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OLFACTORY SYMPHONIES​

WHEN SCENT BECOMES SOUNDS, DISCOVER THE MUSIC OF FRAGRANCE.

The parallels between music and fragrance are impossible to ignore. We talk of composing, of orchestrating, of a fragrance accord. A note rings louder here, whispers more softly there, instantly sparks a new obsession, stirs memories long forgotten. Building on this striking similarity, Guerlain pioneers new ways to bring fragrances to life through sound.​


Reflecting this pioneering spirit, Olfactory Symphonies extends the fragrance experience, setting scent to music.

HOW IT WORKS?

1.

At the forefront of this visionary quest stands Guerlain’s Perfume Creation Director and Perfumer Delphine Jelk, renowned for her ability to translate artistic emotions into olfactory wonders.

2.

Guerlain and IRCAM Amplify collaborated to translate Delphine Jelk’s olfactory vision into sound, matching each Guerlinade note with a carefully crafted, unique musical signature using custom sound design.

3.

Echoing the delicate balance of each of fragrance notes, a symphony emerged, revealing each ingredient in sync with its sonic counterpart for an unprecedented journey into the wonders of Guerlain’s exceptional perfumes.

4.

Experience a unique multi-sensory moment by discovering, through listening, the accords and ingredients that compose Guerlain's olfactory creations, during your perfume consultation.*

*In collaboration with Music Work, a musical identity agency.

THE ART OF VANILLA​

Guerlain has been using vanilla in excess since 1925. This was the year when Jacques Guerlain created Shalimar, one of the world’s first ambery fragrance.​

THE ART OF JASMINE​

At Guerlain, jasmine is used in communelle form. This art is a secret method of assembling ingredients from different sources and harvests to ensure lastingly exceptional quality.​

THE ART OF THE ROSE​

At the dawn of Guerlain, there was the centifolia rose. For almost 200 years, this french-born rose with its rich, fruity scent, has remained the ever-beating heart of Guerlain fragrances.​

THE ART OF BERGAMOT​

Back in 1853, Pierre-François-Pascal Guerlain chose bergamot to bring a breath of vibrant freshness to his Eau de Cologne Impériale.​

THE ART OF THE IRIS​

The irone-rich Iris pallida iris butter used by the Maison was first exalted in 1906 with Après L’Ondée.​

THE ART OF THE TONKA BEAN​

Naturally present in tonka beans, coumarin was first used by Guerlain in 1889 for Jicky by Aimé Guerlain.​

THE GUERLINADE

It all begins with the Maison Guerlain’s signature fragrance trail: the Guerlinade. 

One could say that these six raw ingredients – iris, jasmine, bergamot, rose, vanilla and tonka bean – are the base notes of each Guerlain composition. Arranged and orchestrated to perfection, at least one of them is present in every Guerlain fragrance. An olfactory trademark, synonymous with the Guerlain Art of Perfumery – an endlessly rich landscape to bring to life anew for the senses.

DISCOVER THE FRAGRANCES

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LA GUERLINADE, THE SECRET COMPOSITION OF GUERLAIN ?

Guerlinade is a secret accord that blends the Maison’s six most beloved raw materials into an olfactory seal that has characterised the fragrances of Guerlain since its earliest beginnings. Excessively concentrated and transformed through an exclusive art of formula creation, these six materials each possess a golden number that is revealed in Les Extraits Signature.

WHAT IS THE CREATIVE APPROACH BEHIND THE ASSOCIATION OF INGREDIENTS WITH MUSIC?

We used the scientific method SPEAK, developed at IRCAM (Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music), the company offers advanced software solutions for sound and music professionals, while also providing premium consulting services to help brands create unique sonic experiences. It allows for the creation of sensory correspondences between semantic dimensions shared by different senses. In this project, we facilitated a dialogue between hearing and smell: each ingredient was associated with its own sound identity based on its character.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE OLFACTORY SYMPHONIES PROJECT?

All the sound creations were composed and performed by the musicians and sound designers of IRCAM Amplify, without the use of automated generations. AI could be utilized in other contexts, but here, we preferred a sensitive, artistic, and custom-made approach.

HOW WERE THE INSTRUMENTS CHOSEN AND ASSOCIATED?

The ingredients used to create a perfume all have a role, personality, and history. We sought sounds or instruments that share these characteristics to compose a coherent ensemble, based on the composition of the perfume. For example, bergamot, which is the top note of Shalimar, has a sharp but rounded attack and evokes a crystalline, light, dynamic sensation. These characteristics led us to choose a glockenspiel, which provides that metallic aspect with a clear attack while remaining soft and round. Each ingredient in the perfume thus has its "sound twin," and its role in the symphony depends on the intensity and importance it has in the olfactory scenario.

WHAT IS THE INTEREST OF SOUND FOR PERFUME?

Perfume evokes sensations and emotions that can be translated through sound. By accompanying the olfactory scenario of the perfume, music can amplify its impact, making it more immersive and accessible, especially in contexts where the sense of smell cannot be engaged (such as websites, digital retail, etc.).