The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Sous les Pins means 'Under the Pines', a name that conjures the Mediterranean landscape where stone pines dominate the coastline. Quentin Bisch built this fragrance around the idea of standing beneath those trees, breathing in cool, resinous air. The Atelier des Fleurs collection focuses on singular botanical moments, and Sous les Pins captures one of the most evocative: the intersection of shadow and sunlight in a pine forest. This is the forest as a place to be, not just a note to reference.
What makes Sous les Pins work is the pairing of stone pine with eucalyptus, a combination that brings cool, camphorated clarity to the resinous warmth of the pine. The green and aromatic notes support this structure without adding sweetness. It's the kind of composition that doesn't announce itself but instead becomes part of the wearer's atmosphere. The camphor in the eucalyptus acts as a natural opener, clearing the air before the pine settles in. That sequencing matters, it keeps the fragrance from reading as heavy or syrupy the way some conifer compositions can.
The evolution
The opening arrives crisp, eucalyptus leading with a clean, almost medicinal freshness that clears the sinuses. Stone pine follows within minutes, bringing its warm, resinous character alongside green herbal notes. By the second hour, the composition settles into a steady state: aromatic depth without sweetness, woody warmth without heaviness. The sillage stays moderate throughout, present to someone standing close, invisible to the rest of the room. The drydown holds for 6-8 hours on most skin types, arriving at a quiet woody base that feels like the forest floor after rain rather than the trees themselves. The next morning, there's a faint trace on fabric, cool, green, gone by noon.
Cultural impact
Sous les Pins arrives in a moment when forest-forward fragrances have found their audience, wearers who want something that smells like they've been somewhere rather than something that smells like a concept. The Atelier des Fleurs collection has positioned itself as the thinking person's fragrance line, and Sous les Pins fits that mold without trying too hard. It's not trying to compete with the heavy hitters of the collection, but it doesn't need to. The woman who reaches for this one knows what she wants.
The House
ChloéChloé is a French fashion house that entered the fragrance world in 1975 with an eponymous feminine scent. The brand works with Coty for fragrance production and has built a portfolio of 76 perfumes spanning floral, woody, and fresh scent families. Led since October 2023 by creative director Chemena Kamali, Chloé continues to channel the free-spirited femininity envisioned by its founder Gaby Aghion, who established the house in 1952 as a pioneering force in luxury ready-to-wear. The fragrance collection, including signature releases like the 2008 Chloé Eau de Parfum and the Atelier des Fleurs range launched in 2019, maintains the house's romantic aesthetic through light florals, rose-forward compositions, and elegant bottle designs featuring the signature pleated glass and hand-tied ribbon.
The Creator
Quentin BischBisch's style often leans toward the opulent and intense. Many of his creations feature a generous use of musks and woody ambers, creating a warm and enveloping effect.
