Heritage
A house, in its own words
Simons, founded in 1840 in Quebec City, has long been known for its curated fashion and home collections. In 2015 the company announced a strategic move to develop an in‑house fragrance portfolio, a decision driven by a desire to extend its design ethos into the olfactory realm. Ruby Brown, a Montreal‑born fragrance consultant with a background in chemistry and a passion for sustainable sourcing, was invited to shape the scent narrative. Their collaboration produced three inaugural fragrances—Lin, Soie and Coton—released in the spring of 2017. The launch was covered by the Vancouver Sun, which noted the partnership as Simons' first foray into fragrance. Following the debut, Eau Contemporaine expanded its distribution to select Canadian specialty retailers in 2018, and the brand began experimenting with limited‑edition releases that highlighted regional botanicals. In 2020 the house introduced a packaging redesign that employed recycled glass and soy‑based inks, aligning the visual identity with broader sustainability goals. By 2022 the line added a fourth scent, Nuit, inspired by the quiet moments of a city night, and the brand celebrated its fifth anniversary with a pop‑up experience in Toronto that invited visitors to mix their own mini‑samples. Throughout its evolution, Eau Contemporaine has remained anchored to Simons' heritage of thoughtful curation while carving a niche for contemporary, texture‑focused perfumery in Canada. Eau Contemporaine approaches scent as an extension of everyday design. The brand believes that fragrance should complement, not dominate, a personal environment, and it therefore focuses on simple, clean accords that echo familiar materials such as linen, silk and cotton. Ruby Brown has spoken about the importance of transparency, insisting that each ingredient be traceable to its source and that the olfactory story be communicated clearly to the wearer. Simons' retail philosophy—offering curated pieces that balance form and function—feeds directly into the fragrance line, encouraging consumers to view a perfume as a wearable accessory rather than a statement. The house also prioritises sustainability, selecting suppliers who practice ethical farming and opting for packaging that reduces waste. This mindset reflects a broader Canadian sensibility that values community, environmental stewardship, and understated elegance.