Pierre Guillaume

France is without question the jewel of world perfumery. Indeed, the Mediterranean region of France, and more particularly the area around the city of Grasse, is considered the world capital of perfumery. Consequently, many world-renowned perfumers are French, and such is also the case with Pierre Guillaume. However, unlike many perfumers, he is entirely independent.

The history of Pierre Guillaume

Pierre Guillaume is an independent perfumer originally from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne. However, he learned perfumery as a self-taught practitioner and originally trained as a chemist. He acquired his foundations in chemistry within his father's company and states that he never truly wished to become a perfumer. In fact, he says he rather has the feeling that it was life itself that chose to set everything in motion so that he would embark on this career. At the end of his studies, in 1999, he joined the family company as an industrial formulator in charge of developing the cosmetics division. However, his father was struck by a serious illness shortly afterward, and it was in this way that Pierre Guillaume turned toward perfumery. Wishing to preserve something of his father, he devised a scent similar to that of his cigar cellar. He tried to recreate the fragrant breath that escaped from the box, a skillful blend of wood and tobacco. Through chance encounters, certain major names in perfumery decided to turn this personal fragrance into a perfume. Moreover, the review by Chandler Burr published in the New York Times about this essence stated that it was the coolest new European fragrance concocted by a hardcore young chemist.

The creation of the Parfumerie Générale house

It was in this way that Pierre Guillaume launched, in 2002, his own independent house named Parfumerie Générale. Having undertaken no formal training in perfumery, Pierre Guillaume progressed step by step, by instinct. In fact, his passion led him more toward recomposing scents than creating new ones. It was over time that his passion for perfumery took hold. Moreover, Pierre Guillaume considers that his favorite perfume is always the next one. He makes this motto his reason for getting up in the morning. He says that passion is his favorite ingredient and that it is essential for creating good products. However, certain raw materials such as tobacco remain among his favorites, while he says he finds it harder to develop floral compositions. In this respect, he considers that a floral perfume is always less beautiful than the living flower and, in that sense, somewhat disappointing.

Pierre Guillaume's company is unlike any other. It is a family business that is 100% French and 100% financially independent. Thus, Pierre Guillaume chooses his own production tools and his own formulations. He has total freedom and can therefore express himself fully. He is a perfumer endowed with a rare authenticity, which only brings him closer to the foundations of niche perfumery.