The Manuel Mathieu fragrance brand is a natural extension of the artist himself, the emotive, indefinite-form art he creates, and the dynamic community he builds. It reflects Mathieu’s continuous self-evolution and his desire to encourage others to uncover and celebrate their true selves. 

Mathieu has always embraced freedom and imagination, challenging viewers with his explorations of humanity and spirituality in his paintings, ceramics, drawings, and global installation. He entered the art of fragrance making, realizing that he could extend, deepen, and share his discoveries and meditations even further through scent.

Mathieu met Juliette Karagueuzoglou, a VP perfumer at IFF, in Paris. Already boasting a rich history of partnerships with renowned brands like Yves Saint Laurent, Salvatore Ferragamo and Giorgio Armani; Karagueuzoglou collaborated with Mathieu on his inaugural collection, both united by a shared ethos: revealing their inner selves to share personal stories that impact others. 

To produce each perfume, Mathieu and Karagueuzoglou went through a process of exploring their most vulnerable selves. Mathieu would dig deep into his past to vividly articulate his emotions, and Karagueuzoglou would be inspired to pull different ingredients from the lab. Some of these materials would unlock olfactive memories, adding layers to the story he was telling. They described this process as shopping in each other’s imaginations, an experience that would be out of reach on their own.

Manuel Mathieu realized the design of the bottle was just as important as the scent within. Mathieu creates ceramics in his art practice, and began to conceptualize the bottle in his ceramic studio. To him, shaping clay is molding the earth, physically and spiritually.

Mathieu made many shapes that were intuitive and organic, evoking the presence 
of the artist’s hands. He focused on the idea of a sculpture, rather than something purely utilitarian. Through his process, he searched for something that felt familiar, with tension and moments of disruption.

The chosen design stands on its own as a sculpture, a shape similar to a mountain. Haiti, Manuel Mathieu’s homeland, means “land of high mountains” in the indigenous Taíno language. The bottle pays homage to the land while creating its own mythical mountain, reflecting Mathieu’s origin story, and the artist himself.

We are dedicated to being thoughtful, consistently caring, and deeply curious, inviting collaborations with those who share our values. Making space and amplifying voices is at the core of our identity.

We challenge norms, question established methods, and develop our own processes. Our brand, and everything that is a part of it, transforms and evolves like scent on skin.