Meet our perfumer - Rémi Barbier

Being an independent fragrance brand, we are fortunate to work with different perfumers. Our nose behind the scents, O.P.S and BLÅ, Mr. Rémi Barbier, a master perfume based in Grasse, is unique in his own way. We really like his interpretation of the contrasting scents of O.P.S and BLÅ, representing opposite seasons of the year. His journey to perfumery is a different path than Jordan and Stefan, as there are so many roads to Rome. We hope you enjoy this interview.

Sonja: Rémi, many people might not be familiar with the journey of becoming a perfumer. Can you share with us what inspired you to choose this career and the path you took?

Rémi: After being awarded a bachelor’s in chemistry, I took up an internship with the famous perfumer, Jean-Claude ELLENA. This encounter and apprenticeship of marvelous raw materials by his side allowed to realize my dream to become a Perfumer-Creator. I enrolled at the French Post-graduate School of Perfumes, ISIPCA in Versailles, to complete my training.

Sonja: As a perfumer, you have the ability to transport people through scent. Is there a specific memory of a fragrance or story that has had a profound impact on you? 

Rémi: I was born in the French Provençal countryside, where the very particular scents of the shrubland attracted me quite naturally to the olfactory world.

In my youth, each stroll was a pretext for discovering a novel scent in the “Provençal perfumer’s organ”. My favorite odors, such that remind me of his early childhood, are plainly those with aromatic, woody and resinous notes, such as thyme, rosemary, pine and cistus.

Sonja: Do you have a long list of formulas in your creations?

Rémi: My creations can be counted in the thousands

Sonja: What would you tell the younger version of you if you could time travel?

Rémi: Be patient and persistent. It takes years of training and experience to become a skilled perfumer.

Stay up to date on the latest trends. The fragrance industry is constantly evolving, so it's important to stay informed about new materials and techniques.

Be passionate about your work. If you don't love what you do, it will be difficult to succeed.

Sonja: What perfume do you wear most of the time? Or do you wear perfumes at all? 

Rémi: My nose is my most important tool, and I need to be able to detect the subtlest nuances of each fragrance. Wearing perfume would add an extra layer of scent that would cloud my judgment and make it difficult to accurately evaluate the fragrances.

When I'm not at the office, I wear oriental fragrances such as Oud of Greatness by Initio, I might also wear Citrus aromatic fragrances like Tygar by Bulgari and Météore by Louis Vuitton"