Perfumer
Marine Mercé
Marine Mercé grew up in Rambouillet, a charming town near Paris, where her earliest memories are steeped in nature. She recalls her first adventures through the forest in search of lily of the valley, the emblematic flower of the town. It was in contact with this “silent” flower—how it is known in perfumery—that she experienced her first olfactory emotions. “Not so silent when it rests in a bouquet on the table in the family kitchen,” she smiles. Raised between the serenity of the countryside and the vibrant rhythm of the city, Marine developed a taste for contrasts: at once whimsical, dreaming of the spectacle and magic, and deeply connected to the authenticity of nature and the comforting scent of hay.
In high school, captivated by the fascinating perfume trail of one of her teachers, she began exploring fragrances in search of that singular aroma. She soon became convinced that “the scent of a person gives them their aura”—and that is how her vocation was born.
Passionate about the performing arts, Marine is an instinctive and expressive creator who draws on experimentation. Singing, acting, and dancing provide ways to channel emotions and tell stories. For a time, she even performed as a magician alongside her mother, delighting audiences with moments of illusion and lightness. This shared sense of mystery and intangibility deeply resonates with perfumery, inspiring her to uncover its secrets. Her guiding belief is to forge a deep connection with invisible emotions: “Perfume is a companion, both in our greatness and in our failures.”
Her educational path reflects determination and resilience. After completing a DUT in Chemistry, she entered ISIPCA in 2012. Focused and ambitious, she began her professional training at smaller fragrance houses, notably in the Netherlands, before joining the Fine Fragrance Perfumery School at dsm-firmenich in 2019. She first trained in London with Master Perfumer Martin Koh, then moved to New York to immerse herself in American perfumery with Gabriela Chelariu, before continuing her learning in Paris under the mentorship of Marie Salamagne and Bruno Jovanovic.
Guided by a sense of childlike wonder, Marine infuses into her creations the magic she seeks in everyday life. The birth of her daughter—“her greatest achievement,” she confesses—profoundly transformed her perspective. It is in her arms that Marine finds comfort and an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
Ever curious, she feeds her imagination through travel, encounters, and the simple pleasures of daily life, continually enriching the emotional landscape of her perfumes.
