DOCU: PEEK INTO THE RICH SOUL (AND HISTORY) OF PERFUME

In the new documentary Nose one of the best noses in the world, François Demachy is followed for two years by filmmakers Arthur de Kersauson and Clément Beauvais. Demachy may call himself Parfumeur-Créateur of Dior, has been creating all the fragrances of the French fashion house since 2006 and is among other things responsible for iconic perfumes such as Sauvage and Joy.Text: Fleur de Jong
Image: Dior In the documentary, the filmmakers try to unravel the mystique of being a so-called "nose" and how Dior's exceptional fragrances are realized. Dior itself describes the documentary as a "smell good movie": an enchanting and compelling film that provides a glimpse into the rich history and soul of Dior's perfumes.

François travels to 14 countries in the documentary. From the lush gardens in the French town of Grasse, also known as the world capital of perfume, to the Patchouli fields in Indonesia, the perfumer-creator travels the globe in search of raw materials to create Dior's fragrances. On this journey, Demachy visits the most remote and unique places where he comes into contact with local producers who seek to preserve the precious craftsmanship and traditional expertise of their craft.

Similarity of music and perfume

At the same time, according to filmmaker Beauvais, this was the reason for making the documentary Nose; according to him, there is a misunderstanding of what perfume actually is. He indicates that people think it is beauty and luxury, but it is mostly a craft. 

Although scent is obviously difficult to convey on a screen, according to an interview, the filmmakers worked hard to stimulate other senses in a way that could be complementary. Music played an important role through this, the filmmakers indicating that music and perfume have many similarities. According to them, it is constructed more or less the same with top notes and a base. The documentary reveals that François stored some 2,000 raw materials in his top secret laboratory in the French town of Grasse and "tastes" as many as 150 scents a day. An average of 30 ingredients are used in an average perfume. Sometimes much more, sometimes much less. Demachy's favorite ingredient for perfume is Patchouli. Nose was previously shown at the Tribeca Film Festival, but has been available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play and Canal VODMoremust sees? Click here