Haitian contemporary artist Manuel Mathieu, known for his work exploring memory, history and materiality, just launched his first fragrance line and now embraces olfaction as an artistic medium. A collection of three unisex perfumes, where each scent is a narrative body of work that transcends the senses, time and space. For this debut of Manuel Mathieu Perfumes, the artist collaborated with Juliette Karagueuzoglou, a renowned perfumer, also behind iconic Phantom by Rabanne and Tuxedo by Yves Saint Laurent.

For this inaugural chapter, Mathieu successfully explored the relationship between emotion, dream, and identity. Each fragrance is in the continuity of his work. It’s a liquid architecture that shapes an intimate sensory space. Each fragrance becomes an object of desire. A unique piece of art inspired by his roots, travels, and quest for expression. “We met right after the COVID in 2021, the first time, we talked during more than three hours about how a fragrance can define the identity of someone as well as past memories from our childhood…”, said Karagueuzoglou and, “it took one year and a half to create the three scents which was an amazing creative process as Manuel was coming back with great ideas and reflections on what he wants and how this line should represent his own origins and childhood”, she concluded.

The first three fragrances are île noire, ECCCO and Dsire, which convey deeply personal narratives while addressing universal themes such as rebirth, transformation, and sensuality. Manuel Mathieu took the lead to create the perfect bottle for each scent, crafted from a clay sculpture hand-molded by himself. It reflects his intuitive approach to material, texture, contrast, and form. Every detail echoes the principles of his visual art, where the tension between the organic and the constructed, the raw and the refined, shapes the sensory experience.

His debut fragrance line is set for an international launch this spring. Manufactured using the traditional expertise of Juliette Karagueuzoglou, these perfumes are a testament to the art of expression. Growing up myself on an island, I can definitely say how connected I was when discovering the creative process and how Manuel Mathieu brings to life these memories, becoming our heritage which we will forever cherish.