Pierre Guillaume

Pierre Guillaume’s story

Pierre Guillaume is an independent perfumer from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne. However, he learned perfumery on his own and was originally trained as a chemist. He acquired his basic chemistry in his father’s business and confides that he never really wanted to be a perfumer. In fact, he says he feels more like it was life that chose to do everything in its power to get him to embark on this career. At the end of his studies, in 1999, he joined the family company as an industrial formulator in charge of the development of the cosmetics division. Nevertheless, his father suffered from a serious illness shortly after and this is how Pierre Guillaume oriented himself in perfumery. Eager to keep something from his father, he conceived a smell similar to that of his cigar humidor. He tried to reproduce the perfumed breath that evaporated from his box, a clever mixture of wood and tobacco. Random encounters, some big names in perfumery decided to make this personal juice a perfume. In fact, Chandller Burr’s New York Times review of this essence said it was “the coolest new European fragrance made by a young hardcore chemist.” ” Chandller Burr’s New York Times review of the essence said it was “the coolest new European fragrance made by a young hardcore chemist.” ” Chandller Burr’s New York Times review of the essence said it was “the coolest new European fragrance made by a young hardcore chemist.” “

The creation of the Parfumerie Générale brand

This is how Pierre Guillaume launched, in 2002, the opening of his own independent perfumery called Parfumerie Générale. Having made no study in the perfume sector, Pierre Guillaume moved forward little by little, instinctively. In fact, his passion led him to recompose smells rather than create new ones. It was over time that his passion for perfumery was established. Moreover, Pierre Guillaume considers that his favorite perfume is always the next one. He makes this motto his reason for getting up in the morning. He says of passion that it is his favorite ingredient and that it is essential for designing good products. Nevertheless, certain raw materials such as tobacco remain among his favorites while he says he has more difficulty in making floral juices.

Pierre Guillaume’s business is unlike any other. It is a 100% French family company that is 100% financially independent. Thus, Pierre Guillaume makes the choice of his own production tools and his elaborations. He has total freedom and can thus express himself fully. He is a perfumer with a rare authenticity which only brings him closer to the foundations of niche perfumery.