The Heritage
The Story of Papillon Artisan Perfumes
Papillon Artisan Perfumes is a London-based independent perfume house founded by perfumer Liz Moores in 2011. Known for handcrafted, androgynous fragrances of exceptional concentration, the house creates small-batch perfumes using rare and costly natural ingredients sourced from across the globe. Each composition is blended, matured, and bottled by hand in England, reflecting a commitment to traditional perfumery methods. The house describes its creations as sensual, seductive, and glamorous expressions of luxury that transcend the ordinary. Papillon perfumes have earned over 5,000 five-star reviews from fragrance enthusiasts worldwide, cementing the brand's reputation among the most admired independent perfume houses in contemporary perfumery.
Heritage
Liz Moores founded Papillon Artisan Perfumes in 2011, establishing the London-based house after pursuing formal training through the Fragrance Foundation. Her journey into perfumery began with study rather than accident, and she credits that foundational education with shaping her understanding of raw materials and composition. Moores created her debut fragrance Anubis in 2014, inspired by the Egyptian deity associated with death and mummification, before expanding the collection with her first releases. The name Papillon, meaning butterfly in French, suggests Moores' interest in transformation and metamorphosis, a theme she frequently explores in her work. From her home in England, Moores personally hand-blends, matures, and bottles each fragrance, maintaining direct control over every stage of production. The house operates as a small artisanal company, allowing Moores to work with rare and costly ingredients that might be impractical for larger commercial houses. She has described imagining the people who might wear her fragrances, hoping each creation helps wearers conjure their own personal associations and memories. The collection draws influence from periods of history, romantic and literary concepts, nature, people, and artwork, reflecting Moores' broad creative interests beyond perfumery alone.
Craftsmanship
Papillon compositions are produced using classical perfumery methods, blended in small batches, and completely handcrafted by Liz Moores at her home studio in England. The house sources high-grade absolutes and oils from every corner of the globe, selecting materials based on quality rather than cost efficiency. All perfumes in the collection are formulated at eau de parfum strength with a very high concentration of pure extrait, a deliberate choice that prioritizes longevity and sillage over accessibility. As a small artisanal company, Papillon has the flexibility to incorporate rare and costly ingredients within its creations, materials that larger industrial houses often cannot justify economically. Each fragrance undergoes a maturation period before being bottled, allowing the materials to harmonize and develop fully. Moores personally oversees every stage of production from blending through bottling, maintaining consistency without relying on external laboratories or manufacturing facilities. The house maintains cruelty-free practices, with all fragrances never tested on animals. The deliberate small-scale approach means each batch receives individual attention, and Moores can adjust her process based on the specific characteristics of each raw material delivery.
Design Language
Papillon Artisan Perfumes maintains a minimal and understated visual identity that reflects the brand's focus on the fragrance itself rather than elaborate presentation. The bottles use clear glass containers with simple labeling, allowing the color and clarity of the perfume juice to serve as the primary visual element. This restrained approach extends to the brand's overall image, where the emphasis remains on the craftsmanship and materials rather than decorative packaging or lifestyle imagery. The house name itself, Papillon (butterfly), suggests a lightness and transformation that contrasts with the often dense, complex nature of the fragrances themselves. Marketing materials and product listings avoid elaborate photography or celebrity endorsements, instead relying on straightforward product presentations and detailed fragrance descriptions. The androgynous positioning of the brand is reflected in clean, gender-neutral visual communication without overt masculine or feminine coding. This minimal aesthetic has become characteristic of independent British perfumery, where substance takes precedence over style.
Philosophy
Moores approaches perfumery guided by instinct rather than formula, allowing each fragrance to reflect genuine human emotion and artistic freedom rather than market research or commercial calculations. She has stated that her creative process involves imagining the people who may wear a fragrance and hoping the perfume helps them connect with their own unique personal allusions. The house describes perfume as having the ability to retrieve deep memories, stir the soul, and remain an intrinsic part of individual identity. Rather than chasing trends, Papillon maintains a deliberate pace of release, producing only a handful of fragrances each year to ensure each creation receives adequate attention and development time. The brand positions itself against mass production, emphasizing sincerity and individual expression as core values. All fragrances are marketed as androgynous, reflecting Moores' belief that there are no sexual or gender boundaries when wearing perfume. The house aims to continue the beauty and tradition of the ancient art of perfume making within a contemporary context.
Key Milestones
2011
Liz Moores founded Papillon Artisan Perfumes in London, England
2014
Moores released her debut fragrance Anubis, followed by Tobacco Rose and Angelique in the same year
2015
The house released Salome, a fragrance noted for above-average projection and longevity
2017
Papillon introduced Dryad, expanding the collection with a nature-inspired composition
2019
Bengale Rouge joined the collection as one of the house's more recent releases at that time
2021
Spell 125 was added to the lineup, continuing the house's deliberate release schedule
At a Glance
Brand profile snapshot
Origin
England
Founded
2011
Heritage
15
Years active
Collection
2
Fragrances released
Avg Rating
4.0
Community sentiment
Release Rhythm