【Paris, Franc】Mathilde Laurent: Creating Cartier’s Scents with a Unique Philosophy [What Work Has Given Me] – Jewelry and Gem

Editor’s Note

This profile of Cartier perfumer Mathilde Laurent explores how she applies a jeweler’s precision and a unique artistic philosophy to fragrance creation, transforming scent into a wearable art form.

Creating Perfume as Art with a Unique Philosophy

Mathilde Laurent, Cartier Perfumer, is one of the most avant-garde fragrance artists in the industry today. After studying perfumery at a prestigious school and gaining ten years of experience, she assumed her current role in 2005. She creates perfumes with her own unique aesthetic, much like crafting high jewelry.
In her youth, Mathilde Laurent was passionate about photography, but she chose the path of perfumery after being told by those around her, “You’re always smelling things and talking about scents, so you should become a perfumer.” She remembers every scent, saying:

“Just as Proust opened the door to memory with a madeleine, scent allows me to vividly recall fragments of life associated with it—people, meals, landscapes.”

When asked about her source of inspiration, she happily shared the creative process behind her work:

“It’s the Cartier maison itself. Since Cartier, which has continually innovated in the world of high jewelry, creates perfumes, it must have its own unique style. For example, with ‘L’Heure Brillante’ from Les Heures de Parfum, we gave a modern reinterpretation to the traditional eau de cologne. Instead of layering multiple citrus notes, we used only lime and added the scent of gin to create a light, bold perfume reminiscent of a gin and tonic.”

“I absorb all of Cartier’s history and spirit, and I find joy in analyzing and reconstructing it, almost like an AI, to create scents.”

Mathilde, who is deeply knowledgeable about art, has a laboratory that resembles a gallery. There is no ego in her words.

“Like coffee or tea, perfume is a ‘beautiful liquid’ for savoring life deeply. As Sartre said, ‘To smell the other is to swallow them.’ Scent is the act of taking the outside world into the inner self.”

Mathilde was also impressed by the Japanese philosophy of “listening to scent” in Kōdō. She believes that what is important for a perfumer is:

“To elevate oneself through beauty, learn about different cultures, and continue to understand the world more deeply with curiosity.”

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⏰ Published on: January 20, 2026

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