- Alice Lavenat Perfumer:
Alice Lavenat is an emerging and talented perfumer making waves in the fragrance world.
In 2014, while working for Jean Niel in Grasse, she entered the prestigious French Perfumers' Young Perfumer of the Year competition. Given the task of creating a composition centered around blackcurrant buds, she crafted a remarkable fragrance. Her work was so impressive that the judges reached a unanimous decision, awarding her first prize. This victory was a significant milestone in her career, bringing her work to the attention of industry experts and enthusiasts alike.
One of Jean Niel's clients, Marie Lise Bischoff, the founder of the perfume house Nejma, was captivated by Alice's winning fragrance. Bischoff not only fell in love with the scent but was also determined to nurture Alice's talent. As a result, the fragrance was named "Parfum d'Alice" and became part of the Nejma collection. What makes this even more special is that the fragrance is uniquely named after Alice, and her signature adorns the box, signifying her creative ownership.
Alice's olfactory journey is deeply influenced by her family background. Her grandparents were winemakers, and she grew up surrounded by the rich aromas of cognac spirits and oak barrels. The smell of a cognac warehouse, with its combination of wood, minerals from the cave, and the evaporation of spirits known as "la part des anges" (the angels' share), left an indelible mark on her. These early scent memories continue to inspire her work, adding a touch of warmth and familiarity to her creations.
In her creative process, Alice draws inspiration from a variety of sources. She has a deep appreciation for nature, as evidenced by her fondness for scents like just - clipped grass, which reminds her of her childhood in the countryside, and the fresh, cold air of a winter morning. She also has a penchant for certain raw materials such as vetiver, with its woody, smoky, slightly lemony, and sensual qualities, and iris, due to its powdery facets on the skin and vintage cosmetics notes.
Alice's work with Nejma has been particularly fruitful. She has been given the freedom to work with high - quality raw materials without being overly constrained by cost, allowing her to fully express her creative vision. This collaborative approach between the brand and the perfumer has led to the development of Nejma's successful fragrance collection. In addition to "Parfum d'Alice," she has been involved in other projects, such as a collaboration with a French rap star for Koe Ptys and an exclusive range of extrait for Harrods.
As she continues to grow as a perfumer, Alice Lavenat's creativity and unique perspective are sure to result in more captivating fragrances, further establishing her as a force to be reckoned with in the world of perfumery.
