The Artisan
The Story of Philippe Romano
Philippe Romano arrived into this world the way many of the greatest perfumers do: born into it. The son of a Grasse perfumer, he arrived on December 23, 1957, in the city that has shaped more noses than perhaps anywhere else on earth. Yet his earliest olfactory education unfolded not in Grasse but among the orange groves of Spain, where he grew up barefoot and wide-eyed, absorbing the landscape the way only a child can. That formative period instilled in him a love of freedom that would remain central to his character throughout his life. Romano trained at Robertet in Grasse, working alongside his father and the house's seasoned experts. He spent 23 years there, sharpening his craft with quiet intensity. Opportunities then pulled him outward: Japan, Brazil, the United States. Each country added layers to his understanding of materials, culture, and composition. In 2000, he joined Drom Fragrances' Paris office and stayed for more than 18 years, building a body of work that spanned mass market and fine fragrance alike. He also gave back generously, mentoring young perfumers who would carry his teachings forward. He died on August 12, 2021, after three years of illness, leaving behind his wife Nathalie and daughters Chloé and Lola.
Philosophy
Romano believed a fragrance should do something a photograph cannot: arrest time. He chased the raw, generous spirit of 1970s perfumery, wanting his creations to sound like an old guitar, all texture and feeling. He worked to evoke genuine emotion with every bottle, designing scents that could summon memory the way a single chord on a well-worn instrument might. For Romano, the act of perfumery was never purely technical. It was intimate, even moral. He approached each composition as a conversation between the material and the person who would eventually wear it.
Creative Approach
Romano's signature was the interplay between lush florals and vivid fruit. He developed a rare fluency with butyrates and sulfurous accords, a knowledge he refined through collaboration with flavorists, and he applied it to create some of the most memorable fruity fine fragrances of his era. His preference ran toward natural raw materials, and he wielded sweet, edible accords with an artisan's precision. Vetiver, sandalwood, and patchouli were among his most-returned ingredients. The Escada limited-edition line, for which he signed several standout bottles, remains the clearest demonstration of his ability to translate lush tropical fruit into something wearable, modern, and unmistakably his.
At a Glance
1980
46+ years of craft
Signature Style
“Romano's signature was the interplay between lush florals and vivid fruit.”
Notable Creations
Pacific Paradise
Island Kiss
FlowerParty
Le Roy Soleil
Collected Summer Editions