A Wondrous Universe

We discover the fascinating world of Chanel's olfactory universe through the eyes of its fourth in-house perfumer, Olivier Polge, during his first-ever visit to Singapore.

- Asaph Low

After Olivier Polge took over the reins as Chanel's fourth in-house perfumer from his father and legendary perfumer Jacques Polge in 2015, Chanel's olfactory offerings have evolved and embraced novel interpretations that honour Gabrielle Chanel's legacy.

Armed with a background in art history, Polge embodied an artistic sensibility in his craft that intertwined history, culture and scent. This perspective allowed him to view fragrance as an expressive storyteller beyond merely a product of Chanel's enduring style.

Polge's journey into the world of perfumery was not an unequivocal path carved out by virtue of his father's career. He distanced himself from his father's work and delved into art history. "Since my father was a perfumer, I didn't want to follow in his footsteps as a teenager," shared Polge. It changed one summer when he caved into scent's compelling nature during a summer internship in his father's fragrance lab.

That discovery of how delicate the dance of perfection is between technical prowess and creative intuition drew him in. The hands-on experience ignited a fire within him, one intoxicating enough to steer his life towards the path of perfumery. However, contrary to what most people would expect, Polge did not learn the ways of perfumery from his father. "When I wanted to train in perfumes, my father thought it was a good idea to send me away. Instead, he sent me to learn from others," said Polge. "He taught me more about building my sensibility and taste and indirectly shaping my professional approach." At the heart of Polge's philosophy lies the commitment to create and transform instead of simply reproducing an existing fragrance.