Herbert Stricker is a name that has long been familiar to fragrance lovers. As founder and managing director of Classic Parfums, he has made a significant contribution to establishing exclusive niche fragrances on the German-speaking market. With a keen sense of quality, aesthetics and olfactory sophistication, he has been bringing exceptional fragrance brands to the selective trade for many years, always with the desire to create memorable impressions.
His latest project is a special collaboration with the Swedish fragrance house Pana Dora Sweden, known for its opulent, artfully composed creations in stag’s head bottles. Together with perfumer Ibrahim Al Zouabi, a fragrance was created that not only reflects Stricker’s style, but also bears his name: “Stricker”. It is intended to be a gentle oriental, elegant, restrained and yet full of depth. In this interview, Herbert Stricker talks about the creation of this fragrance, his personal fragrance vision and the creative power of successful partnerships.
Mr. Stricker, how did the collaboration with the Swedish fragrance house Pana Dora Sweden come about? What was it about this collaboration that particularly appealed to you?
We have always tried to develop exclusive fragrances for the domestic market together with brands we trust. Pana Dora has long been one of our favorites, so I simply approached them. They were just as enthusiastic about the idea as I was. What I find particularly appealing about a collaboration like this is that we can actively contribute ideas to the creation of the fragrance.
The new fragrance bears your name: Stricker. What does it mean to you personally to launch a fragrance under your own name?
The name idea didn’t come from me. We had originally planned a different name. But the owner and perfumer of Pana Dora unexpectedly sent us a visualization with the name “Stricker”, which he felt was particularly suitable for this collaboration. I think it’s a great idea, and I’m delighted with it. Even if the joint creation is more important to me than the fact that the fragrance bears my name.
Can you give us an insight into the creative development process of Eau de Parfum Stricker?
The development began about two years ago. We exchanged initial ideas about the olfactory DNA at a trade fair. There were two directions: an aquatic version and a soft oriental. The latter was finally realized, whereby the aquatic direction will soon also appear in the classic collection. We worked on the fragrance composition in several rounds. I gave feedback and Ibrahim, the perfumer, translated the suggestions into new variants.
What emotions, memories or images were at the origin of the fragrance idea? How did you implement these olfactorically?
It was important to us to preserve and appreciate the typical signature of Pana Dora. At the same time, we wanted to create a gentle oriental. An elegant alternative to the many powerful, animalic fragrances in this category. We had the image of an elegant gentleman and a stylish lady in mind.
In a few words: How would you describe Eau de Parfum Stricker, and who is this fragrance made for?
I repeat myself: for me, the term “soft oriental” describes it very well. The fragrance is absolutely unisex and versatile, wearable for almost any occasion.
To what extent does Stricker reflect your personality and style?
I prefer an elegant style and don’t like overly intrusive, aggressive fragrance statements. In this respect, “Stricker” fits my vision and personality very well.
The Pana Dora Sweden brand is known for its intense, complex creations. What was particularly important to you when creating the fragrance?
It was important to me that Pana Dora’s signature remains clearly recognizable and that the fragrance is intense, complex and long-lasting.
Oud and rose are among the best-known fragrance combinations. How did you manage to give this classic duo a new, unmistakable facet in Stricker?
Of course, I am aware of how popular rose-oud combinations are. However, our aim was not to simply create another representative of this type. The combination of oud, rose and other carefully selected components turned out to be perfect for the soft, elegant oriental we were aiming for. Lavender was also an option, but it is often sharper and more dominant, while rose brings a much softer nuance.
What emotions or moods did you want to convey with Stricker – and how is this reflected in the fragrance composition?
We wanted to capture the feeling of a balmy night in the desert. A little cooler and with a light breeze. The tranquillity and solitude should give a deep sense of relaxation and serenity. For me, this mood is reflected in the fragrance.
What can we expect in the future? Will there be more fragrance projects with Pana Dora Sweden or other brands?
If this collaboration is successful – and we very much hope it is – there will certainly be a continuation. Further collaborations are already being planned. Some brands are open to it, others less so. So a new project with Gritti could well follow soon.
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