Fragrance house

Nicolas de Barry

Nicolas de Barry entered professional perfumery in 1992, after studying sociology and political science, working in diplomacy, and encountering Edmond Roudnitska, Françoise Marin, and Rodrigue Romani during his training; his transition began while he was stationed in Brazil. His early Brazilian work involved creating private perfumes for members of Brazil’s elite, before he returned to France and established his own perfume house in the Loire Valley. The house’s creative practice centers on historical reconstruction: research into biographies, archives, recipes, correspondence, and period materials informs perfumes associated with historical figures. In 2003, de Barry created Les Parfums Historiques, a collection that includes reconstructions associated with figures including George Sand, Louis XV, Shah Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal, Casanova, and Sissi. Its atelier is in Candes-Saint-Martin, where de Barry acquired the Hôtel-Dieu of the Collégiale Saint Martin and installed the atelier; he received the distinction Chevalier des Arts et Lettres in 2011. The collection includes George Sand, developed through archival research around patchouli and bergamot, and Shah Jahan, reconstructed as an oud attar using Kannauj traditions of rose, sandalwood, and aloes wood.