Kevin Mathys of CPL Aromas©
Growing up in the countryside of Clermont, France, I found myself wandering in the forest, farms and fields from an early age. I’ve always been drawn to the world of scents, I spent my days playing with different colognes, blending them together to create rather awful fragrances – now that I’m thinking about it.
Kevin Mathys of CPL Aromas as a young boy in Clermont©
My most precious scent memories are the smell of my grandmother’s garden roses and the freshly picked raspberries from her garden during summer. Thinking about it now, you could say that my journey of becoming a perfumer was inevitable.
At 18, I left for Montpellier to pursue my studies. After six years there, I moved to Hereford, UK, where I started my career as a Junior Flavourist. I trained myself to create simple accords and basic colognes and when the opportunity arose to train at Bell F&F Leipzig in Germany, I eagerly seized it. I was trained there under the mentorship of Katryn Wnendt and Dr. Sebastian Reuter (who is now part of CPL Germany), who I cannot thank enough for passing their knowledge onto me. They dedicated a lot of time to answer my questions, whilst prompting me to look for the answers. After few years at Bell F&F, I went on to work at Symrise (Holzminden), then Sensient (Paris and Dubai) before joining the CPL Aromas team, in Dubai, where I am currently living.
Christian Provenzano courtesy of CPL Aromas
This is where I met Christian Provenzano, a well-known master perfumer and creator of many niche perfumes. I learnt a lot when sharing his office on a daily basis and our discussions are always very enriching. He helped me discover forgotten but valuable materials and also gave insight into forgotten perfumes.
Art by Kevin Mathys of CPL Aromas
For me, fragrance is deeply personal, it’s about creating emotional connections with the user – the same way a musician or a painter would through their art. Crafting scents that become a part of people’s lives is incredibly rewarding, especially when they tell you a memory they have based around your creation. Scent is a very intimate thing, as it’s the most powerful link to our memories. I would say this is what motivates me the most when creating a scent, as it justifies the hundreds of trials created for it.
Outside of my work in perfumery, I have a passion for sketching, outdoors, swimming, diving, cooking, hiking and many more… These interests not only bring me joy but also influence the fragrances I create, nurturing my creativity. I draw inspiration from all aspects of life, whether it’s a cherished memory, a beautiful song, a beautiful smile in the street or simply a conversation with a friend.
AlUlA oasis©
I particularly enjoy working with woody notes, probably because of where I grew up – the forest and woods were everywhere (the fireplace, the green moss in the forest, the earthiness in the garden, wood chopping with my father, etc.). I love using leather and animalic notes to bring warmth and sensuality, it gives a fragrance a mysterious signature.
AlUlA Saudi Arabia Historical Castle©
It creates a connection between the divine and the human for me. Amber notes have grown on me over the past few years, probably because Dubai is my new home and seeing the possibilities offered by these ingredients in this region and the thirst Arabic people have for it.
Kevin Mathys of CPL Aromas smelling Taif roses in Saudi Arabia
Learning Perfumery involves a huge amount of knowledge, knowing the raw materials, their prices, their origins, their differences, the regulations around it, the big historical accords, the fragrances and the knowledge of the market.
Kevin Mathys of CPL Aromas visiting the House of Altaif Roses, to meet with perfumery students©
I always explain it as being like learning a new language, it is not only learning words that allows you to speak, you have to understand the culture behind it, the grammar and the history of the nation to become fully fluent, and being able to form sentences. All of these can be connected to fragrance creation. I have collaborated with a diverse range of Arabian brands, spanning from well-known names like Rasasi and Lattafa to more exclusive ones such as Atyab al Sheikh in Kuwait. I’ve also had the privilege of partnering with more confidential brands. Through these collaborations, I’ve created custom fragrances that have achieved significant success both regionally and on a global scale. – Kevin Mathys of CPL Aromas
Kevin Mathys of CPL Aromas
Michelyn’s note – All photos courtesy of the perfumer, unless otherwise noted. Kevin Mathys of CPL Aromas was my Rising Star of 2023. Below are some of Kevin Mathys’s key wins including the Art and Olfaction 2024 Finalist KAJAL IV
& Other Stories, Act 1 Scene 3
Fragrance du Bois, Voyage a Paris
Kajal, Kajal IV (Nicoleta’s review)
Bin Jakob, Oud Gone Wild
Mango, Kids: Petites Aventures
Scentologia, Tra.ce (Karl’s review)
Electimuss, Patchouli of the Underworld
Reef Perfumes, Reef 33
Al Majed Oud, White Wood
Thanks to the generosity of KAJAL and to honour Kevin Mathys, we have a 100ml bottle of Kajal IV for one registered reader in the USA, UK or EU. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying with what you found fascinating about Kevin Mathys of CPL Aromas, his path to perfumery, if you are familiar with any of the fragrances he signed and where you live, Draw Closes 5/11/2024
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