This post is part of a series of interviews with our perfumers, where we sat down with them to discuss inspirations, perfumery, and potential future collaborations.
Master Perfumer Honorine Blanc created Sunset Hour for Goldfield & Banks.
What relationship do you have with Australia?
I went to Australia for my honeymoon for three weeks, and drove from Brisbane to Cairns in a campervan. I visited again five years ago with my husband and son, travelling to Melbourne and Sydney.
What is your favourite note in perfumery?
I don’t have one specific favourite – I like to treat every ingredient equally. It all depends on the project and my emotions.
In one sentence, how would you describe your style of perfumery?
Feminine and addictive. I like to combine imperfections with simplicity, brightness with addiction.
What first led you to become a perfumer?
My passion for beauty and nature led me to perfumery. Passion cannot be controlled – you just have it in you…
What does a typical day look like for you?
Never the same! I don’t like routine. I like to create at any time of the day: 9am, 2pm, or sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to work on a formula because I have an idea or find a solution for something I am working on at the time. To accommodate my outbursts of inspiration, I work both at home and at the office. I carry my iPad (on which I create my formulas) with me all the time, even on vacation in case I have a new inspiration.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to travel and discover new cultures. I have been to Morocco, China, Japan, Australia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Dubai, India, and many places in Europe. I also love to go to museums, explore new neighbourhoods in New York and Paris, and escape in my books.
If you were to create another perfume for Goldfield & Banks, what note would you base it on?
Anything is possible. I like to combine ingredients that wouldn’t normally go together, to get out of my comfort zone. I like to explore new olfactive territories, and treat flowers in a new way. I value imperfections in beauty and structures. I think I would love to create new soliflores for Goldfield & Banks, based on something like Muguet or even Narcissus.