- William Carius Perfumer:
William Carius is a remarkable figure in the world of perfumery. He is the founder, president, perfumer, and creative director of several notable ventures.
Carius grew up in the rural forests north of the Catskills, near Cooperstown, NY. His parents, who were bakers, instilled in him a strong emphasis on quality. Their bakery, which made baking mixes sold in high - end grocery stores and later finished baked goods at farmer's markets, used no preservatives, only real butter and sugar, and avoided high fructose corn syrup, shortening, and modified food starches. This early exposure to the art of combining flavors kindled his interest in creating harmonious blends, an interest that would later translate into his passion for perfumery.
His journey into the world of fragrance took an important turn during a summer in San Francisco while he was in law school. There, he was introduced to the city's vibrant perfume culture, especially in Union Square. One of his housemates' enthusiasm for fragrance led them to explore various perfume boutiques, spending hours smelling different scents. This experience re - ignited his interest in perfume, and he was particularly fascinated by Hermès Un Jardin sur le Nil, a fragrance that captured the scent of green mango through painstaking re - creation from other components.
In 2013, Carius entered the fragrance world through the wet shaving route. He founded Barrister and Mann, with the aim of bringing more interesting and creative fragrances to the grooming industry. He believed that fragrance in grooming products could be of a higher quality and more imaginative than what was available at the time.
Later, in 2020, he launched Berceuse Parfum, a luxury perfume house. Berceuse Parfum is built around two unique ideas: collaborative perfumes inspired by music and the concept of a perfume company that is both positive and welcoming while still pursuing high - art perfumery. The first perfume of Berceuse Parfum, Allegretto 7.2, was inspired by Beethoven's 7th Symphony and was crafted over a three - year period by the talented Antonio Gardoni of Bogue Profumo. Their second fragrance, Minneapolis 5.3, was created by Spyros Drosopoulos of Baruti Perfume and was inspired by one of Tom Waits' recordings.
Carius has also been involved in other projects. For example, in 2022, he was the perfume maker for Smash by House of Mammoth, a fragrance for both women and men.
As an American perfumer, Carius faces the challenge of being self - taught, having to prove his capabilities to others. Additionally, the American culture's different attitude towards perfume, where blending in and not being offensive is often the main criterion, can be a hurdle when trying to introduce innovative and unique scents. However, he also sees the freedom that comes with being an outsider. American perfumery, in his view, is unencumbered by tradition, with a fresh radicalism and an earnest joyfulness in its approach, making it uniquely American.
Overall, William Carius continues to make waves in the perfumery world, bringing his unique perspectives, experiences, and creative vision to every fragrance he is involved in.
