Françoise Caron

Grasse is a small Provençal town located in the Alpes-Maritimes department. Beyond its culture and history-laden heritage, it has been considered the world capital of perfume since the end of the 16th century. As such, this Mediterranean city generates numerous jobs in the perfume industry. Countless families in this place are linked, in one way or another, to the world of fragrance. Françoise Caron is a perfect example of this. Perfumery would almost seem to be embedded in her DNA, given that she was immersed in this field from her earliest years. A look back at her history and her finest creations.

Françoise Caron in perfumery, a path already set

Born in Grasse, Françoise Caron was always surrounded by vast fields of flowers, and the path of perfumery always seemed obvious to her. Moreover, it appears to be something of a family destiny, considering that Françoise Caron is the sister of the renowned perfumer Olivier Cresp. She first studied at the Roure perfumery school, now known as Givaudan. Thus, Françoise Caron possesses particularly solid foundations and strong theoretical knowledge. Once she had her diploma in hand, she came to Paris in 1975. Nevertheless, she did not leave Givaudan and joined one of the company's composition workshops. She stayed there for 20 years. It was in 1994 that she finally decided to change course. She then joined the company Quest, another major name in the industry. Interestingly enough, Quest was later acquired by Givaudan, in 2007, as though the creator's destiny was to work for this Swiss house. Nevertheless, Françoise Caron did not see it that way and left Quest to join Takasago, the company where she still works today. There, she collaborates notably with Francis Kurkdjian, another major name in perfumery today.

The inspiration and finest creations of Françoise Caron

Françoise Caron usually prefers to say that she does not have a particular olfactory signature. Nevertheless, it is clear that she has a very particular sensitivity toward eaux de Cologne. She especially appreciates their fleeting, floral quality. Françoise Caron has never been particularly drawn to overly opulent fragrances. However, when she reinterprets a Cologne, she always strives to bring something innovative to it. For her, in the world of perfumery, it is essential to bring one's own personal touch. Among her most famous creations, Françoise Caron crafted the iconic Eau d’Orange Verte for Hermès. Nevertheless, we owe her a whole host of other masterpieces. Françoise Caron is also the creator of Ça Sent Beau by Kenzo, Acqua Di Gio pour Femme by Armani, and Violette Angel by Thierry Mugler, to name just a few. Likewise, loving a challenge, Françoise Caron also became the official perfumer for Astier et Villate in 2008, alongside her position at Takasago.