Perfumer Nicolas Bonneville joins Made of Makers programme

A native of Le Mans, Nicolas Bonneville regularly attends the legendary 24-hour race to watch high-performance cars.
The French perfumer also takes interest in smaller engines that precisely drive Jaeger-LeCoultre’s timepieces, as he has joined its Made of Makers community.
The Swiss brand explores diverse realms, such as music, gastronomy and digital media, for collaborations with artists who share the brand’s values of creativity, expertise and precision.
Bonneville’s haute parfumerie gave three original fragrances for the latest collab under the Made of Makers programme.
“In perfumery, just as in painting, maintaining the purity of blends is essential. It’s crucial to dose raw materials carefully to preserve their unique olfactory character without excessive dilution,” said the scent artist.
The commissioned perfumes are based on noble ingredients enhanced by modern extraction methods; short formulas with fewer ingredients; and high concentrations that give each composition an authentic appeal.
“The principle of ‘less is more’ ensures that your fragrance retains its clarity and depth; you achieve a unique scent with real character and distinction,” Bonneville said.
Orris rhizome renders the heart note of The Timeless Stories Eau de Parfum, inspired by the swivelling Reverso, designed to withstand the rigour of polo matches.
It takes almost two years to dry the rhizome under carefully-controlled conditions before the release of its unique scent via natural enzymatic reactions.
The opening note of violet leaves evokes the freshness of trimmed grass on a polo field, while woody and leathery facets reminisce the redolence of stables and saddles.
The Celestial Odyssey opens with the Heart of Patchouli, which represents the Moon. The sensuality of ambergris is expressed through Ambery Woods, symbolising how ancient navigators observed the starry sky to guide their journeys at night.
The base note of Vanilla tahitensis is captured by high-tech Superfluid Critical Extraction involving a neutral gas that evaporates at the end of the process, revealing the ingredient’s preserved properties.
Bonneville crafted The Precision Pioneer with a warm top note of incense that recalls the heat of the blacksmith’s fire, where raw materials were transformed in making timepieces.
The watchmaker’s bench is represented by Vibrant Wood, tailor-made specifically for the third scent. Cedar, guaiac and oud wood essences meld into an amber accord, reflecting on how ancestral craftsmanship meets cutting-edge innovation in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s haute horlogerie.
La Grande Maison originated in 1833 at Antoine LeCoultre’s workshop, set up in his family’s small barn in the Vallée de Joux.
The founder created tools to develop the smallest parts in order to produce the most precise calibre.
Likewise, each ingredient in a fragrance must be accurately measured and balanced as the smallest variation can compromise the entire composition.
The collaboration highlights how watchmaking and perfumery offer objects that are not only functional but meaningful and personal as the timepieces and fragrances can be worn for self-expression.