Florists and perfumers

After opening a flower shop in Paris with Pierre Brinon, Philippe Landri is going into perfumery. Can it be called a change of profession? Not exactly.<br>
By Silvia Manzoni 11/05/01

What is Philippe Landri's least favorite smell? Tuberose. For him, it is "too arrogant and too strong". It is unexpected, to say the least, that the founder of one of the most beautiful florist shops in Paris - Les Mille Feuilles - and a man who is currently starting a career in perfume, could be so hostile to a flower that is so highly prized in fine perfumery.
Philippe Landri has also pulled off the feat of opening a sister store in Japan, the land of Ikebana, the summum of floral arrangement. He follows the rhythm of the seasons in his charming shop nestled in the heart of Marais district in Paris: mutli-colored tulips and fragrant hyacinths in winter, roses and peonies as spring is about to give way to summer.
He composes his fragrances in the same way. "Just like for my bouquets, I let the seasons guide me. You don't necessarily want to wear the same perfume all year long."

Let nature develop your sense of smell

"Being a florist isn't all that different from being a perfumer. The two crafts are related, and they complement each other." He embarked on his great adventure with the help of professionals. Perfumers Yves de Chiris and Oliver Cresp taught him the tricks of the trade. "It was captivating to watch them at work. I had never been educated in fragrances and scents, except on walks in the woods with my grandmother. In fact, I think it's a shame that we don't teach children to use their sense of smell."
The twelve years he spent among flowers were for Philippe Landri the best possible education. "Now I am capable of discerning each of their scents, even the most subtle ones. I have a preference for cyclamen and muscari." And for anyone who wants to sharpen their sense of smell, he suggests a simple and instructive exercise. "Choose a park or garden and go there early in the morning, in the middle of the day and in the evening to permeate your senses with the different smells and to learn to understand their evolution."

The perfume rite

"A perfume is the most intimate and private accessory there is. I don't understand how anyone can choose a perfume in haste, in the middle of a crowd. Au contraire, you should take your time deciding, as you do when choosing a book. A perfume is no ordinary accessory, but an element of our personality."
His four fragrances are draped in gentle hues and poetic names and are sold at the most upscale perfumeries. This is to emphasize their intimate nature rather than to glorify a certain type of luxury."
"To me, perfume in itself is not a luxury, but the time we devote to it, by making a true olfactory ceremony out of a bath for instance... now that is a luxury."

The scent of moss

Out of all the scents that surround him, which is his favorite? Philippe Landri doesn't hesitate: "Moss and soil are what I generally like best."

His eaux de toileetes, Brin de Rosée (green floral), Fleur de Nuage (spicy floral) Feuille d'Ombre (fresh floral), and Pétale de Neige (floral oriental), are available in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, England and Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore and South America. They are soon to be released in the Middle East and will be available in Japan in September.