Dominique Ropion
Dominique Ropion’s success in perfumery was perhaps inevitable because his mother worked as a chemist in the perfume industry. He studied at Roure Bertrand Dupont perfumery school, which is now known as Givaudan. His heyday was the creation of Portrait of a Lady, a combination of rose, patchouli, and incense.
He’s known to create complex and multi-faceted fragrances, blending large numbers of ingredients to create a deepness in the scent. Despite his complexity, his fragrances are harmonious, which shows his deep understanding in the chemistry of fragrances. Aside from perfumery, he has a deep interest in literature, influencing his creativity. He often gets inspiration from literary works, which he translates into fragrances.
La Vie Est Belle by Lancôme and Alien Man by Mugler are more recent creations by Dominique Ropion. While he continues to create fragrances for Frederic Malle, he’s a mentor for emerging perfumers and collaborates on new projects at IFF.
