The great chef's aromas

Bernard Loiseau, the most famous of the great French chefs, appears to be going into perfumery. His favorite fragrances are now part of his first line of ambiance fragrances scented candles and scented sands.

By Agnes Zamboni 03/08/01

In the world of epicurean pleasures, everyone knows that the senses overlap. Combining the worlds of taste and odor is one of the recent achievements of Bernard Loiseau, an esthete and gourmet. While his motto is to "sublimate the original flavors of local ingredients," he has succeeded in capturing the quintessence of scents found in nature and expressed in his restaurant.

The realm of the five senses

The daily concerns of a great chef are to take the raw materials of ingredients and transform them into harmonious smells. And when the world of aromas meets the world of scents, a natural complicity results. It was at the occasion of a festive meal, hosted at his restaurant in Saulieu in Burgundy for Aromatic Creations, that the palate of Bernard Loiseau met up with the nose of Evelyne Boulanger, an expert at the said company who often works in the circles of Haute Couture
"We were immediately brought together by our love for basic ingredients and authenticity. When I visited Bernard Loiseau's house, I immediately sensed the importance that he gave to fragrances. Everywhere I looked, there were little bowls of potpourris of cinnamon and orange rind. So we decided to base our collaboration on five of his ideas grown in his own kitchen," said Evelyne Boulanger. Thus, two fresh combinations, one rich accord and two sweet blends were created. Inventive and innovative scents put together like a recipe.

Fragrant Recipes

Parsley, Fennel, Pepper, Spice Bread and Bitter Orange are on the menu of his latest creations, called "Recettes Parfumées" (fragrant recipes). They are found in the form of eaux de toilette and strongly scented candles. “But Bernard Loiseau didn’t just get involved with research on ingredients. He was also involved in every stage of product development, which lasted more than a year, all the way up to the packaging," says Evelyne Boulanger.

Top notes

In today’s society where it is easy to forget that one was once a child, Bernard Loiseau has chosen to cultivate tender emotions as if they were a rare and precious plant. He often talks about his childhood memories, such as his outings in the countryside in Auvergne; "In my head, I have smells of places that are linked to my love for the countryside. Like the end of a card game or a game of pétanque, or the powerful smells of earth and moss that spring up after a storm. Or the smell of a wood burning fire, a fresh garden arbor and the many exotic fragrances that I’ve brought back from my extensive travels," says Bernard Loiseau. In short, odors that speak to each and everyone of us that we would like to share with others.

To find out more about Bernard Loiseau, visit the website at: www.bernard-loiseau.com