OLIVIA GIACOBETTI

Born in 1966, Olivia Giacobetti, a renowned French perfumer, was inspired by the world of fragrances from an early age. Her father, Francis Giacobetti, is a celebrated artist who influenced her creative spirit. At the age of nine, Olivia became fascinated with the art of perfumery after watching Jean-Paul Rappeneau's film "Lovers Like Us," in which Yves Montand played a perfumer.

Giacobetti's journey into the world of perfumery began at the age of 16, when she started working for Annick Goutal. She later joined the French fragrance and flavor firm Robertet and worked there for seven years as an assistant perfumer. In 1990, at the age of 24, Giacobetti established his own company, Iskia, and began creating bespoke fragrances for prestigious brands such as L'Artisan Partemporel, Diptyque, and Hermès.

In 2003, backed by Japanese cosmetics conglomerate Shiseido, Giacobetti launched her independent line called Iunx, which featured perfumes, candles, and body products. Although the initial boutique struggled, the Iunx products found a new home in a boutique within the Hôtel Costes in Paris, where Giacobetti had previously created the hotel's signature scent. In 2016, she opened a new Iunx boutique in Paris.

Throughout her career, Giacobetti has collaborated with numerous luxury brands, including Guerlain, Fendi, Hugo Boss, and Penhaligon's. Her creations have earned her a reputation for innovation and refinement, particularly emphasizing her pioneering use of fig notes in perfumery during the mid-1990s.

Olivia Giacobetti's unique approach to perfume creation is characterized by her ability to combine contrasting elements, resulting in innovative and captivating scents. Her fragrances often feature mixed-media compositions, employing both natural and synthetic ingredients. Giacobetti believes these elements are "indissociable," with synthetic ingredients providing the fragrance's "spine" and natural ingredients adding "nuances."

Giacobetti's creations showcase her imaginative and innovative spirit, such as her groundbreaking fragrances Premier Figuier for L'Artisan Partemporel and Philosykos for Diptyque, both inspired by the fig tree. Her work has influenced the industry, with many other brands embracing fig notes in their fragrances.

One of Giacobetti's most acclaimed creations is En Passant, a subtle and innovative floral fragrance that evokes the essence of spring rain on fresh flowers. Another notable creation is L'Artisan Partemporel Dzing!, a scent inspired by Paris's Cirque d'Hiver that masterfully blends diverse aromas into a comforting and subtly succulent mix.

Olivia Giacobetti has profoundly impacted contemporary perfumery, playing an integral role in the shift toward recognizing the "nose" behind the scent and promoting independent lines that highlight these creators.