France is the heartland of perfumery. In the southern town of Grasse, many perfumers learn the foundations of their work. Celebrated for its olfactory heritage, flower fields, and precise extraction techniques, the town has shaped many modern classics. Today’s makers are reshaping what a French fragrance house can be. Here are three maisons—soon at Skins—that treat scent as a fresh form of language.
Notes de Bas de Paje – Scents as Footnotes of Life
Can a scent read like a footnote, bringing back a loving or nostalgic memory? That idea brought Alice and Pierre-Junior together. Two friends from law school in Paris, now creating a perfume house rooted in shared values. This maison translates personal narratives from the French Basque coast and Benin into scent. The compositions feel intimate, layered and precise. Paje, for the founders, is a manifesto. Life is a book. Perfume, the footnote. Their first trio of extraits de parfum opens with one shared story, followed by two individual memories.
Gomena Prolégomènes has the lightness of a new season. Green fig milk, crisp apple and Atlas cedar capture the start of something—for them, in Paris. Olatua reflects Alice’s summers on the Basque coast. Coconut wax, salty skin, white flowers and ylang bring warmth and ease. Towédé is a tribute to Pierre-Junior’s mother and her journey between continents. Red earth, sandalwood, spices and dark chocolate come together in a calm, grounded blend. A tender, olfactive embrace.
Each Notes de Bas de Paje fragrance comes housed in a book-like box, with a foreword concealing the scent at its heart.
Notes de Bas de Paje.
Réservation Parfums – Check-in to a Scented Getaway
Imagine stepping into a cinematic hotel. Somewhere between California’s golden hour and la Côte d’Azur. That’s the world of Réservation Parfums, where each composition is a classic room key. A scent to unlock something else. Founded by an Italian-French duo, the house blends Parisian finesse with a laid-back West Coast mindset. The visual identity plays with vintage travel cues: a bellboy-shaped R, nods to late checkouts, and the idea that you might never really leave.
The debut collection offers seven scented locations and atmospheres. Chambre Secrète hints at a hidden encounter. Bleu Piscine starts the day with a cool morning swim. Riviera Californienne captures a citrus sunset. And Jasmin Haze? For me, that’s the one. On its own, it feels like a home away from home. Layered with Suite 909, it turns bright and extrovert.
Réservation Parfums, Téo Cabanel.
Téo Cabanel – Le Bon, le Bien et le Beau
There’s a beautiful legacy behind Téo Cabanel. Founded in 1893 by chemist Théodore Cabanel and his wife Méloé, the house began with delicate eaux de cologne and perfumed essences for handkerchiefs. Their daughter brought the name into the spotlight of the 20th century. Today, Caroline Ilacqua—fourth in line—continues the story with love and purpose.
Their guiding philosophy? Le Bon, Le Bien, Le Beau—good, ethical, beautiful. With 90% of their ingredients sourced from France and the rest from Italy, Téo Cabanel honours both craftsmanship and conscience. These are joyful scents designed to enhance how you feel.
Each creation is named like a French expression: Oh là là, Encore, Rendez-Vous, Très French, and my personal favourite, Je Ne Sais Quoi. With every bottle, you pick up a little more French—not just linguistically, but maybe emotionally as well. It’s a scented vocabulary for everyday life. A note on Je Ne Sais Quoi: this feel-good composition is inspired by Japanese Genmaicha tea. A warm, comforting blend of Sencha and roasted rice, touched with sesame and hazelnut.
Images taken by author, courtesy of all brands and Skins.
All soon available at www.skins.nl
