As part of Paris Perfume Week, I had the opportunity to visit Sozio, a historic fragrance house that creates perfumes for brands across various categories — from fine fragrances to scented candles.

During the workshop, perfumer Caroline Malléjac walked us through the creative process of developing a custom fragrance, using the example of Pain Nouveau, a scent made for the Scandinavian brand Son Venïn. It all begins with a briefing: the client shares their olfactive preferences and describes the mood, inspiration, and target audience. Based on this, the perfumer develops several initial samples. Together, they refine the direction, adjusting the dosage of perfume ingredients to craft a scent that feels just right. This process can go through multiple stages before arriving at the final formula.

In the second part of the visit, we explored Sozio’s headquarters — including a rare tour of the fragrance laboratory, which is usually closed to the public. We witnessed how perfumers test the longevity of perfumes and the scent throw of candles, and had insightful conversations about their daily creative challenges.

Founded in 1758, Sozio is one of the world’s oldest fragrance houses, with a rich heritage in creating bespoke scents for a variety of industries—from niche perfumery to home fragrances and cosmetics. Known for its artisanal approach and deep understanding of olfactive storytelling, the company blends tradition with innovation, crafting fragrances that reflect both the client’s vision and contemporary sensibilities.