You can see it right away: Maison Matine is different. No opulent bottles, no bling-bling, gold, and glitter, but a new, colorful, and cheeky lightness that brings life to the niche. Behind the label are Creative Director Marie Kellou and Brand Manager Arthur Ponroy, who are shaking up the world of perfumery with a lot of courage and a wink. Their mission is clear: to create fragrances for a generation that celebrates diversity, crosses boundaries, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Instead of luxury staging, Maison Matine focuses on clear values: sustainable, vegan formulas, recyclable packaging, and creative imagery that is deliberately shaped by an all-female team of international illustrators. Artists Perrine Honoré, Mathilde Purseigle, Nakamura Kyoko, Charline Dajean, and Caroline Gibaut give each fragrance its own identity—colorful, critical, playful, or poetic. The result is fragrances that impress holistically, both olfactorily and visually.
Although created in Paris, Maison Matine’s creative cosmos has long since extended far beyond the metropolis on the Seine. Under the motto “Beyond Paris,” the brand is already represented on five continents in a total of 24 countries – a sign that its blend of conviction, creativity, and lightness is resonating worldwide.
Maison Matine and the Origine Collection – fragrant snapshots
We enter the colorful and multifaceted fragrance universe of Maison Matine with the Origine Collection. It combines six eaux de parfum that, like little snapshots, offer a glimpse of the world around us: sometimes playful, sometimes thoughtful, sometimes provocative. Each fragrance tells a story, taking us on an olfactory journey that Maison Matine has developed together with renowned perfumers.
Avant l’Orage – before the storm
First, we turn our attention to Avant l’Orage, which means “before the storm” in English. The fragrance revolves around that moment of silence before the storm breaks, when anything could happen—or nothing at all. A hovering between calm and departure, clarity and doubt, discipline and pleasure – elusive, contradictory, captivating. Avant l’Orage is the olfactory interpretation of the paradox of a generation that seeks meaning yet celebrates the moment. Perfumer Philippine Courtière combined the ingredients pink pepper, jasmine, benzoin resin, vanilla, sandalwood, tonka bean, and musk for the eau de parfum. Artist Mathilde Purseigle was responsible for the illustrations, decorating the bottle with stars, a crescent moon, and a hand painted with henna.
Avant l’Orage is simply beautiful from the very beginning. A subtle pepperiness combines with liqueur-like vanilla and delicious tonka bean, while jasmine and benzoin resin bring sweet, creamy and balsamic accents to the fragrance. From the very first sniff, the eau de parfum appears harmonious, calm and relaxed. It is as if time stands still for a moment to allow you to immerse yourself in this delightful composition. Sandalwood conjures up a few velvety woody facets in the creation, while musk underscores the powdery creaminess.
The Eau de Parfum Avant l’Orage by Maison Matine is an ideal candidate for the coming cooler season, finely balanced, very well-rounded, and beautifully composed. An elegant, timeless, and modern fragrance with medium presence and good longevity that I would wear for any occasion. A perfume that proves that sometimes the greatest magic lies in the calm before the storm. You can find more fall and winter fragrances here.
Into the Wild – on expedition
Maison Matine invites us on a tropical expedition with Into the Wild, an olfactory journey deep into nature. A leap into the unknown. A fragrance for explorers who travel the world with curious eyes – whether by bike, van, or backpack. Always in harmony with nature and testing its limits – like a tiger in the jungle. Perfumer Adilson Rato comes from Brazil and may have had the opportunity to experience the rainforest of his home country himself. For Into the Wild, he combined cardamom, juniper berries, pepper, ginger, magnolia, frangipani and chocolate. The beautiful tiger illustration is by Charline Dajean.
The eau de parfum starts off fresh, spicy, and aromatic with strong pepper notes that meet tingling woody juniper and citrusy sharp ginger. The lush opening quickly becomes airier and gentler thanks to delicate aquatic magnolia and the tropical floral notes of frangipani, which is so wonderfully creamy and bright. Clear and floral, accompanied by juniper-like woodiness and crystalline powderiness, the composition finally fades away.
Into the Wild is not a steamy jungle scent, nor does it reveal a green rainforest hell, but rather a cool, minimalist, and understated mix of spicy woody and aquatic floral notes that should appeal to anyone who likes perfumes with hints of gin. I would rate the presence as light to medium, as well as the longevity. An uncomplicated and pleasant fragrance companion that is absolutely suitable for everyday wear and the office. Into the Wild is thus a fresh, clear fragrance for those who prefer to experience their adventures quietly and subtly.
Hasard Bazar – creative chaos
With Hasard Bazar, Maison Matine celebrates the joy of experimentation. It is a fragrance for those who love contrasts, try new things, and refuse to be pigeonholed. Unexpected, colorful, and full of energy, this eau de parfum embodies the creative chaos from which the most exciting ideas often arise. “Hasard Bazar” means “wild chaos.” And that’s exactly what it’s meant to convey: living the unexpected and finding inspiration in chaos. Perfume creators Ane Ayo and Fabrice Pellegrin combined the ingredients Szechuan pepper, rose, ambroxan, patchouli, tonka bean, vanilla and musk for the fragrance. The illustration, which reminds me of the works of Henri Matisse due to its bold blue color and cut-outs, is once again by artist Mathilde Purseigle.
Hasard Bazar opens with a blend of tinglingly sharp Sichuan pepper, the sweet and spicy coumarin accents of tonka bean, and a liqueur-like vanilla note. Ambroxan brings fluffy, amber nuances to the composition, which combine with airy, fresh rose and earthy, woody patchouli. What may seem a little uneven and confused at first glance—at least on my skin—soon develops into a beautiful, creamy, powdery fragrance that is almost reminiscent of lipstick iris and carries subtle tonka vanilla accents.
Hasard Bazar is creative chaos that gradually unfolds into a calm, restrained, unexcited composition that should appeal to anyone who prefers perfumes with a dynamic scent progression and little straightforwardness. This creation from Maison Matine is also suitable for everyday and office wear, unisex and wearable all year round. With Hasard Bazar, the French niche fragrance label shows that the most exciting harmonies can arise from playful chaos.
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