Marine Mercé
Marine Mercé entered the fragrance world with a chemistry degree and a love for the stage. She trained in London under Master Perfumer Martin Koh, absorbing classic French techniques while sharpening her analytical eye. In 2015 she relocated to New York, where she worked beside Gabriela Chelariu and absorbed the bold, experimental spirit of American perfumery. Her background in singing, acting and dance fuels a kinetic approach to composition; she treats each accord like a choreography, letting movement dictate balance. After three years in the city she earned her first major brief for a niche house, delivering a scent that blended sea‑spray accords with luminous citrus. The success cemented her reputation as a daring, instinctive creator and opened doors to collaborations across Europe and Asia.
The hits
Notable creations
The signature
How Marine composes
Marine favors a hands‑on laboratory, mixing in small glass vials to feel each ingredient’s texture. She leans on marine notes—calone, seaweed absolute, and salty accord crystals—to anchor her creations in a crisp, watery foundation. Citrus fruits such as bergamot and yuzu provide lift, while white florals like tuberose and jasmine add depth without heaviness. She often introduces a touch of ambergris or synthetic musk to extend the dry‑down, allowing the scent to evolve like a dance. Her technique emphasizes contrast: bright top notes meet warm, lingering bases, creating a clear narrative that unfolds over hours.
Philosophy
What drives Marine
Marine believes scent should echo emotion the way a song mirrors feeling. She draws on her performing‑arts training to translate rhythm, tempo and dynamics into olfactory form. When a melody strikes, she captures its pulse with a burst of bright citrus or a whisper of marine accord, then layers supporting notes that resolve like a final curtain call. She values spontaneity; a single spontaneous blend can become the seed of a full composition. Her work aims to provoke a visceral response, inviting the wearer to inhabit a moment rather than simply wear a fragrance.
The houses
Maisons Marine composes for
In the same league