- Van Regteren Altena Perfumer:
Yvo van Regteren Altena is a remarkable figure in the world of perfumery. Born in 1958, his olfactory journey began at a young age. On his 6th birthday, he discovered his exceptional sense of smell, a gift that would shape his future.
When he turned 18, the renowned perfumery company IFF offered him a job as a perfumer in New York. However, Yvo had other aspirations at the time and chose to pursue a career as a professional cellist, studying at the Florence Conservatory. But fate had a different plan. After suffering an injury to his left arm, he had to redirect his career path and decided to study law. Later, he became a journalist, mainly writing about scents and lifestyle.
Over more than 30 years, Yvo traveled the globe, documenting all aspects related to good taste, a decadent lifestyle, and the secrets of the perfume world. During his travels, he met some of the world's most famous perfumers, such as Jean-Claude Ellena from Hermès, Fran?ois Demachy from Dior and Acqua di Parma, and Jacques Polge from Chanel. These encounters left a deep impression on him and inspired his own creative journey.
Encouraged by these esteemed "noses," Yvo designed his first fragrance - YVRA 1958 l’essence de l'essence. He founded the niche Dutch perfumery brand YVRA. His style is extravagant and bold, allowing him to create not only perfumes but also exclusive compositions for home fragrances and other high - quality olfactory works.
Yvo's approach to creating perfumes is unique. As he is not yet able to create his own molecules, he mixes his favorite ingredients from different perfumes at various levels. For example, he might take bergamot from one perfume and patchouli from another and then experiment with the strength and notes, similar to how a classical music composer creates a composition.
His portfolio of fragrances includes YVRA 1965 l’essence de flamboyance, YVRA 1979 l’essence de présence, and YVRA 1991 l’essence de l'explorance. Each fragrance has its own distinct character. YVRA 1958 is a citrus - like scent with bergamot, orange flower, cedar, and tonka bean, making it ideal for daytime use. YVRA 1965 is spicy, woody, and sexy, featuring pink pepper, saffron, incense, and patchouli, perfect for evenings. YVRA 1979 is warm, mysterious, and powerful, with cedar, vetiver, and guaiac wood, suitable for both the office during the day and a dinner date at night. YVRA 1991 offers a firm and refreshing overture with bergamot, petit grain, and rosemary, great for daytime throughout the year.
Beyond traditional perfumes, Yvo has also ventured into other scented products. He developed an eco - friendly and good - smelling wiper fluid under the YVRA 1958 name, as well as a perfectly scented antiseptic, l’essence de désinfectants. He even transformed YVRA 1958 into a high - concentration perfume oil for a hand & body wash, adding pro - vitamin B5 for skin moisturization, cleansing, and refreshment. Yvo van Regteren Altena continues to push the boundaries of the olfactory world, creating scents that are not only unique but also become an integral part of people's lives.
