On September 25, 2023, Mr. Julien Rasquinet commenced his role as Senior Perfumer at CPL Aromas.
His fascination with fragrances ignited at the age of 14, as he began amassing his initial perfume collection. Following his business studies, he ventured to New York for an internship at Firmenich, one of the globe’s premier fragrance companies. While experimenting with perfume ingredients in the laboratory, Julien experienced a pivotal realization—he aspired to be a perfumer, not a marketing manager. Upon returning to France, he confided in his father, and serendipity intervened. His father had previously crossed paths with Pierre Bourdon at the airport and exchanged business cards. This fortunate encounter facilitated Julien’s introduction to one of the most renowned Master Perfumers.
Without any formal education in perfumery, Julien Rasquinet hadn’t anticipated that Pierre Bourdon would extend an offer to mentor him in the art of scent creation. Yet, Julien became his final apprentice, alongside Julie Masse, dedicating three years to absorbing knowledge, skills, techniques, and the philosophy of perfume craftsmanship. It was his personal apprenticeship, a testament to the fact that Pierre Bourdon recognized something remarkable in his protégé. Could it be described as an unwavering passion for the world of fragrances?
Following his education in a private setting, Julien’s quest for knowledge persisted. He acknowledged that he gleaned valuable insights from mentors such as Christine Nagel and Anne Flipo. In 2008, Julien embarked on his journey as an independent perfumer. Subsequently, he collaborated with Creed from 2010 to 2014, working closely with esteemed assessors, including the renowned Pierre Bourdon. During this tenure, he crafted notable fragrances, including the highly acclaimed Royal Oud Creed, among others. Furthermore, he lent his olfactory expertise to numerous niche brands like Naomi Goodsir, Andrea Maack, Masque Milano, Judith Williams, L’Arc, and more.
Since 2014, Julien Rasquinet has been an integral part of the Middle East division of International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF). Within this role, he has artfully composed a plethora of luxurious oriental fragrances for esteemed names such as Frederic Malle, Amouage, Electimuss, Histoires de Parfums, Lancome, Van Cleef & Arpels, BDK Parfums, Jusbox, Costume National, Valentino, Navitus Parfums, Nishane, and many others.
Julien Rasquinet expresses a fondness for the robust allure of amber-based notes, emphasizing their distinctive character. He challenges the notion that a fragrance invariably reveals the truth, asserting that, in his view, it often does the opposite. According to him, the scent he wears doesn’t necessarily unveil his true self but rather communicates the image he wishes to project to others. When he crafts perfumes characterized by opulence, amber richness, and potency, it serves as a means to overcome personal shyness or the reluctance to fully reveal himself.
In delineating his approach to perfume creation, Julien Rasquinet openly acknowledges his romantic sensibilities. He strives to narrate a tale through his fragrances, eschewing a strict replication of nature in favor of a more romantic narrative. During the creative process, his primary aim is to evoke emotions. He initiates his olfactory journey with an idea and seeks to cultivate the emotions even before the conceptualization takes shape. Words follow, allowing him to thread together a captivating narrative.
One of my initial creations for Naomi Goodsir, a boutique perfume brand I take great pride in, holds a special place in my heart. Naomi’s first workshop was situated within an old, abandoned church, where she frequently lit bonfires outside. She approached me with a unique request—to capture a scent that evoked her memories of the church: the aroma of wood, fire, and incense. When she revisited the church, she found that the incense had dissipated, but the lingering scent of smoldering embers remained. To fulfill her vision, I crafted an incense fragrance infused with the essence of smoldering embers, an accomplishment that fills me with pride. This illustrates the kind of narrative perfumery that resonates with me, where storytelling through scent is particularly potent.
When asked about his decision to join CPL Aromas, Julien shared, “I chose CPL Aromas because I sought a family-oriented company. I believed I needed an environment that combined tranquility with ambition to fuel the flames of creativity. I had been closely observing CPL Aromas’ remarkable successes in the UK, the Middle East, and Asia for some time. This success underscored the company’s distinctive ethos, which deeply appealed to me. Chris Pickthall reached out to me, impressed by my style and my achievements with some of the world’s most prestigious brands. I can genuinely say that I’ve never been happier in my career than when contributing to the creation of success stories.”
Here at Fragrantica, we eagerly anticipate experiencing Julien Rasquinet’s new fragrances. You can find a comprehensive list of his creations here—do you have any personal favorites among them?
