One aspect that most definitely drives the creative spirit inside Charenton Macerations stems from that palpable energy that surfaces when staring into the face of adversity. In these moments, when faced with an obstacle to overcome, a new challenge to face, we actively engage both our instinctual and rational selfs: our thoughts, our fears, our memories… our biological defenses. Moments that lead us to personal triumph or defeat, popular uprising or upheaval. Moments shared through common interests and experiences. Moments hyper-charged in raw human emotion. Excitement. Fear. Anger. Joy… All intensified as adrenaline courses through our veins. Within these inspirational moments there is so much beauty to be found.
One cannot discuss moments of human adversity without acknowledging the political arena. While not necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about fragrance, there are, nonetheless, a lot of similarities between the world of scent and the world of politics. There are the immediately noticeable connections: consumer safety concerns, trade policies, regulations… Then there are the underlying emotional connections. Indeed, upon closer inspection, the art of politics supplies a rather interesting foil to the art of fragrance. Here are just a few things the two have in common.
10 Ways Perfume is Like Politics
Politics has been an invaluable source of inspiration inside Charenton Macerations, beginning with the words of the Marquis De Sade, Himself.
“My manner of thinking, so you say, cannot be approved. Do you suppose I care? A poor fool indeed is he who adopts a manner of thinking for others!” – De Sade
I believe in crafting fragrance with clear creative authority. Stories of political leadership inspire me to promote that same type of leadership in my development process, a process that aims to be an open and balanced ongoing dialogue. Conceptually, I am drawn to the beauty expressed in moments of political difference: Moments of accord and discord, unity and separation, pain and joy. Here I see aggression, comfort… familiarity. Human emotion in its rawest form. In these situations you see people both as who they are as well as who they want to be.
CM operates under one simple ideal: Love the skin you’re in. If it is your body, you should be able to wear what you want on it. This sentiment is echoed in our mission of crafting fragrances that make a statement.
For more interesting thoughts on “The Politics of Fragrance,” check out this short documentary produced by The Fragrance Foundation shortly after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.
