Nathalie Benareau
Nathalie Benareau grew up amid the quiet peaks of the French Alps, where long hikes sparked a fascination with the scents of pine, stone and wild herbs. She earned a chemistry degree at the University of Toulouse, then entered the perfumery world as an assistant at Intarome. After completing her apprenticeship at Manheimer, she earned the title of perfumer in 2006. In November 2008 she joined Symrise, where she now leads projects for luxury and niche houses. Her first major public work arrived with the Juice Scent Space trilogy, a fresh‑focused collection that quickly earned praise for its vivid, sun‑kissed character. Balancing laboratory rigor with a love of travel, yoga and flamenco, Nathalie blends scientific precision and artistic curiosity in every bottle she creates.
The hits
Notable creations
The signature
How Nathalie composes
In the studio Nathalie favors bright, transparent accords built around citrus, green notes and subtle spice. She frequently layers bergamot, pink pepper and a whisper of sea salt to give a composition lift and clarity. Her technique includes precise gas‑chromatography analysis, followed by rapid, tactile testing on skin to gauge evolution over time. She gravitates toward natural extracts that retain a raw edge—wild rosemary, alpine herbs, and freshly pressed orange blossom—while pairing them with modern synthetics that add longevity. The result is a clean, energetic signature that feels both contemporary and rooted in nature.
Philosophy
What drives Nathalie
Nathalie approaches scent as a dialogue between memory and material. She believes a fragrance should capture a moment—whether a sunrise over a mountain ridge or the fizz of a freshly cut citrus—so that the wearer can relive it instantly. Her chemistry background drives her to dissect each molecule, yet she lets intuition guide the final blend. She often cites the rhythm of a running trail or the cadence of a flamenco beat as cues that shape the structure of a perfume. For her, the most rewarding creations are those that feel both personal and universally resonant.
The houses