Meet Camille Chemardin - Junior perfumer

"Perfumery is all about experimentation!"

Genius perfumers, you say?

"Everything moved fast for me: after being a passionate student, I landed an internship at Flair at 20, where I immediately thrived. So much so that I sometimes preferred going to the studio over going to class."

Over time, her collaboration with Amélie and Anne-Sophie grew stronger.

A graduate of the École Supérieure du Parfum in Paris, Camille Chemardin is a junior perfumer at @flair.paris and the nose behind several Versatile creations:

• The comforting Dimanche Flemme 🌿
• The addictive Accrodisiaque 🌹
• The seductive Rital Date 🍋

Stories of Flair: olfactory portrait

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Camille, nice to meet you! I've been a junior perfumer at Flair for 5 years. I'm 26 and I graduated from the École Supérieure du Parfum in Paris. I love working at Flair and putting my name to beautiful creations. I'm positive and loyal by nature, and my personality plays an important role in my work.

To find out more, read our article on the perfumer's profession.

Perfumer, a vocation?

As a little girl, I was torn between two dreams: becoming a perfumer or an adventurer like Indiana Jones (but in a skirt). In the end, the two came together: my fascination with history and adventure found its place in the world of fragrance. I've always been drawn to smells. For me, perfume means putting emotions in a bottle, and that's what I love.

A color to define you?

I'd say green.

Your comforting smell?

Great question, almost a philosophical one. I'd say very "second skin" notes, discreet yet present.

Let's dive into the world of perfume

Your signature accord?

Tuberose, and anything that can be worked with it.

Tuberose is a white flower native to Central America, known for its sensual, sweet and intense scent. Its absolute is a key ingredient in many floral compositions.

The perfect pairing?

Juniper berries (from the juniper shrub, which grows in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere) + ginger, for a perfect gin and tonic. Fresh and sparkling!

Your inspirations?

Memory is one of my strengths. So my inspirations are culinary discoveries, and my loved ones, who mean the world to me.

Your ideal perfume?

A kind of "second skin": a perfume that blends perfectly with the wearer's skin, as if it were part of them.

Smells and fragrances vs tastes and flavors

Your favorite raw material?

Virginia cedar, a wood with warm, dry, slightly spicy notes. We tell you all about it in our article on woody notes.

The raw material you can't stand?

Oxane (which smells like rotten meat and blood).

Your guilty pleasure in food?

In comfort food mode: pasta carbonara or a really good burger.

Your favorite drink?

The iconic St-Germain liqueur (in a St-Germain Spritz).

Camille Chemardin x Versatile Paris

Do you find Versatile's briefs easy?

They're very challenging. To be honest, the idea is simple and universal, but the execution is a real challenge, and I love that.

What do you think of your Versatile creation?

I really enjoyed working on the green note in Dimanche Flemme. It's a comforting green with a lovely softness. I'm happy with the result.

View this post on Instagram

THE last question…

What do you think will change in perfumery?

With upcoming regulatory constraints, the fear of allergens and the desire for cleaner perfumery, I think the future lies in the rise of green chemistry, with new molecules that will expand our olfactory palette.

"It's all about experimentation!" Camille Chemardin

(Re)discover the portraits of Amélie Bourgeois, co-founder of Flair, and Anne-Sophie Behaghel.

Photos: Versatile Paris