AN ODE TO NATURE
French niche brand, L’Artisan Parfumeur, is a fragrance oasis abundant with botanical-inspired scents. General Manager Reyes Lezcano takes us on the brand’s olfactory journey – from its early beginnings to recipe development
What are the DNA pillars that define the L’Artisan Parfumeur as a brand? Founded in 1976 by Jean Laporte, a visionary ahead of his time, he established one of the very first niche perfume brands. His innovative creative approach was based on freedom, a deep passion for exquisite raw materials and ingredients, and a fascination with craftsmanship. Since we’ve taken the responsibility, we aim to pay tribute to his spirit and vision. We’ve returned to the fundamentals: working hand in hand with the perfumer, in a wholly organic way, respecting olfactory creation, and pursuing thoroughness in our ideas.
L’Artisan Parfumeur is a brand committed to celebrating various artisanal professions: the perfumer’s craft, as well as that of the artisans, architects, and artists. Every form of craftsmanship has a place with us. Ultimately, it’s this heritage and innovative character that we aim to perpetuate through our creations at L’Artisan Parfumeur.
What goes into the creation of a new fragrance – does it start with a story or from a material? Our creative process with perfumers is organic and natural, allowing each project to evolve naturally. This approach results in some projects, like À fleur de Pêche, coming to fruition quickly due to the spontaneous emergence of ideas. On the other hand, some projects require a more extended exploration of notes, as was the case with the Potager collection. This was our first time emphasising these particular olfactory signature notes so strongly in a perfume. We don’t adhere to a systematic method but prefer a more organic and unstructured approach, respecting the perfumer’s choices and the natural progression of the creative process.
Is there a common fragrant thread that connects all the scents at L’Artisan Parfumeur? The house values time, the human touch, and know-how. We seek to bring together fragrance expertise in all areas of the creative process, and work with the best noses, and with the highest quality ingredients in a way that remains close in spirit to this centuries old craft. Our perfumers have carte blanche to express their own vision of nature and its evocative scents. This makes the brand singularly experimental and creative, inventing new accords and taking a novel spin to familiar riffs.
Why and how did the brand decide to open a boutique in the UAE? Attentive and receptive to his surroundings, Jean Laporte, our founder, was enriched by all the experiences he had during his many journeys on the perfume routes, which, of course, includes the Middle East. Today, we share with Jean Laporte the same love for these fragrant sunsoaked regions. The UAE has become an essential destination for perfume connoisseurs and enthusiasts, a fact that aligns perfectly with our brand’s proposition. We feel a strong connection with customers who value quality ingredients, exquisite raw materials, and fine craftsmanship. This shared appreciation undoubtedly strengthens the bond between L’Artisan Parfumeur and the UAE. Which scents are driving sales in the Middle East? We have a global bestseller that not only is performing well in the Middle East, but also worldwide: Abyssae. This fragrance takes you to the depths of an unseen underwater realm. It belongs to our La Botanique collection, a collection that is about fantasised nature that awakens in the night. Another performing collection in the Middle East is Les Merveilles, which pays tribute to the traditions and cultural heritage of the Orient.
What are your top tips in finding a signature scent? In our boutique, we are proud to have a team of highly skilled professionals who are not just experts, but connoisseurs in the realm of perfumes. Their profound knowledge and understanding of fragrances is unparalleled. They specialise in guiding customers on a sensory journey to discover their unique signature scent. We cordially invite everyone to experience this personalised fragrance consultation at our boutique located in Dubai Mall.
“Our perfumers have carte blanche to express their own vision of nature and its evocative scent”
What is an abundant mindset to you and how do you cultivate it personally? Having an abundant mindset really is the needed ingredient for true success and fulfillment. It’s about believing deep down that everything we want is available to us, and that there’s more than enough of it – whether it’s money, love, or opportunities.
