Martine Denisot © F. Coquerel

While she was busy with her career in communication and tourism, Martine Denisot longed to penetrate the secrets of perfumery, but kept it to herself. The day she met Jacques Polge was a fortunate coincidence: he opened the doors of the Chanel Laboratory for her to “train her nose”, watch, and learn. She dissected raw materials, investigated dilutions, and experienced creation for a whole year. These first steps in the inner circle of perfumery reinforced her desire to be part of it. She went on with her training at Cinquième Sens, where she met Anne-Sophie Behaghel and Amélie Bourgeois, who she later supported by becoming her associate as part of the Flair olfactory creation studio project.

At that stage, Martine Denisot could finally create; and she did not think twice. For herself, her family, her husband, and the people around her, but just for fun. Then, it is an unexpected collaboration with Lostmarc’h that gave her a boost. She composed a mist around quince, inspired from the gardens in her native Berry region, in central France.

The idea of commercially sharing her creations eventually became reality, and this is how the Pour Toujours collection was recently given birth.

The six fragrances introducing this new confidential perfume range are presented in a pretty bottle capped with porcelain and luxuriously laid in Philippe Di Méo cases. The formulas are short, but very sophisticated, and mostly with natural raw materials. “I am trying to create cocoon, ‘feel-good’ perfumes that correspond to the slow movement philosophy”, Martine Denisot explains.

Pour Toujours © F. Coquerel

Bootylicious, a floral fruity fragrance also worked with quince, is combined with the Davana flower, among others; Tudo Bem evokes the soft atmosphere typical of Brazil, like a caipirinha scented with citrus fruit, bergamot orange, citron, mint, ginger, and black pepper; Pyrus is a pear and vetiver fruity perfume; Graines, a childhood memory at the seed merchant’s, with barley, cocoa, cardamom, and oregano aromas; Boule de Gomme smells like the softness of orange blossom and lavender, while Khasmin is a narcissus, jasmine, saffron and sandal Oud perfume blown away by the desert winds…

The collection will be exclusively available at the Bon Marché, in Paris, in June, at 160 euros for 100ml.