Patrick Dupond

A dancing star with two passions:
Perfumes by Caron and sandalwood

Par Michèle Dokan

Following a miraculous recovery after a near-fatal car accident, dancing star Patrick Dupond got rave reviews for his performance in a musical comedy dedicated to Paris - "L'air de Paris" - staged at the Espace Cardin. This provided him with the chance not only to display his still awesome dancing skills, but also to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams: to sing and dance in a musical comedy. On the strength of the show's dazzling success, it will tour around large venues in French provincial towns and elsewhere in Europe during the coming season, before going on a worldwide tour.

What cologne are you wearing today?

Caron's eau de toilette "Pour un homme". Cross my heart! I'm not just saying it because I endorse the brand. I've been wearing "Pour un homme" ever since I was a small kid. My mother used to rub me down with "Pour un homme" after my bath. It also happens to be my father-in-law and my grandfather's eau de toilette: definitely a family affair. As soon as I started earning money, at fifteen, I began buying my own bottles of perfume.

What perfume did your mother wear?

"Femme" by Rochas, until I introduced her to "Fleur de Rocaille" which she has adopted since. I also got her to try out "Bain de Champagne": she went crazy over it. Each time I go to Caron, I try out all the fragrances. They're just amazing. I sometimes compose my own blends: I have a very sharp nose. I even concocted a perfume especially for my mom on Mother's Day...

ragrances. Ils ont des jus incroyables. Il m'arrive aussi de faire mes propres mélanges : j'ai un nez très fin. J'ai même composé un parfum pour ma mère à l'occasion de la Fête des Mères...

Are you always faithful to your perfume?

I sometimes switch over to Eau de Cédrat by Guerlain. I'm also a fan of woody aromas: sandal, cedar... Marie-Hélène de Rothschild once brought me a terrific sandal scent from London that's unfortunately impossible to find now. But I sometimes find scents I like in Japan: Asians have this great culture of sandalwood.
Does any particular smell awaken past memories in you?
I spent a number of years with my grandmother when I was a kid. She was a wonderful lady with a remarkably strong character. No one else could get me to do as I was told! She had found a magical way to get me out of bed in the morning: she would toast bread in the kitchen and the smell would come and tickle my nostrils. I was out of bed in a flash! I'll never forget it. Then there was the scent of sweet peas she sowed next to the wire fencing that also made my senses reel.

What perfume would you like the object of your affections to wear?

I'm a lonely heart still waiting for the one and only...(Laughs)

What smell turns you off?

The smell of garbage dumps, gas fumes from buses (that's a real killer!)... As far as perfumes go, there's this one famous brand-name perfume my father-in-law wore for a time that brings back bad memories. I used to ride with him in the morning and the smell would make my stomach turn. But I think it was more because of the fact that he was driving me to school that made me sick than the perfume itself...!