Fragrance house

Astier de Villatte

Astier de Villatte was founded in Paris in 1996 by Benoît Astier de Villatte and Ivan Pericoli. It began as an artisanal ceramics workshop and remains centered on handcrafted Parisian ceramics that reinterpret the traditions of 18th-century Paris manufacturers. The founders expanded the company into a broader creative house encompassing typography, publishing, perfumes, incense and scented candles. Across these fields, the brand’s identity is organized around recovering or reinterpreting overlooked historical objects, techniques and stories through a contemporary design sensibility. In 2015, Astier de Villatte acquired SAIG, described as the last linotype printing press in France, extending this work into printing and publishing. In October 2024, Vesper Investissement took a majority stake; the founders retained a significant participation and continued as artistic directors focused on creation and innovation. Its fragrance work began with Eau de Cologne creations developed with Françoise Caron, followed by a 2016 relaunch that restored archival colognes and introduced scents inspired by places, an artist and an imagined historical potion. In 2022, Dominique Ropion and perfume historian Annick Le Guérer recreated historical formulas for a series that included Le Dieu Bleu, inspired by ancient Egyptian kyphi, and Artaban, drawn from an ancient royal perfume.