Inside the Dior perfume factory
François Demachy has held the position of Artistic Director and Perfumer-Creator for the fashion house since 2006. "Designer Christian Dior launched his first fragrance at the same time as his debut collection. To me, this makes perfect sense because a fragrance is the final touch that leaves a lasting impression on an outfit," he said.
Every Dior fragrance must always meet three essential criteria: luxury, uniqueness, and timelessness.
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Born in the district of Grasse – known as the perfume capital of France – Demachy spent his childhood surrounded by the scents of perfume workshops. Although his father was a pharmacist rather than a professional in the industry, he still created his own signature scent, named Eau de Grasse Impériale Demachy. Today, this memory-filled bottle is proudly displayed by Demachy at his workplace, alongside other creations such as Dior Homme, Cuir Cannage, and the iconic Miss Dior.
The Dior laboratory houses more than 2,500 premium raw fragrance ingredients sourced from around the world. These include rose from Grasse, jasmine from Provence (France), bergamot from Calabria (Italy), iris from Tuscany (Italy), tuberose from India, and patchouli from Malaysia and Indonesia, among many others.
Demachy collects artifacts and representations of women, which help him better understand the other half of the world — a foundation upon which he crafts his iconic fragrances. In his workspace hangs a painting of a nude woman. According to the perfumer, it serves not only as a source of creative inspiration, but also as a daily reminder that a perfume remains merely a chemical formula until it is brought to life on human skin.
