Pierre Wulff: The Perfumer Who Composes with His Emotions

Pierre Wulff, born in 1953, is a perfumer of Swedish origin who now works in the USA. After training in perfumery in Grasse, he built an international career marked by major collaborations, notably with Byredo. His olfactory style, both narrative and emotional, draws on memories and landscapes, translating abstract concepts into immersive sensory creations. Let's lift a corner of the veil on this influential man in the world of perfumery, but also discreet and close to his emotions.

Let's go back in time for a few seconds. On the corner of a lavender-lined alley in Grasse, we imagine an 18-year-old young man fervently inhaling the aromas floating in the Provençal air. "It was here that I understood that perfumes are not only smells, but memories in a bottle," remembers Pierre Wulff. Born in 1953 in Malmö, Sweden, this perfumer has transformed an inherited passion into a career that transcends borders and senses.

How an obligation turns into a vocation

For Pierre Wulff, olfaction has been a family affair at first. Son of Knut Wulff, founder of a Swedish beauty company bearing his first name, he grew up surrounded by bottles and rare raw materials. But it was Scandinavian nature, with its damp woods, earthy mosses and the crystalline scent of winters, that formed his first olfactory lexicon.

His initiation into perfume composition began in Grasse, where he left for a two-month internship that would ultimately stretch over two years. There, he immersed himself in the rigorous and poetic world of perfumery, learning to distil, compose and listen to materials. “In Grasse, I understood that each perfume tells a story, but that you have to know how to listen to it in order to transcribe it,” he recalls.

Pierre Wulff then moved to Paris, where he stayed for 17 years, perfecting his art and developing his expertise in perfume creation. He then continued his career in New York, establishing himself as an independent perfumer in offices on the corner of 5th Avenue and 60th Street.

A narrative and sensory olfactory style

Pierre Wulff is distinguished by an approach that is both artistic and emotional. Each of his creations resembles an impressionist painting, where details are revealed in successive touches. He likes to play with contrasts, marrying luminous citrus notes with more shaded accords of smoky woods or enveloping resins.

His creations often capture moods, suspended moments: a summer day on a Scandinavian beach, an autumn walk in a humid forest, or the effervescence of a cosmopolitan city like New York. “My perfumes are never a simple juxtaposition of ingredients, they are emotional landscapes,” he explains.

Memorable collaborations

Pierre Wulff's career is marked by prestigious collaborations, notably with the house of Byredo, which he helped establish as a reference in contemporary perfumery. His meeting with Ben Gorham, the founder of the brand, was a turning point. "I told him: 'You don't create perfumes to please, you create them to move. And he understood."

Pierre has also worked for niche houses, transforming abstract ideas into fragrances. His creations can be found in limited collections or multi-sensory exhibitions, such as the one where he mixes scents, photographs and sculptures in an immersive experience.

We also note the fragrances he created with Jérôme Epinette for LES SŒURS DE NOÉ, with particular care given to respecting the ingredients and the men and women to whom we owe them.

L’homme derrière les créations

Behind the internationally renowned perfume bottles lies an influential man, but one deeply connected to his roots. Inspired by solitary walks and travels, he finds his ideas in nature, art and sometimes even his dreams. “Sometimes I smell a note in my sleep, and when I wake up, I have to capture it before it evaporates,” he confides with a smile.

Sensitive to the environment, Pierre Wulff favors sustainable raw materials and supports young talents in their quest for creativity. When he is not in his laboratory, he likes to escape to the Swedish landscapes that marked his childhood or wander through museums to feed his imagination.

Discover the world of Pierre Wulff on SCENTISSIME

The creations of Pierre Wulff in association with Jérôme Epinette embody an encounter between emotion and know-how. By exploring his perfumes on SCENTISSIME, you will discover olfactory stories that invite you to escape, works where each note has a reason to be. SCENTISSIME offers you a privileged experience: a selection of exceptional perfumes, impeccable service and personalized recommendations. Immerse yourself in the world of Pierre Wulff and let yourself be guided by your senses.