Olivia Giacobetti

Born in 1966, Olivia Giacobetti, a well-known French perfumer, was inspired by the world of fragrances from an early age. Her father, Francis Giacobetti, is a celebrated artist who influenced her creative spirit. At nine years old, Olivia became fascinated by the art of perfumery after watching the Jean-Paul Rappeneau film "Lovers Like Us", in which Yves Montand played a perfumer. Giacobetti’s journey in the world of perfumery began at 16, when she started working for Annick Goutal. Later, she joined the French fragrance and flavor company Robertet and worked there for seven years as a perfumer’s assistant. In 1990, at the age of 24, Giacobetti founded her own company, Iskia, and began creating custom fragrances for prestigious brands such as L'Artisan Parfumeur, Diptyque, and Hermès. In 2003, with the support of the Japanese cosmetics conglomerate Shiseido, Giacobetti launched her independent line called Iunx, which included perfumes, candles, and body products. Although the initial boutique faced difficulties, Iunx products found a new home in a boutique inside the Hôtel Costes in Paris, where Giacobetti had previously created the hotel’s signature scent. In 2016, she opened a new Iunx boutique in Paris. Throughout her career, Giacobetti has collaborated with numerous luxury brands, including Guerlain, Fendi, Hugo Boss, and Penhaligon's. Her creations have earned her a reputation for innovation and refinement, especially highlighting her pioneering use of fig notes in perfumery in the mid-1990s. Olivia Giacobetti’s unique approach to perfume creation is characterized by her ability to combine contrasting elements, resulting in innovative and captivating scents. Her fragrances often feature mixed-composition blends, using both natural and synthetic ingredients. Giacobetti believes these elements are "inseparable", with synthetic ingredients providing the fragrance’s "backbone" and natural ingredients adding "nuances". Giacobetti’s creations reflect her imaginative and innovative spirit, such as her revolutionary fragrances Premier Figuier for L'Artisan Parfumeur and Philosykos for Diptyque, both inspired by the fig tree. Her work has influenced the industry, and many other brands have adopted fig notes in their fragrances. One of Giacobetti’s most acclaimed creations is En Passant, a subtle and innovative floral fragrance that evokes the essence of spring rain over fresh flowers. Another notable creation is L'Artisan Parfumeur Dzing!, a scent inspired by the Cirque d'Hiver de Paris that masterfully blends various aromas into a comforting and subtly succulent blend. Olivia Giacobetti has profoundly impacted contemporary perfumery, playing an integral role in the shift toward recognizing the "nose" behind the scent and promoting independent lines that highlight these creators.