Agnès Costa, great granddaughter of the founder of Fragonard Parfumerie, is one of the three sisters that now steer this famous company. Originally founded in 1926 in Grasse, Fragonard has stayed true to its style during the ninety-two years and has secured a very loyal following. After spending a career perfuming others, I thought it was time to find out Agnès Costa’s fragrance favourites during “Stephan’s Six.”
What is the first smell that you can remember?
It would be orange blossom in my parents’ garden in Grasse, as well as in drinks from my dear mother at night. She would mix a drop of orange blossom with sugar and water to help her children to sleep!
From a young adult, until her death, my mother only ever wore L’Air du Temps by Nina Ricci. So, I can’t smell it without thinking of her. As a child, when she was away, I would spend hours in her bed just to smell her perfume on her pillow.
My father never used fragrance as he worked in the perfume factory. He was always saying that the smell was too strong, but I do remember him using 4711 Eau de Cologne once in a while.
My father never used fragrance as he worked in the perfume factory. He was always saying that the smell was too strong, but I do remember him using 4711 Eau de Cologne once in a while.
What was the perfume of your twenties?
I wore Shalimar by Guerlain for years before eventually asking friends, who were perfumers, to create my special scent. The first one was a fragrance inspired by Patrick Suskind’s “Le Parfum.” I had asked five noses to work with the inspiration of that book and the best fragrance, chosen by Suskind himself, was a lovely and very sensual scent by Laurent Bruyère. I wore it long after our perfume, made in collaboration with the writer’s editor and Fragonard, had sold out.
What was your biggest perfume mistake?
This would definitely be trying to sell a tuberose scent in our Fragonard line ... our customers are not ready for these carnal scents!
I think that it would have to be our Fleur d'Oranger Intense because of my deep family memories, as well as for the incredible talent of my beloved friend Daniela Roche-Andrier who made this most amazing scent for Fragonard in 2016.
What perfume should I try?
I’d love you to try Mon Poivre, a scent from Fragonard’s Tout Ce Que J’aime range. It was created by Céline Elena and is a wonderfully elegant combination of spices.
For more information about Fragonard you can visit the website at fragonard.com or UK readers can also discover the range in Marks And Spencer.
[Image of Fleur d'Oranger Intense © Elle]
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