Heritage
A house, in its own words
The name Ynepsie honors Tapputi-Belatekalim, a high official in the ancient Babylonian court whom historians recognize as the first recorded female perfumer. Tapputi-Belatekalim's role in crafting perfumes for royal ceremonies established a lineage of olfactory artistry that the brand explicitly references as its conceptual foundation. According to the brand's own account, the House of Ynepsie draws upon a know-how spanning nearly 90 years, with the Cohen family from Marseille representing the latest custodians of this tradition. The brand's founding narratives reference Fernand Cohen as a nose and entrepreneur who began composing bottles with the stated intention of disrupting established fragrance conventions. In 2022, Ynepsie introduced its full collection of twelve perfumes, marking the brand's public emergence in the contemporary niche fragrance landscape. This simultaneous launch of an entire catalog rather than a staged release represented an unconventional approach to market entry. The perfumes were developed through collaboration with perfumer Irene Farmachidi, whose work with Ynepsie represents one of the house's primary creative partnerships. The Marseille heritage infuses the brand's identity with the Mediterranean olfactory traditions that have shaped French perfumery for centuries.
Ynepsie operates from the conviction that perfumery should honor its historical roots while remaining approachable. The brand explicitly references the ancient Babylonian tradition of Tapputi-Belatekalim as its conceptual anchor, suggesting a philosophy rooted in continuity with foundational moments of olfactory artistry. Rather than pursuing fleeting trends, the house appears to engage with classical fragrance families, evident in names like Chypre Cosmic and Néroliberée that reference established perfumery structures. The brand has articulated an intent to analyze and preserve essential elements of perfumery excellence, suggesting a preservationist rather than revolutionary posture. This approach positions Ynepsie as a house that sees innovation as refinement of existing traditions rather than wholesale departure from them. The stated goal of shaking up conventions appears tempered by deep respect for craft heritage, creating a tension between the desire to disrupt and the commitment to continuity that defines the brand's creative stance.