Memo Perfume in Paris: Fragrances Inspired by Global Voyages

Scents have a way of evoking memories of another time and place, inviting a sensitivity of moments past. Imagine capturing that memory in a perfume. This is exactly what Clara and John Molloy have created with Memo, a collection of fragrances inspired by their journeys around the world. This creative duo, he raised in the Irish countryside and she a native of Andalusia, Spain, share an affinity for Paris, travel and perfume. For Clara and John, “Fragrance kindles an excitement similar to that of a journey, a departure. It is about openness and abandonment.” In 2006, Clara’s passion for fragrance led her to write a book on “noses”. It was then that she met perfumer Aliénor Massenet whose olfactory sense takes on a more abstract approach. “I often think of perfume in terms of colors, shapes and materials, like architecture or painting.” It was in Paris in 2007 that they joined forces and the journey of Memo began. Les Echappées, meaning ‘the escapes’ is a collection of fragrances, each symbolizing a personal journey. From Lalibela, Ethiopia to Inlé Lake, Burma to Granada, Spain, every destination provokes a unique feeling, transporting you to a faraway land. A visit to the flagship store, situated in Paris’s elegant 1st arrondissement, is a journey in itself. Here you can discover the world of Memo via your olfactory system. With a choice of 18 fragrances, you are certain to take flight with one of Memo’s evocative scents. Will it be Irish Leather with hints of juniper, green mate and leather, or Marfa, blending orange blossom, tuberose and white musk? Maybe you’d prefer to step into the Quartier Latin with a refined mix of cedar, sandalwood and amber. For their 10 year anniversary, Clara and John have returned to their roots with a fragrance conjuring up images of Paris, a city never far from their hearts. This light and airy scent contains notes of leather, a mark of the brand’s success and identity. Where will they take us next? As is their motto, “The journey is the destination”. Memo Paris, 24 Rue Cambon, 75001 Paris. Tel: +33 01 44 54 91 72. Open Monday to Saturday 10-7, Closed Sunday