For 30 years, this small factory based in Limoges, in central France, has exclusively manufactured technical ceramic items which, when soaked with perfume, faithfully diffuse its scent notes. This unique expertise relies on an exclusive technology called CeraScent. Created and patented by Frédéric Sochat, it can infuse the fragrance in depth and release it for up to six months without altering its notes. The founder retired and stepped down in 2022.
Charmed by the beauty of the product and the range of possibilities to express the brand’s identity, Aude Desanges took over the company. “After 15 years occupying various Marketing and Communication roles at L’Oréal, I immediately saw the company’s potential. I wanted to introduce this unique French craftsmanship to a wider range of luxury players, who often turn to made-in-China products in this field. At the intersection of Arts & Crafts and the industry, Les Parfumables meets brands’ double expectation for high quality and environmentally friendly production,” explains the young entrepreneur.
Facing Chinese competition, she highlights local roots and an ecosystem of supplier partners which minimizes the carbon footprint, as well as the ability to compete with imported alternatives when it comes to price, deadlines and quality.
Not just a material
The CeraScent technology that differentiates Les Parfumables ceramics is based on the combination of a special material and several crafting steps, ensuring the controlled porosity key to optimum perfume diffusion: preparing ceramic paste, shaping it, fritting (to bake the material), but also product perfuming. In addition, the company can decorate the white items, and even carry out enamelling, if needed, as well as packaging, for orders requiring a case, a ribbon, or anything else.
“Contrary to standard processes, we do not do casting. Each item is shaped in accordance with the project, with adapted machines and exclusive tools developed in-house. Whether for flat, three-dimensional or cylindrical products, we adapt and adjust our tools to meet the requirements of each design. We are often contacted for challenging projects involving complex enamelling and exclusive shapes. Our teams love that!” says Desanges.
Baking lasts 24 to 48 hours, in one of the four electric ovens. Then, the material is ready to be decorated, enamelled, if needed, for protective purposes, and perfumed.
“Our clients trust us and send us their concentrates, which they would not do with a random supplier. Then we can play with the concentrations and penetration time, depending on the item’s thickness and use. Some do not have their own in-house fragrance: in such cases, we put them in touch with perfume companies or offer them our five catalogue perfumes,” she adds.
A potentially infinite trail
Spread across 3,000 m2, the factory counts 24 employees and has obtained the labels Ateliers d’Art de France (a guarantee of quality, expertise and authenticity) and Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (awarded by the French government to “Living heritage companies”). It can produce both small and large batches with the same level of excellence at every stage of production, across three main product categories: olfactory testers and samples, branded gifts, and home fragrance diffusers.
“Our main clients are global groups, including The Estée Lauder Companies, LVMH, L’Oréal, Coty and Puig, niche brands, but also hotels and spas. We can meet all needs, from the most basic to the most sophisticated,” she continues.
Several factors should combine to get a lasting trail: of course, the base material, but also the perfume quality, adjusted concentration, shape and size of the item, and how it is packed. “The fragrance can last up to six months without being altered, and you can also re-perfume the item indefinitely with the same fragrance,” explains Desanges.
This is a key advantage for in-store testers, reducing both perfume consumption and air saturation. Just like home fragrance diffusers, Les Parfumables ceramics offer passive diffusion as an alternative to solutions emitting VOCs, like candles and sprays.
Towards new horizons
The growing company is planning to invest in a new production site by 2027. “Next to our existing facility, we are building new premises designed to meet higher energy performance standards and enhance quality of life at work,” says the President, who also unveiled a few targets for the years to come.
One of them is science-oriented: through research partnerships, the company aims to better understand the physical and chemical interactions between the material and fragrances. “We want to objectify this performance, understand why some perfumes work better than others, and determine the best conditions to implement,” says Desanges.
Lastly, the company aims to conquer new markets, in particular in the global hotel trade, driven by the growth of the scent market. With their rich perfume culture, Arabic countries also represent opportunities to seize for Les Parfumables.
