Heritage
A house, in its own words
Olivia Bransbourg, born in France and now based in the United States, developed her fascination with fragrance during childhood, eventually channeling that passion into establishing her own house. In 2016, she founded Sous le Manteau with a clear vision: to translate personal memories and hidden narratives into scent compositions. She partnered with established perfumer Nathalie Feisthauer to transform her concept into tangible fragrances, resulting in a debut collection of five scents released that year. The house garnered recognition early on, reportedly winning a Fragrance Foundation UK award. The brand name itself carries thematic weight, "under the cloak" suggesting concealed stories and desires, which became the foundation for their olfactory approach. By 2021, the house continued expanding its collection with new releases, maintaining its focus on narrative-driven perfume creation and establishing itself as a distinctive voice in the niche fragrance market.
The philosophy at Sous le Manteau centers on fragrance as a vehicle for storytelling and personal memory. Each scent is conceived as a secret, something worn close to the skin and revealed only to those nearby. The brand name itself means "under the cloak" or "secretly," which encapsulates this belief that perfume should uncover what lies beneath. The house approaches fragrance creation with an intimate, editorial sensibility, treating each release as a chapter in an ongoing narrative rather than a standalone product. This editorial perspective shapes how the brand conceives, names, and presents its fragrances. The collaboration with Nathalie Feisthauer allows these narrative-driven concepts to take physical form while maintaining their artistic integrity. The house values emotional resonance over commercial appeal, creating scents that invite the wearer into a world of hidden meanings and sensory discovery.