In the world of perfumery, few names pass by without leaving a lasting imprint—but Nathalie Feisthauer is more than just a name; she is an artistic signature that lingers in every breath. With her unique style and ability to blend depth with delicacy, she has earned a distinguished place among the world’s great perfumers.
In this exclusive interview, Feisthauer takes us on a journey through her newest creation for Puredistance, unveiling the secrets of inspiration, the intricacies of composition, and the emotional threads she weaves into every bottle. A special conversation with the “Empress of Olfactory Elegance”, as we fondly call her.
To begin with, let’s go back to the start of the story: how did your relationship with Puredistance begin, and what attracted you to this particular house?
It all started with my visit of Lanjia perfumery store in Zagreb. It was directed by an incredible woman, who launched each luxury brand in the Balkan countries. She was the one, who oriented me towards Puredistance, because she was sure we would make an interesting collaboration together… Thus, I contacted Jan Ewoud and he invited me in Groningen. At that time, I had a tough back pain and after checking that the journey would take 2 hours to reach Amsterdam by TGV, I accepted. However, there were only small trains between Rotterdam and Groningen, so the whole trip took more than 7 hours ! ☺ I met there Jan and his wonderful team, at their office, which is inside of a church. This special encounter really left a mark in my memory and that is how our relationship began.
2. Puredistance is known for its fragrances that embody purity and sophistication. How did you approach this identity? Did you feel the urge to challenge it or to celebrate it?
Jan Ewoud and his team are very sincere and they put human relationship above everything. Each project starts from a story or a conversation, is made of several exchanges between them and me and is based on mutual trust. Beauty and quality are the most important for Puredistance, they always have been into the Quiet Luxury tendency.
3. When you were asked to create a new fragrance, what was the first idea or feeling that came to your mind? Was there a scene, a moment, or a memory that inspired you?
Each collaboration with Puredistance is different and unique.
To create Papilio, I invited Jan to come to my house, in Montmartre. It was during summer, so we went on my terrasse with plenty of flowers in my city garden in Montmartre, blooming all around us. He shared his will of creating a unisex fragrance, colored in purple, inspired by butteflies. He wanted this perfume to be a symbol of courage to be whoever you wanted to be, to transform yourself and become the real you, as the butterfly’s metamorphosis. A perfume, which could be worn by anybody who is interested by this scent, no matter the gender, the age, the ethnicity or the sexuality, because either way you are beautiful. We were talking about it when, all of a sudden, we were surrounded by many butterflies… It was such a lovely sight.
Concerning Divanché, the idea came from Jan’s walks in botanical gardens. Once, he got amazed by the scent of an unknown flower. Shortly after, he found it again during a travel in Japan. There, he learned the flower was a gardenia and it inspired him for the perfume. He wanted to create an ode to women, with a heavenly pure and etherical scent, reminding the velvet petals of gardenia. After, he met Sachi, PureDistance’s distributor in Japan, who created an innovative concrete out of gardenia and she sent it to me.
No. 12 was more of my inspiration. It represents a fictional version of me, if I was at a ball with Grace Kelly, in the 1960’s… I wanted it to embody the elegance, the refinement and the femininity of this time period. Among different propositions I showed Jan, this one roused particularly his interest, creating thus No. 12.
4. What story does this fragrance tell? Is it a personal tale? A philosophical one? Or a purely olfactive fantasy?
Divanché is an olfactive fantasy, inspired by a special concrete of gardenia. We made it different from the gardenia perfumes already existing, by enhancing its airy, etheric facette. It is embellished with a fabulous trio of Jasmine Sambac, Champaca and Tuberose absolutes, and it keeps a heavenly lightness, which reminds the big cloudy petals of gardenia floating in the wind.
5. What are the key ingredients you relied on? Were there any unconventional molecules or raw materials you used?
Puredistance always provides me the possibility to use the best ingredients, thanks to which I used sumptuous Indian Champaca, Jasmine and Tuberose absolutes.
6. Did you face any challenges during the formulation process? And how did you overcome them?
No, even if it was my first start starting with an unexpected concrete, which was so representative and authentic. The whole creation was about transforming this photogenic-like concrete into a magnificent fragrance.
7. Is there a particular aspect of this fragrance that reflects you personally as a creator?
I obviously put my signature and my own way of working in the fragrance, but its story counts as well.
8. How did the founder of the house respond to the final version? Were there in-depth discussions about the details?
I always have fluent conversations with Jan, he precisely imagines what he wants, and I respect that. Also, when he finds a fragrance he likes, he usually sticks to it.
9. Do you feel that this fragrance reflects a part of your personality or a specific phase in your life?
Maybe some aspects… I don’t wear white floral perfumes, because they usually tend to be opulent, dense, even heavy. Whereas Divanché avoids these pitfalls, it is a very sophisticated and elegant perfume I like to wear, personally.
When Nathalie Feisthauer speaks, she offers more than words—she opens windows to unseen realms of senses and emotions. Her way of describing perfume is less a technical explanation and more a poetic confession, pulsing with honesty and inspiration. With every answer, it becomes ever clearer that true fragrance is not crafted in a lab alone, but in the most transparent corners of the human soul.
We thank Nathalie for her time and for taking us on a journey that has added a warm touch of elegance and an enduring signature to our fragrant world.