PERFUME OF PROVENCE
SHIRIN VON WULFFEN CO-FOUNDER OF BASTIDE
My signature scent is Figue Amour. I’ve been wearing variations of fig for quite some time, but I especially love this one because of the woody base notes that make it feel warm and sexy. We’ve been working on this scent for more than a year, so I’ve been wearing different variations until we got it just right.
Figue Amour was inspired by the fig trees at Chantecler, our property in Provence, France. Our kids often run to pick figs in the early afternoon when the fruit is hot and fragrant, and we really wanted to capture the warm sweetness combined with the woody undertones of Provence cypress and pine trees that surround our bastide. Making a fragrance allows us to capture the memories and scents of our life in Provence.
When you start making fragrance, you realise how important quality is – just like wine, a fragrance is only as good as its ingredients. We’re lucky to be producing in Provence, where we can harvest and use local flowers. I also have very sensitive skin, so it’s wonderful to be working with a fourth-generation perfumer who helps to guide us in creating high-quality scents that are as good as they smell.