Minotaure, all the strength of a Greek hero. Paloma Picasso was born in April 1949, in Paris. Daughter of the famous painter Picasso and the painter Françoise Gilot. Anne Paloma Ruiz Picasso y Gilot began her career in jewelry design in 1968.
In creating Minotaure in 1992, Paloma Picasso wanted to bring together the world of perfumery and Greek mythology. Asterion, the Minotaur's real name, was a monster with the head of a bull. According to legend, the Minotaur was born of a union between Pasiphae and a white bull sent by Poseidon. King Minos locked the Minotaur away in a labyrinth in Crete so that no one could ever encounter him. Minotaure is therefore a perfume steeped in history, as virile as it is masculine.
Paloma Picasso's Minotaure, at the heart of Greek mythology
Born in Grasse in 1963, Michel Almairac grew up among fields of jasmine and rose. For him, becoming a perfumer was simply a given. Michel Almairac learned the craft of perfumery at the Roure school (which became Givaudan), before working successively for Takasago, Créations Aromatiques (which became Symrise), Drom, and then Robertet. In 2016, Michel Almairac opened a boutique-lab with his son Romain in the heart of Paris called Parle moi de parfum. Michel Almairac is a major name in perfumery. He has created numerous fragrances such as This is Her by Zadig & Voltaire, Roses de Chloé by Chloé, and Burberry for Men by Burberry.
Minotaure, between power and virility
Minotaure opens with ultra-energizing notes, namely bergamot, paired with aldehydic notes, the green notes of galbanum, and the aromatic notes of tarragon. Galbanum, also called Ferula gummosa, is a perennial plant with a hollow stem. Native to Asia, galbanum is found on the grassy slopes of the Asian steppes. It produces a gum obtained by cutting the stems and slitting the roots. Originally, galbanum was used for its many medicinal properties. In perfumery, galbanum offers very green, earthy, and balsamic tonalities. Then, the heart of Minotaure is opulent and feminine, combining jasmine, geranium, rose, and lily of the valley. The name geranium comes from the Greek geranos, meaning crane, because of the plant's appearance. Native to South Africa, geraniums were introduced to the Netherlands in 1672. From the 18th century onward, geraniums were found in many botanical gardens across Europe. In perfumery, an essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves and flowering stems. Geranium gives off scents that are floral, green, spicy, and minty. Finally, the base of Minotaure is as sensual as it is virile thanks to the presence of sandalwood, tonka bean, vanilla, and amber, leaving behind a most impressive sillage. The precious nectar is held in a frosted glass case. The bottle displays an imposing silhouette as if it had been carved from a block of granite. Its name is engraved in relief and its bronze cap echoes ancient Greece.