By Chloe Schneider
Australia’s beauty scene has a new international player in the fragrance game and it’s one that has women hot under the collar. Parisian based The Different Company has been creating luxury perfumes for boutiques and concept stores around the globe since 2000. We are thrilled to announce that Vaia Pappas of Surry Hills Vaia Beauty has now brought the iconic perfume house to Australia.
The Different Company’s philosophy states a dedication to luxury, unique fragrances and rare bottle designs. The result is a line with a cult status that is exclusive and truly modern.
We wanted to find out more about the brand so we decided to take some time out with two of The Different Company’s major players. First up is Luc Gabriel, the charming CEO of The Different Company…
RESCU: Tell us about what motivated you to launch a fragrance brand?
Luc Gabriel: For two major reasons, my mother used to have a perfume store when I was a child and everyday back from school I could spend a lot of time discovering the different fragrances. This kind of experience structures your vision of the world. You see though your traditional senses.
I was also desperate to see where the business was going. When a leather belt in a famous fashion house is worth more than a perfume of bottle, something is wrong. When there are three-hundred new fragrances launched each year, it’s not going any better, and when you think feel half these launches bring nothing to the market and are almost pure copy/paste of existing fragrances; you need to enter the game.
RESCU: What is the story behind the name?
Luc Gabriel: The Different Company has been designed, as the name suggests, as a global lifestyle company, starting with fragrances and accessories for the fragrance (like the Travel Cases.)
RESCU: Who are the noses you collaborate with and how did you select them?
Luc Gabriel: We had the pleasure to work with Jean Claude Ellena and his daughter Celine. We are now collaborating with Bertrand Duchauffour who is an experienced and creative perfumer.
The selection is pretty simple:
- We first need to get along with them and establish and make sure we are in sync with them both on a personal and business level
- They need not be creative and share the quest of the brand for different, pleasurable and luxurious fragrances
- And of course they are different and stand out in their peer group
RESCU: How many fragrances have you released and which scents are your best sellers?
Luc Gabriel: We have now about 13 fragrances in the line among which Sublime Balkiss, Un Parfum des Sens et Bois, Oriental lounge and Bergamote are the best sellers.
RESCU: How often do you launch new fragrances?
Luc Gabriel: Once or twice a year
RESCU: Tell us about the story behind the new fragrance we saw launched today?
Luc Gabriel: Pure Virgin has been developed as a comfortable easy-to-live-with fragrance.
The most difficult thing has been to keep it simple and obviously luxurious at the same time.
RESCU: What is your expert advice when finding a signature fragrance for yourself?
Luc Gabriel: Gut-feeling is the answer. If you are deeply moved by a fragrance and it seems so obvious you don’t even have to rationalise why you like it; then it’s yours.
Now that we know a bit about the brand and philosophy, we took five with Vaia Pappas to find out more about The Different Company’s Australian launch…
RESCU: How did you find The Different Company?
Vaia Pappas: I discovered The Different Company three years ago on a business trip to Paris. When I accidentally stumbled across the beautiful flagship store the gorgeous French doors lured me in. It was love at first site.
I purchased three of the Jasmin de Nuit perfumes instantly and realised that Australia needed to experience the same love that I did.
RESCU: Where will the fragrances be available in Australia?
Vaia Pappas: The Different Company fragrances are currently available at selected boutiques. Please call 02 9380 7588 for enquiries.
RESCU: What are your favourite from the range and why?
Vaia Pappas: Initially, Jamsin de Nuit was my absolute favourite but now that time has passed and I have really got to experience each scent, I can’t choose!
RESCU: You mentioned that the fragrances are neither male nor female- how do you classify them?
Vaia Pappas: Unisex. Our perfumers believe that fragrance is not created for man or woman; rather, a fragrance should speak to the individual’s heart!
Rescu. Loves:
The Original
Sublime Balkis
This exotic blend of grapefruit and blackcurrant is at once modern and seeped in history. Using the traditional Chypre composition of citrus top-notes, a floral middle and mossy base note and patchouli, this fragrance is quintessentially Parisian and completely sublime.
Available from selected boutiques, call 02 9380 7588 for stockists (90ml $210.00, 50ml $145.00)
The Everyday Luxury
Pure Virgin
The latest addition to the range, Pure Virgin was born from the idea of simplicity and comfort. The Different Company wanted to create a fragrance that is fresh, elegant and soft while still having that all-important scent of luxury.
They succeeded with Pure Virgin, a mix of high-quality musk, cedarwood and calisson. Simple but sumptuous, this is the little black dress of the fragrance world.
Available from selected boutiques, call 02 9380 7588 for stockists (50ml $90.00)
