Overview
Olivier Pescheux
The Givaudan master perfumer behind Paco Rabanne 1 Million
- Nationality
- French
- Training
- ISIPCA (Versailles)
- House
- Givaudan
- 39In database
- 16Houses
- 1Recognition
- 9.8Top rated
Biography
Olivier Pescheux was a French perfumer who spent the majority of his three-decade career as an in-house "nose" for Givaudan, one of the world's largest flavor and fragrance companies. He trained at ISIPCA, the perfumery school in Versailles that has produced many of the industry's leading noses, before starting out in Bangkok with Payan Bertrand in 1990. He returned to Paris to work for Annick Goutal in 1992, spent time at the Japanese group Kao, and joined Givaudan in the late 1990s, where he remained a staff perfumer until his death in July 2023 at age 57.
Over his career Pescheux built a portfolio that ranged across mainstream blockbusters and niche, artisanal work. He is best known as the co-creator of Paco Rabanne 1 Million, one of the best-selling men's fragrances of the 2000s, and he composed widely for Montblanc, Dior, Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Versace, Lanvin, and Parfums de Marly, among others. He also became one of the most frequent collaborators with the niche house Diptyque, composing a large share of its L'Eau series and other releases such as Orphéon, Tempo, and Eau Capitale, and later worked with the indie label Essential Parfums on compositions including Divine Vanille.
Colleagues and trade press described Pescheux as a versatile technician who moved comfortably between genres — florals, ambers, gourmands, and woods — while keeping a distinctly modern, luminous style rather than settling into a single signature accord. In 2010 he received the Prix International du Parfum (also called the Prix François Coty), an award decided by an academic and industry jury that cited the diversity of his output at the time, including 1 Million, Van Cleef & Arpels Féerie, and Lanvin Jeanne La Rose. Within the industry he was also remembered as a generous mentor to younger perfumers coming up through Givaudan.
Signature works
6 of 39Notes & accords
- vanilla
- amber/oriental accords
- gourmand compositions
- woods
- luminous florals
Milestones
- 2010Prix International du Parfum (Prix François Coty)
Every fragrance by Olivier39
Eros Flame
Versace8.113 collectorsHerod
Parfums de Marly8.03 collectorsOrphéon Eau de Parfum
Diptyque7.03 collectorsLegend Eau de Parfum
Montblanc7.82 collectorsOrphéon (Eau de Parfum)
Diptyque9.82 collectorsAmber Sky
Ex Nihilo1 collectorDivine Vanille
Essential Parfums9.01 collectorL'Eau de Néroli
Diptyque1 collectorLegend
Montblanc1 collectorMaria Callas
The Merchant of Venice8.61 collectorMidnight Special
Ex Nihilo1 collectorOud Vendôme
Ex Nihilo1 collectorOud Vert Intense
Fragrance Du Bois1 collector1 Million
Paco RabanneIn the catalog34 Boulevard Saint Germain Eau de Parfum
DiptyqueIn the catalog34 Boulevard Saint Germain Eau de Toilette
DiptyqueIn the catalog- A
Amber Sky Signature Rose de Mai
Ex NihiloIn the catalog Ambre
Ex NihiloIn the catalogChrome Legend
AzzaroIn the catalogChrome Pure
AzzaroIn the catalogEau Capitale
DiptyqueIn the catalogEau de Lacoste L.12.12 Blanc
LacosteIn the catalogEau des Sens
DiptyqueIn the catalogEau Mohéli
DiptyqueIn the catalog- E
Eau Particulière
DiptyqueIn the catalog Explorer Ultra Blue
MontblancIn the catalogFleur de Peau Eau de Parfum
DiptyqueIn the catalogGeranium Odorata
DiptyqueIn the catalog- L
L'Eau de L'Eau
DiptyqueIn the catalog - L
L'Eau de Tarocco
DiptyqueIn the catalog L'Eau des Hespérides
DiptyqueIn the catalog- L
L'Eau du Trente-Quatre
DiptyqueIn the catalog Legend Night
MontblancIn the catalogMusc
Ex NihiloIn the catalogOud
Ex NihiloIn the catalogRose Hubris
Ex NihiloIn the catalogTempo
DiptyqueIn the catalogVetyverio Eau de Parfum
DiptyqueIn the catalogVetyverio Eau de Toilette
DiptyqueIn the catalog