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Meet Fanny Fortin Descamps founder of the fragrances Fascent

With her brand of cheerful, colourful fragrances, Fanny Fortin Descamps reinvents the olfactory experience, inviting us to dare to mix scents and adapt each fragrance to our moods. Meet this fragrance enthusiast who is blowing a breath of fresh air into the world of perfume. 

What role do you see perfume playing in our daily lives?

I'm convinced that fragrance plays a central and active role in how we feel every day. Including it at the heart of our well-being routine is extremely beneficial. As a cosmetics and beauty addict, I realize that perfume has powerful holistic functions. While its primary role is to make us smell good, it can also help us feel good, because scents have real emotional power. When we adapt our fragrances to our lifestyles and desires, we also manage to feel more like ourselves.

How was Fascent born?

Through my many years of experience working in the perfume sector, I've come to realize that the industry is not aligned with new consumer expectations. More and more people are looking to consume perfume differently, and are integrating the link between smelling and feeling. They want to experience emotions through fragrance, and this is becoming a selection criterion. Of our 5 senses, smell is the only one to have V.I.P. access to our limbic system: the part of our brain where emotions and memories cohabit.  In concrete terms, when a whiff of perfume travels up our nose, it sends an olfactory message to this emotional brain in an unconscious way. 

FASCENT was born of the weariness I felt towards a traditional perfume world that was too exclusive, stereotyped, smooth, opaque and unchanging. FASCENT shakes up this old image of perfumery by reimagining the way perfumes are perceived and used. I have a vision of perfumery in which we put perfume back at the heart of our lifestyle, so that it is no longer a superfluous luxury product gathering dust on our shelves, but a tool that we take pleasure in using because it sublimates us. Our desire with FASCENT is to give everyone back the power to use fragrance with greater spontaneity, lightness and freedom. One perfume for life, no more!

 

And why the name? 

FASCENT is a contraction of the french word “FACETTES” and “SCENT”. FACETS like the countless faces we put on every day, as our emotions and life's events change. And like the olfactory facets of a perfume: all the character traits that cohabit in a single juice. Like a diamond, it's these facets that make a perfume (and a human being...) so complex and unique. FASCENT helps us express the facets of our emotions & personalities through the power of fragrance.

What sets Fascent fragrances apart?

That's why with FASCENT, I've worked with perfumers to create fragrances that are not only haute parfumerie, but also generate emotions through the power of certain natural raw materials. What's more, perfume lovers are increasingly looking for fragrances that represent their personality and individuality, as they no longer want to smell like their neighbours. 

With FASCENT, fragrances can be worn alone or in combination, so that we can create our own olfactory (life)style. We dare to adapt our fragrances to our emotions, our personalities and our plural lives. It's also important to me that FASCENT embodies the values of inclusivity and sweeps away the clichés and stereotypes still too prevalent in the sector. FASCENT is for all noses (small, big, thin...) This inclusivity is also reflected in its affordable price (without skimping on quality), FASCENT is for all budgets. 

How did you create each fragrance?

I create inspirational mood boards and work with the creative teams of the fragrance houses (CPL Aromas and Firmenich). The fragrances are inspired by natural raw materials (which I appreciate), colours, textures, outfits, music and moments in life. I'm not a “nose”; the perfumers I work hand in hand with are the real creators and compose the FASCENT juices

  • For L'EAU D'OR DORT, I was inspired by the image of a calm body of water on which rays of light dance. I wanted to capture this timeless, nostalgic moment olfistically with a luminous, “clean”, soft fragrance based on bergamot, orange blossom and a clean linen accord. 

  • For I FIG YOU, the aim was to convey a sophisticated “chic & chill” nature that encourages anchoring and concentration, with a fig leaf, green tea and vetiver accord.

  • For SEL À VIE, as a summer lover, I wanted to create a fragrance that illustrates this beloved season. For a change, the idea was to reflect summer more on the savoury side than the sweet, with citrus notes, sunny florals and vanilla driftwood, which have a “feel good” and general well-being effect. 

  • For RADICAL SOFTNESS, the inspiration came from the scent of skin, a carnal, intimate scent. The aim was to create an ambivalent fragrance: a radical softness composed around pretty white musks, pink pepper and ambrox. You can sign off your skincare routine with a spray of RADICAL SOFTNESS, which will plunge you into a bubble of softness. 

  • For MILKY NO WAY, I imagined a festive fragrance, all carefree mystery, with sandalwood married to hazelnut milk and black pepper.  

 

Tell us about these corks, worthy of a work of art.

FASCENT is a world in which nothing is anchored, nothing is fixed. I'm very inspired by things that move, things that are free and mutable. The FASCENT hood is the embodiment of this vision. It's an organic, asymmetrical form shaped by movement. I created the curve in modelling clay and then modelled it in 3D. 3D is being used more and more by design brands, and I wanted to add a decorative touch to this bottle, which we like to display in our bathroom.  3D printing also has the merit of being responsible, since the printing filaments are made from bioplastics, derived from corn starch.

If you had to match Fascent fragrances with the skincare products on our shelves...

As a junkie and informal ambassador for Oh My Cream, I've naturally tested many associations with my darling products. I recommend pairing L'EAU D'OR DORT with the Les Filles en Rouje Textured Hair Mist. Both products contain fresh, luminous notes of Orange Blossom, making them a delight to combine.

I love to spread Susan Kaufmann Body Butter on my body, as its fruity, tangy scents blend perfectly with the sun-kissed facets of SEL À VIE. When I have an important day and need to concentrate, I apply Goop Beauty Afterglow Body Oil, over which I spray I FIG YOU. Both products contain vetiver and woody notes, helping me to refocus. 

For a wild night out, I don't hesitate to wear MILKY NO WAY, combined with Oh My Cream Skincare Moisturising Lotion. It's divine, as the milky sandalwood notes of the perfume merge with the coconut and oat notes of the cream.

What are your tips for finding your own olfactory signature?

First of all, I'd advise you to try to educate your nose to smell better! You can learn to hone your sense of smell by being curious and attentive daily, as our noses can become “muscular”. Take the time to smell and savour the food you eat, because taste also involves olfaction (this is called retro-olfaction). When you're out and about, take in the smells around you. If you do this regularly, you'll develop a better understanding and appreciation of scents. 

In any case, don't worry, it's perfectly possible to find your own unique olfactory signature, even if you're not a perfumer. My advice is to trust your nose, your olfactory instinct. Think of perfumery as a creative playground in which you are an actor. Go ahead, spray, sniff, test and try again.  Change fragrances according to your moods, your desires, your style and the seasons. Express your individuality and adapt your fragrances to your multiple lives. 

To take the quest for your unique olfactory style a step further, don't hesitate to layer different fragrances. FASCENT fragrances have been created to be worn alone or in combination. You can follow your intuition or the brand's recommendations. Don't be afraid to experiment and try different fragrance combinations. Mix, dare, combine. You'll be amazed at how good your fragrance personality looks. Finally, forget that intimidating, complex and impressive perfumery, because with FASCENT perfumery is uninhibited, spontaneous and joyful. Let your FASCENT experience at Oh My Cream be unique, personal and just like you!

Would you like to know more about how these fragrances were selected? Discover how we curated this selection. Looking for a new fragrance? Follow our guide to find the perfect scent to suit your preferences

 

Fascent's Fragrance

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