- Mathilde Laurent the in-house perfumer at Cartier:
Company:Cartier
Also worked with: Guerlain
Education: ISIPCA
Web:cartier.com
Mathilde Laurent was born into an artistic family in Paris' Montparnasse neighborhood. Growing up near railroad tracks, she developed an innate curiosity about the world around her. After earning degrees in chemistry and physics, she attended the Institut Supérieur International du Parfum, de la Cosmétique et de l'Aromatique Alimentaire (ISIPCA) in Versailles. A family friend, noticing Laurent's acute sense of smell and tendency to "experience the world through her nose," encouraged her to pursue perfumery.
At a school event, she approached Jean-Paul Guerlain, the head perfumer of the renowned Guerlain dynasty, and requested an internship. He agreed, launching her career in the early 1990s working alongside him. After a three-month internship, she joined Guerlain permanently, staying for 11 years. Notable creations for the house includeHerba Fresca, inspired by barefoot mornings in her grandfather’s garden.
In 2005, Laurent joined Cartier as in-house perfumer. She createdBaiser Voléin 2006 andL’Heure Vertueusein 2012. With her 2015 fragranceL’Heure Perdue, she exclusively used lab-created molecules to challenge the stereotype that synthetic ingredients produce harsh, abstract scents. Instead, she crafted a soft, caressing aroma evoking maternal warmth.
In 2016, her creationL’Envolwas featured in the 2017 installation"OSNI 1- Le Nuage Parfumé"at FIAC. That same year, she launched Cartier’sLes Heures Voyageusesoud collection, including six fragrances:Oud & Santal,Oud & Musc,Oud & Oud, andOud Radieux.
Laurent is among 16 perfumery experts overseeing Paris’ Grand Musée du Parfum, alongside Jean-Claude Ellena and Sylvaine Delacourte. Her most iconic works includeCartier La Panthère,Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca,Baiser Volé,Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune, andCartier Declaration d’Un Soir.
Blending her artistic upbringing with scientific training, Laurent redefines perfumery by experimenting with natural and synthetic ingredients. Her innovative approach creates evocative scents that challenge conventions, leaving lasting olfactory impressions.