One way to get into this mindset is by embracing gratitude. A great way to do this is to start a gratitude journal. Take some time each day to jot down five things you’re grateful for. It doesn’t have to be big things – sometimes it’s the small things that mean just as much to us and fill our hearts with joy. Affirmations are another powerful tool to grow that abundance mindset. Repeat positive statements daily such as ‘I am more than enough’, ‘Everything I want is available to me’, ‘I attract abundance effortlessly’. Write them down and put them in a place where you will see them and don’t just state them out loud, but affirm and embody them in front of a mirror to embed them in your mind. If you want to attract more abundance into your life, you also need to get crystal clear on what abundance means to you – is it more time, love, money, health, success – or maybe all of them? Close your eyes and picture yourself living your life of abundance in vivid detail because this gives your mind focus and helps to bring this vision into your reality. Abundance isn’t just about receiving, it’s about giving too. So be generous with your time, your resources, and your support because the more you give, the more comes back to you. It’s the Law of Attraction in action! Of course, life will always throw you curveballs, but in challenging times, focus on finding solutions instead of getting bogged down by the detail and problems and instead see these times as opportunities for growth.
Is this mindset like a muscle which gets stronger with practise? Absolutely! Think of an abundant mindset like a muscle you can strengthen through practise – the more you exercise it, the stronger and more resilient it becomes. Your mind learns by repetition, so set yourself daily practises that will build this abundance mindset over time and rewire it for success.
Just like hitting the gym regularly builds your physical strength, consistently practising gratitude, positive affirmations, and visualisation exercises strengthen your mental muscle of abundance – reinforcing the belief that abundance is not only possible and available to you but is also inevitable. Then take a step back and watch as more opportunities flow into your life! ‘Something is not available to me’ is one of the three key issues people have – how does this show up in their lives? Many of my clients come to me with amazing ideas, drive and determination, but for some reason they feel stuck or are struggling to take their careers or relationships to the next level.
When we investigate the root cause of what is holding them within a Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) session, many have this ingrained belief, often formed in childhood, that somehow success, happiness or love is simply not available to them.
This belief then manifests in their lives in different ways – from career and business to relationships and love – and usually ends up with them holding themselves back, missing out on life-changing opportunities, being scared to take risks, and never reaching their full potential. For instance, in relationships, someone holding onto this belief may struggle to find love or maintain fulfilling connections because they believe that true love or genuine connections are not available to them, resulting in self-sabotage, fear of vulnerability, or settling for less than they deserve. Similarly, in career or business, people with this belief may hold themselves back from pursuing their dreams or taking risks be
cause they feel that success or abundance is not within their reach, so they shy away from opportunities for growth and limit their potential for achievement.
What is often the root cause of feeling something is not available to us and how can we change this with RTT? The feeling that something isn’t available to us is closely linked to the beliefs we carry about ourselves and the world, which are often formed in childhood and can make us think we’re not good enough, capable enough, worthy enough, or that opportunities are scarce. This is where RTT is so effective, as it goes deep into the subconscious mind to uncover where these beliefs came from, giving us the power to challenge and change the script and rewire the mind with more empowering beliefs which will help you to move forward.
In an RTT session we acknowledge and reframe negative beliefs and code in more positive constructive beliefs so that thoughts like “I’m not good enough” or “I’ll never make it” become “I am worthy and deserving of everything I want from life” and “Success comes naturally to me”. With this fresh mindset, we open ourselves up to a world bursting with possibilities and opportunities, where everything we desire is within our reach, and we know we are worthy and deserving of it all.
Is it possible that feeling that something is not available to us can affect one area of a person’s life while in others it does not? It’s possible for the belief that something isn’t available to us to affect just one part of our lives because our subconscious is like a rich tapestry woven from our past experiences and beliefs. Some beliefs are deeply rooted in certain areas, while others are more flexible.
