's inner circle. His hand lies behind some of Creed's most celebrated modern releases, including Royal Oud and the phenomenon that became Aventus, bringing Bourdon's classical training into formulations that redefined the modern niche fragrance landscape.
Philosophy
Olivier conceived each fragrance as an imprint, a frozen emotional moment rather than mere scent. He credited his athletic pursuits, sailing and equestrian sports, with sharpening his ability to translate lived experience into olfactory form, describing fragrance as a skill that must be developed rather than simply inherited. His approach married the house's insistence on traditional hand methods practiced since 1760 with an evaluator's precision. Julien, trained in Bourdon's disciplined school, brought technical rigor to Olivier's creative direction, translating visionary briefs into precise compositions. Together they embodied a division of labor that defined Creed's modern era: Olivier as the refined editorial voice and evaluator, Julien as the technically gifted composer executing that vision.
Creative Approach
The Creed approach under Olivier's direction favored clean, structured compositions rooted in traditional French perfumery. The house notably produces all fragrances at its Fontainebleau workshop, where a staff of roughly 30 handles bottling by hand, preserving artisanal methods passed through generations. Olivier gravitated toward fresh, sporty accords, drawing from landscapes of sea air, green fields, and mountain water. Julien's technical hand brought depth and complexity to this aesthetic, layering woody and oud-based structures with modern florals. Their shared vocabulary emphasized crisp citruses, verdant greens, and crisp aquatic notes, creating scents that read as both refined and approachable across decades of releases.
At a Glance
1960
66+ years of craft
Signature Style
“The Creed approach under Olivier's direction favored clean, structured compositions rooted in traditional French perfumery.”
Notable Creations
Green Irish Tweed
Silver Mountain Water
Royal Oud
Aventus
Millesime Imperial