Millesève: Perfume as Memory

There's something special about discovering a new fragrance in the city long synonymous with perfume. On July 9, I was invited to the official launch of the new French fragrance house, Millesève, founded by Camille Hauguel.

Inspired by Camille's childhood memories of Normandy, the debut collection consists of four fragrances: Chère Colette, À Pas de Loup, Falaise 49.5°N, and Pâquerettes. Rather than building perfumes around trends or abstract concepts, Millesève starts with something more intimate: places, people, and moments that live in our hearts long after they've passed.

Fittingly, we began the day by writing down our own olfactory memories. The first image that came to my mind was my grandmother’s apple pie — the smell that would wake me up in the morning, with its crisp sour apples, warm cinnamon, and golden crust. I always knew how instantly scent can transport us through time, and it was a nice exercise to be reminded of it.

The experience continued with a sound bath led by Shirley Regnault of Corps Society. Eyes closed, guided by sound, voice, and fragrance, we were encouraged to let our own memories emerge naturally. It was a beautiful reminder that perfume, much like art, deserves to be experienced with full attention. I often talk about slowing down and engaging all our senses instead of rushing from one distraction to another, and this felt like a perfect embodiment of that idea.

Even the smallest details reflected care. Herbal infusions inspired by the fragrances accompanied the experience, and — during a Paris heatwave — the air conditioning was perhaps the most appreciated luxury there is.

One of my favourite moments came during the conversation with perfumer Marie Schnirer of MS Lab Parfums, the perfumer behind the fragrances. As a writer, I often think there are two ways of working with memory: writing immediately after something happens, or returning to moments that belong to a much more distant past. The latter is infinitely more difficult. Naturally, I asked Marie how she managed to translate Camille's childhood memories into fragrance.

Her answer was simple: conversation. Talking, talking, and talking again until they found common emotional ground — shared references, familiar sensations, memories that could be, finally, transformed into scent. Before technique comes empathy — this is not very different from writing, after all.

And technique certainly played its part. Marie explained the composition behind each fragrance, while Camille spoke about the personal stories that inspired them. Watching the two discuss the project together, it was impossible not to notice the genuine passion behind the collection.

Among the four fragrances, Chère Colette was my personal favourite — and, if I had to guess, a future bestseller. Dedicated to Camille's grandmother, it feels like an olfactory love letter. Bright linden blossom, crisp green apple, honeyed sweetness, and soft cereal notes create a luminous composition, while an unexpected touch of leather quietly anchors everything together.

À Pas de Loup transports you into a damp forest after rainfall. Sage, cedar, pine, and soft musk evoke cool woodland air, while an unexpected mushroom accord adds remarkable realism. It’s woody, comforting, and quietly addictive.

Falaise 49.5°N captures Normandy’s coastline without relying on the familiar marine clichés. Warm pebbles, salty air, blackberry jam, and the cool northern wind create a landscape rather than simply a seaside fragrance. It unfolds gently, becoming more evocative with time.

Pâquerettes returns us to the garden: green beans, tomato vine, mirabelle plum, iris, soft musk, and a touch of vanilla create a composition that feels vibrant, abundant, and full of life.

The storytelling extends to the bottle itself. I especially loved its rounded asymmetric silhouette, reminiscent of Normandy pebbles, and the elegant cap with its subtle tortoiseshell finish. Even the logo, bringing together visual elements from all four fragrances, reflects the thoughtful attention to detail found throughout the collection.

Millesève is currently available online, at Conscience Parfums, and will soon be available through a three-month pop-up at La French Beauty in Paris, which central location is a perfect reason to discover the brand.

P.S. I encourage you to visit the brand’s website to appreciate the truly beautiful editorial work!

Thank you to Shirley Regnault and Corps Society for the kind invitation, and to Camille Hauguel, Marie Schnirer, and the entire Millesève team for such a thoughtful day. It was a pleasure discovering a brand that reminds us that some of our strongest memories are the ones we carry through scent.