Scents of travel
Take a trip around the world with a Parisian fragrance brand, writes Meera Murugesan
EACH fragrance has a story to tell. For Memo Paris, its scents speak of the joy of travel and experiencing exotic locations.
The luxury brand, which has made its debut in Malaysia, is the brainchild of John and Clara Molloy, eternal explorers who combine their Irish and Parisian heritages with their love for fragrances and well-travelled imaginations.
Memo Paris presents a curated collection of ultraluxe fragrances, with scents that are original, mysterious, evocative and alluring, uniting the classic with the unexpected.
Founded in 2007, the brand epitomises the philosophy by which the couple live by — Clara and John see fragrances as a journey and the scents they create have an identity linked to magical destinations and potent raw materials.
Their travels to far-off places and encounters have served as the inspiration for the beautifully crafted perfumes which, instantly transport one to exotic holiday destinations around the world.
Whether Bali in Indonesia or Lake Inle in Myanmar, the fragrances bring to memory the culture and flora and fauna of these beautiful places.
“When they created the brand in 2007, it was with one ambition — to see fragrance as a journey and Memo is basically a memory of where they have been, almost like a travel souvenir,” explains Eric Stucky de Quay, COO of Memo International.
John grew up in the Irish countryside, surrounded by horses, before travelling the world to discover other cultures and life beyond working with leather and the land.
Clara is a native of Andalusia, and half French and half Spanish. Her experiences were forged in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, Catalan pine trees and Swiss mountains. Travel to her is like an open book on life.
BOTTLE OF EXPERIENCES
The idea of presenting a bottle of perfume as a “destination” to be explored, experienced and enjoyed is certainly a novel concept.
Stucky de Quay says Clara is very creative with very strong ideas and a strong character. She’s also a poet and writer and the kind of person who knows exactly what she wants from a fragrance.
John is a globetrotter who has been to more than 50 countries and has worked extensively in the fashion and cosmetics industry.
“Our perfumes are like a magic carpet which bring you to different exotic destinations,” says Thomas Yasuda, senior vice-president of Asia Oceania for Memo International.
A wide range of raw materials have been used in the fragrances including many commonly found in Asia such as green tea, jasmine, tuberose and sesame seeds.
Memo was one of the first brands to launch fragrances using seeds, a practice which has become very fashionable among many brands today.
Yasuda says it was inspired by the
practice of using seeds in religious rituals (for instance, being thrown into the fire) in certain Asian countries and the scents that arise from that process.
Through four collections, Memo charts the map of a sensory world steeped in emotion, revisited with fragrances, ingredients and sensations.
The first collection, Les Echappees, is one that leads from chic Paris to the heart of Burma.
Next is Cuirs Nomades, which explores the leather note through emblematic destinations from Ireland to Italy.
Graines Vagabondes sows the scent of natural seeds like sesame, still a rarity in perfumery.
Finally, there’s Art Land which pays tribute to mysterious territories transformed by the artistic hand of humankind.
Memo Paris’ range of luxurious perfumes are complemented with a range of other scent and travel-related products, from candles to diffusers and travel cases.
They are available at Robinsons Kuala Lumpur and Shoppes at Four Seasons Place.
Prices range from RM925 to RM1,045 for EDP (75ml) and RM145-RM2,070 for travel cases, candles and diffusers.