Heritage
A house, in its own words
The story of Next Memory Atelier begins in 1899, when J.J. Fernandes established his pharmaceutical laboratory in the historic center of Lisbon. Fernandes built a reputation for pioneering work in pharmaceuticals, developing formulations that served the local community for decades. The building he selected for his laboratory, constructed in the 19th century, featured the wooden fixtures, formulation benches, and brewing vessels that remain in place today. The laboratory operated continuously through the 20th century, accumulating the patina and character that now defines the Next Memory space. In the hands of Gonçalo Prego and Diogo Amaro, the historic site received new purpose as a fragrance atelier. Rather than restoring the laboratory to a museum piece, they preserved its functional character, maintaining the original brewing equipment as active tools for fragrance production. This decision rooted the brand in tangible history rather than manufactured nostalgia. The founders conceived Next Memory as a creative platform that investigates the intersection of scent and memory, drawing on the specific cultural context of Portugal to inform their olfactory narratives. The J.J. Fernandes heritage provides both architectural authenticity and philosophical grounding, establishing that this is a place where formulation traditions continue rather than one where history has been merely decorative. Multiple independent fragrance publications have documented the laboratory setting as genuinely operational, with vintage equipment still in use for brewing fragrances.
Next Memory operates from the conviction that fragrance is a form of memory. Rather than approaching scent design through conventional demographic targeting or seasonal trend forecasting, the atelier constructs fragrances around specific recollections, sensory associations, and moments of cultural resonance. This orientation toward memory shapes both the creative process and the relationship the brand cultivates with its audience. The founding partners, Gonçalo Prego and Diogo Amaro, have described the atelier as a platform for exploring how scent functions beyond its functional role as a fragrance. Their approach suggests that a well-constructed perfume should trigger associations, evoke places, and prompt recollections that extend beyond the immediate olfactory experience. The Portuguese context provides the primary reference point for this philosophical framework. The atelier draws on Lisbon's specific sensory landscape, incorporating notes and accords that reference local ingredients, cultural touchstones, and regional traditions. This grounding in a specific place rather than abstract luxury positioning distinguishes their approach from houses that construct narratives around international glamour or aspirational lifestyles. The customization service offered at the flagship store represents the logical extension of this philosophy. By inviting visitors to participate in composing their own scent combinations, the atelier positions fragrance as an active process of remembrance rather than a passive act of consumption.