Interview: Pauline Rochas
Perfumer combining heritage and modern perfume making.
A PASSION THING is a magazine dedicated to telling the stories of people from around the world who are driven by the wonderful force we call passion. We’re excited to take these conversations beyond the page and into the digital world, with Substack as our new home.
This interview appears in A PASSION THING Issue No. 11
Pauline Rochas has been immersed in the world of smell since her childhood. Growing up surrounded by the aromas of Southern France, Bordeaux, and the boudoir of her grandmother Hélène Rochas in Paris, she now creates perfumes and fragrances. Blending heritage and modern perfume making, Pauline has been living in Vienna for the past seven years. The elegance and timeless allure of this city and its inhabitants have captivated her and ultimately convinced her to stay.
What’s a smell you grew up with?
Pauline The scent of crushed ripe blackberries bushes and the earthy aroma of vineyards and cellars in Bordeaux; the intoxicating fragrance of midnight datura in the South of France. I also remember the elegance of both my grandmothers boudoirs, filled with hints of powder and lipstick, and the comforting warmth and sweetness of baking. Each scent, a cherished memory, woven into the fabric of my childhood.
