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REVUE FREDERIC MALLE

A peek into the world of Frédéric Malle

TWENTY YEARS IN TWENTY DATES

Portrait of Frédéric Malle by Brigitte Lacombe (2019)

In 2020, Editions de Parfums celebrates its twentieth anniversary. The perfect occasion for a flashback covering twenty key dates that marked out the history of the brand founded by Frédéric Malle in 2000.

1962

Birth of Frédéric Malle, future Perfume Publisher, on the same day of the year as Grenouille, the protagonist of Patrick Süskind’s novel Perfume.

2000

Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle’s first boutique opens at 37 rue de Grenelle in Paris’s Latin Quarter, on June 6—the anniversary of the Normandy landings.

The Frédéric Malle collection offers nine perfumes created by nine great perfumers and friends: Angeliques sous la Pluie by Jean-Claude Ellena, En Passant by Olivia Giacobetti, Une Fleur de Cassie by Dominique Ropion, Iris Poudre by Pierre Bourdon, Le Parfum de Therese by Edmond Roudnitska, Lipstick Rose by Ralf Schwieger, Lys Mediterranee by Edouard Fléchier, Musc Ravageur by Maurice Roucel, and Noir Epices by Michel Roudnitska.

Frédéric Malle standing by the 37 rue de Grenelle, Paris door

2001

Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle launches the travel spray and its refills. The perfumes are now free to travel! The collection is enriched by the arrival of the first cologne, Cologne Bigarade, composed by Jean-Claude Ellena.

The Signature Travel Case in the Editions de Parfums’ red

2002

Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle cross the Atlantic, arriving at Barneys in New York. The collection now includes twelve perfumes, including Vetiver Extraordinaire, created by Dominique Ropion.

2003

The collection welcomes two new compositions: Une Rose by Edouard Fléchier and L'eau d'Hiver by Jean-Claude Ellena.

Jean-Claude Ellena and Frédéric Malle by Brigitte Lacombe

2005

Frédéric Malle composes a perfume for the exclusive new line of 100g and 50g soaps, of which there are three in total. After eighteen months of development, Dominique Ropion’s Carnal Flower is added to the perfume collection, which now includes a total of fifteen creations.

2006

Frédéric Malle moves to New York so as to more closely oversee the rapid stateside development of Editions de Parfums.

2007

The collection welcomes two new perfumes: French Lover by Pierre Bourdon and Outrageous, Sophia Grojsman’s only composition for men.

2008

The perfume collection is enriched by the arrival of a new creation: Dans tes Bras by Maurice Roucel.

Illustration by Konstantin Kakanias (2010)

2009

Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle launch a line of home scents. For the first time, the greatest perfumers—Sophia Grojsman, Carlos Benaïm and Dominique Ropion—dedicate their talents to the creation of scents developed especially for the home. Innovative modes of diffusion are also introduced for the home scents, with "Mechanical Flowers" and Rubber Incense. The perfume collection welcomes a new creation by Dominique Ropion: Geranium pour Monsieur. Editions de Parfums opens its first boutique in New York at 898 Madison Avenue with a collection of nineteen perfumes.

2010

For the tenth anniversary of Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, the collection welcomes one of Dominique Ropion’s masterpieces, Portrait of a Lady.

2011

Graphic designer Patrick Li, artistic director of T: The New York Times Style Magazine, designs the brand’s logo. Frédéric Malle tells the story of the creation of the collection’s perfumes in On Perfume Making, an art book illustrated by his friend Konstantin Kakanias, with a preface by Catherine Deneuve.

Frédéric Malle and Konstantin Kakanias (from Frédéric Malle’s archives)

2013

The collection welcomes Dries Van Noten, a collaboration created by Bruno Jovanovic. Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle is once more at the forefront of innovation with “Perfume Guns”: a new format in the home scents collection, which allows you to instantly change the atmosphere of a space.

2014

Eau de Magnolia, created by Carlos Benaïm, joins the collection. Dominique Ropion creates The Night, the first work in the Desert Gems collection dedicated to perfumes inspired by the Middle East. The second New York boutique, designed by Steven Holl, opens at 94 Greenwich Avenue.

Steven Holl and Frédéric Malle by Brigitte Lacombe

94 Greenwich Avenue, New York, total design by Steven Holl

2015

The perfume collection welcomes Cologne Indelebile, a cologne created by Dominique Ropion.

Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle joins the Estée Lauder group, but remains under the direction of its founder Frédéric Malle.

Frédéric and Dominique by Brigitte Lacombe in New York (2020)

2016

The perfume collection offers a new creation for men by Bruno Jovanovic: MONSIEUR.

Campaign image for Monsieur. by Paul Wetherell (2018)

2017

Dominique Ropion creates Superstitious, a collaboration between Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle and the stylist Alber Elbaz. Dominique Ropion creates Promise, his second work for the Desert Gems collection. The young Fanny Bal creates Sale Gosse, a perfume for children by Editions de Parfums. The fourth Paris boutique, designed by Jakob + MacFarlane, opens in the Marais.

Alber Elbaz and Frédéric Malle by Brigitte Lacombe in Paris (2017)

2018

The perfume collection welcomes a new composition by Carlos Benaïm: Music for a While. Carlos Benaïm also creates Dawn, the third work in the Desert Gems collection. The profession honors Frédéric Malle with a “Game Changer” award.

Campaign image for Music for a While by Lina Scheynius (2018)

2019

Julien Rasquinet composes The Moon, the fourth work in the Desert Gems collection. Jean-Claude Ellena creates Rose & Cuir. The collection now includes thirty-two perfumes.

Campaign image for The Moon by Robin Broadbent (2019)

2020

Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle celebrates seven masterpieces from the collection in a package designed by Patrick Li and available in a limited edition. Editions de Parfums arrives in China, with the opening of the first boutique in Shanghai. An art book devoted to Frédéric Malle and Editions de Parfums is published by Editions Rizzoli.

20 year anniversary limited edition wrapping paper and ribbon