How Frédéric Malle Makes A New Perfume

If there were fragrance royalty, Frédéric Malle, the founder of Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, would have a title. His grandfather Serge Heftler-Louiche founded Parfums Christian Dior, and his mother, Marie-Christine Sayn-Wittgenstein, worked at Dior for 47 years and helped create Eau Sauvage. But it took Mr. Malle quite some time, with detours into art dealing and advertising, before he claimed his sweetly scented birthright. After learning the trade at the perfume house Roure Bertrand Dupont, he struck out on his own in 2000. His brand is based on a unique model: It functions like a publishing house, with Mr. Malle, 54, as the editor and the perfumers the authors. This month he is introducing his first men’s grooming products, a shaving cream ($80) and an after-shave balm ($120), both made in his Vetiver Extraordinaire scent. He spoke with Men’s Style at his Madison Avenue office in Manhattan. Read more at The New York Times.