Agatha Ruiz de la Prada

Passionate about contemporary art, Spanish designer Agatha Ruiz de La Prada's collections juste like herself : full of humor and whimsical in colors. Dynamic, vivacious and with a creative appetite that won't quit, she doesn't stop at fashion's door, but takes her talent to neighboring areas such as children's apparel, furniture, table decoration and fragrance.

By Frédérique de Granvilliers (07/2001)

What fragrance are you wearing today ?

I'm lucky in that I get to make my own fragrance. I've come up with three. Corazon Rose, which is rather sweet and comes in a pink, heart-shaped flacon ; Corazon Verde, which is woodier and comes in a green, heart-shaped flacon; and Flor, which came out in 2000. It's a soft floral and comes in a flower-shaped flacon. In the morning I put on whichever fragrance suits my mood. And if I'm in love, I grab the pink bottle. If I feel like I need an energy boost, I opt for the green bottle. And when I'm feeling at peace with the world, I spray myself from head to foot with Flor.

What was your first fragrance ?

When I was a little girl, my father, an architect had a wonderful collection of contemporary Spanish artwork. There were paintings all over the house. He liked to take us to meet the painters in their studios, or in galleries and museums. The first smells that I really loved were those of paint, wood and stone. But I also loved the smell of the countryside when we would visit my grandmother who lived near Barcelona.

What fragrance or eau de toilette do your parents use ?

My Dad wears Habit Rouge by Guerlain. My mother is more "natural" and likes very fresh fragrances. Her favorite Eau de toilette is Eau de Cologne by Alvarez Gomez, which you can only find in Spain.

Are there any smells that evoke particular memories for you?

All my memories are associated with smells. But the smell I love most is the smell of babies. It's very moving to me. Fragrance, you know, is part of every aspect of life. From the first smell we perceive of our mother, to the smells of our own children. And so on. I also associate perfume with colors and forms.

What smells don't you like ?

I can't stand the smell of pollution, of car exhaust and gasoline. I'm involved in Spain's Green movement and I try to help them out as much as I can. I do my best to respect the environment even if doing so is not always easy.

What's your favorite smell ?

The smell of cleanliness. Perfume is really a luxury. Imagine an entirely white house with lots colorful furniture and paintings. The color is like perfume. And I love the smells of the sea, the countryside, grass and flowers. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the city smelled like the countryside?

What fragrance do you like to smell on others?

This is going to sound strange, but I love to smell women's fragrance on a man. Ô by Lancôme is my favorite.

What plans do you have for your fragrances?

I want my fragrances to be marketed in France. Crazy, right? Everyone has told me it's the most difficult thing in the world, but it's happening. And I'm enjoying every minute of the challenge!