For instance, someone might feel confident and successful in their career, believing opportunities are abundant and success is within their reach, but when it comes to relationships, they struggle with feelings of worthiness, or a belief that true love is not available to them. Society and culture also shape our beliefs. Take money, for example. Many clients I work with grew up hearing negative stories and statements about money such as “money is a dirty word”, “filthy rich” or “money doesn’t grow on trees” and these beliefs can then make them feel guilty for wanting wealth, distancing themselves from it and feeling that it shouldn’t be available to them.
The key is to identify these beliefs and address them at their core. That’s where Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) is so effective, as it helps uncover and reframe these limiting beliefs, allowing us to instill better, more constructive beliefs which allow us to move forward and experience abundance and fulfillment in all areas of life.
Do you have a particular case which stands out to you as an example of this? One of my clients recalled her father always saying people like us don’t have money, good people have to go without and rich people have sold their soul to the devil. He told her all the time that she should never have more than the poorest person, so at Christmas and at birthdays she would get very little. As an adult she became seriously ill and my husband, myself and friends fundraised to get money for the treatment she needed. I was so surprised when she said “I want someone more deserving than me to have this money”. There was no one more deserving than her, but she found it very hard to receive as all of her life that had been denied to her. She had lived all her life without abundance until she believed it, it would never be available to her. Once I had her look at this, she was finally able to let this go for good and get fully involved in recovering from her illness, while allowing others to pay for it because they loved her.
How can we focus on cultivating an abundant mindset amid a crisis or at a time when we do not feel our best? Focusing on nurturing an abundant mindset, especially during tough times or when we’re feeling low, is super important because our mindset can really make a difference in how we handle challenges and bounce back from them. As I’ve mentioned, practising gratitude is key. Even when things seem bleak, there’s always something to be thankful for. Take a moment each day to count your blessings, no matter how small. Gratitude has this amazing ability to shift our perspective and remind us of all of the good things we have in our lives, even in hard times. What really helps me is to imagine if my problem could be someone else’s fantasy dream come true e.g. a baby who won’t sleep, a demanding job etc. When we’re feeling down, it’s easy for that little inner critic to take over and start chirping away with negative thoughts. But try to catch those thoughts and replace them with positive affirmations.
Remind yourself of your abundance and strength – and remember that the only thing any one of us actually has any control over, is our own thoughts – so take charge and change them to work with you instead of against you. Take some time to visualise yourself overcoming challenges and thriving. Picture yourself living a life full of abundance and success, and learn from any bumps in the road along the way.
And lastly, be kind to yourself. Cultivating an abundant mindset isn’t something that happens overnight, especially when times are tough. Give yourself space to just be and acknowledge your progress. You’re capable of more than you realise, so make sure you celebrate your victories and resilience along the way.
This is The Abundance Issue – what is valuable to have in abundance and what is valuable to give in abundance? Love is one of the most precious things we can have in abundance. Love for ourselves, love for others, and love for the world around us. When we have an abundance of love in our hearts, we radiate positivity and attract more love into our lives. Having an abundance of gratitude is like having a superpower. When we’re grateful for what we have, we attract more blessings into our lives. Gratitude opens the door to abundance and allows us to see the beauty in every moment.
Let’s not forget about kindness – an abundance of kindness in our hearts can truly change the world. When we’re kind to others, we create ripples of positivity that spread far and wide. Much needed in a world where we are bombarded with bad news, crises, fear and negativity. Generosity is one of the most beautiful things we can give in abundance. Whether it’s our time, resources, or love, giving generously to others not only enriches their lives, but also fills our own hearts with joy. Empathy is another invaluable gift to give in abundance. When we have empathy for others, we create deep connections and foster understanding and compassion in the world.
Finally, let’s not forget about encouragement. Giving encouragement in abundance can lift others up and help them realise their full potential. So, remember to give love, gratitude, kindness, generosity, empathy, and encouragement in abundance, and watch as your life and the lives of those around you are transformed in the most beautiful ways.