Heritage
A house, in its own words
The career of Olivier de Kersauson began in the late 1980s, when he joined the historic perfume house L.T. Piver, one of France’s oldest manufacturers founded in 1775. While at Piver he assisted senior noses on a range of classic and contemporary projects, gaining experience with both natural extracts and the emerging synthetic ingredients of the era. In 1992 he was commissioned to create Latitude, a fragrance marketed as a "compass for the modern traveler". The scent combined citrus top notes with a marine heart and a woody base, reflecting the growing popularity of fresh, unisex compositions in the early 1990s. Latitude’s success led to a sport‑inspired flank, Latitude Sport, released in 1997, which intensified the aquatic theme with added aromatic herbs and a sharper citrus opening. Both fragrances were distributed through select European retailers and later appeared in niche boutiques across North America and Asia. During the early 2000s de Kersauson worked alongside directors Arthur de Kersauson and Clément Beauvais on a two‑year exploratory project that took the team to more than fourteen countries, with guidance from a Dior perfumer‑creator. The journey resulted in a series of limited‑edition scents that incorporated regional ingredients such as Moroccan argan oil and Japanese yuzu, underscoring his interest in place‑based storytelling. Though he has never launched a standalone brand, his name continues to appear on collaborative releases, and he is frequently consulted by emerging niche houses seeking a French perspective that balances heritage with contemporary sensibility. In recent years de Kersauson has contributed to reformulations that respect original compositions while updating ingredient sourcing to meet stricter sustainability standards. His ongoing involvement in industry workshops and perfume‑school masterclasses reflects a commitment to passing on the technical rigor he absorbed at Piver and during his international research trips. Olivier de Kersauson approaches fragrance as a map of experience rather than a mere scent. He believes that a perfume should act as a point of reference that can be revisited, much like a familiar landmark on a journey. This perspective drives his preference for clear, linear structures that allow each accord to be perceived on its own terms before blending into the whole. He values transparency in ingredient provenance, insisting that natural extracts be harvested with respect for local ecosystems and that synthetics be chosen for their stability and environmental profile. Creatively, de Kersauson favors a dialogue between tradition and innovation. He often starts a brief with a historical reference—a 19th‑century French cologne formula, for example—then introduces a contemporary twist, such as a marine note derived from modern marine‑derived aroma chemicals. This method aims to produce scents that feel both familiar and forward‑looking. He also emphasizes the importance of the wearer’s context; a fragrance should adapt to the climate, the season and the personal chemistry of the individual, rather than imposing a single, rigid identity. His professional ethos includes mentorship. De Kersauson regularly participates in perfume‑school panels, where he stresses disciplined training, rigorous testing, and the humility to learn from every batch. He argues that true creativity emerges from mastering the fundamentals before daring to break them. This balance of respect for craft and willingness to explore new territories defines his ongoing contribution to the fragrance community.