Edward Bess Parfum

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“The art of perfume has the power to transcend the confines of reality.”
E D WA R D B E S S

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4. “How does a DECADE disappear so quickly? I have spent ten years devoted to the pursuit of creating BEAUTY, reveling in the

“How does a D E C A D E disappear so quickly?
I have spent ten years devoted to the pursuit of
creating B E A U T Y , reveling in the endless source of
inspiration a J O U R N E Y like this provides. In this
GLAMOROUS WORLD of illusion, lotions and potions,
TIME is supposed to stand still, but, alas, it still MARCHES
on. So on a QUEST to recapture the MEMORIES of this
decade that float through my MIND, I set out to harness
the OLFACTORY essence of my greatest sources of
BEAUTY INSPIRATION that never fail
to leave me breathless.”
EDWARD BESS

5. BACKGROUND

“Perfume is the art of evoking a memory - a chance to immortalize the beauty of a fleeting
moment in time,” says master perfumer Carlos Benaim.This magical ability to transcend time
is exactly what led Edward Bess to curate a collection of scents inspired by his fondest memories
of beauty.
As he set out to capture the essence of these most inspiring encounters, Edward knew there
was only one maestro who could bring his vision to life: renowned master perfumer Carlos
Benaim. Carlos’s esteemed reputation is not only the result of his long history creating
perfumes coveted around the world but is also owed to his unparalleled attention to detail as
he conceives each fragrant note that will comprise his masterpieces. These early stages of
Carlos’s creative process while creating a perfume illustrate his singular genius.With the same
thoughtfulness of a composer arranging his score, Carlos brings his brainchild to life by
carefully selecting the notes he instinctually knows will yield olfactory magic. His paradoxical
pairings are just the sort of unexpected sensorial surprises that have become the Carlos
Benaim signature over his forty-five year career.
As a great admirer of Carlos Benaim’s portfolio of perfume creations and in celebration of
his brand’s ten-year anniversary, Edward enlisted Carlos to channel his vivid imagination to
create three groundbreaking scents that seduce the senses. Working closely alongside Carlos
from concept to inception, Edward cites his role was more voyeur than creative director.
“Laying witness to Carlos’s creative process provided me the greatest thrill I have yet to
experience in my decade of creating beauty.These intimate moments of seeing Carlos masterfully
compose each perfume evoked the greatness of Fellini – I would simply watch in awe as he
would create out of nowhere the most intoxicating scents I have ever smelled.” It was up to
Carlos to interpret the memories Edward sought to harness through each perfume.
How does one capture the ethereal scent of a Spanish Veil, and what secrets lie beneath this
starched net? For Carlos these answers were revealed by combining precious sandalwood
with rich, velvety tonka to epic proportions. And what notes float so freely through the air that
they conjure the whims of La Femme Bohème? A soupçon of seductive amber and jasmine
absolute, of course. And how does one dare to define Genre, an androgynous enigma so
mysterious that it cannot be classified? If you are Carlos Benaim, you delight in the challenge
by balancing the smoky intensity of frankincense with the unexpected tenderness of a
marshmallow cloud. There are no rules in Carlos’s world of creation – instead, the master
invites us to submit to our senses as his perfumes lead the way.

6. BIOGRAPHY

Carlos Benaim’s richest memories of his childhood in Tangiers are composed of the
mélange of smells from his early life growing up immersed in the aromatic Moroccan culture.
The distinctive violet scent of his grandfather’s tobacco that Carlos’ father scented for him in
his pharmacy, the pennyroyal essence that lingered on his father’s hands after a day working
with medicinal herbs, the odor of the markets where Berber women would come down from
the mountains to sell their wares – all melded into a rich tapestry of olfactive experiences from
the southern Mediterranean that inspires Carlos Benaim’s paradox approach to perfume.
Carlos’ first perfume explorations began as a chemistry student, when he was sent to train
with a chemist at Lautier Fils in Grasse. Ominously, Carlos arrived to find the chemist was
away on holiday, leaving him to his own devices. Enthralled by the laboratory’s overflowing
shelves of richly fragrant oils, Carlos began to explore its contents, teaching himself the scents
of the perfumer’s palette and unlocking a new world of potential.
It was not until many years later, however, that Carlos would embark on a lifetime career
born from his passion for perfume. Chosen for one of six manager-in-training positions from
a bevy of over 400 applicants who responded to an IFF ad in Le Monde, Carlos moved to Paris
and Amsterdam to explore the worlds of flavors and fragrances. In a whirlwind year that
would define his life, Carlos thrived in his newfound creative freedom as he learned the
inner-workings of a global enterprise firsthand. It was during this formative time that Carlos
met Ernest Shiftan who would later become his mentor on the teachings of perfume. Shiftan,
IFF’s leading perfumer at the time, quickly realized Carlos’ talent for fine fragrance and
invited him to come work in New York to become a perfumer at IFF.
A perfumer of substance, a painter of beauty, and a man of the world – Carlos Benaim’s
legacy is alive in the fragrant air of today. Living in New York, his life and work have brought
him around the world, while his fluency across markets sets him apart as a Master Perfumer
at IFF. This designation recognizes perfumers who have consistently challenged themselves
and the company to take perfumery to the next level; they are paradigm shifters who have
developed trendsetting fragrances; and they are individuals who also have demonstrated
leadership within the company. Carlos is also a winner of the American Society for Perfumers
Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor that clearly illustrates that for Carlos, the art of
perfume is in the snapshot - an effects he refers to as one’s “olfactory image.” Carlos Benaim
has continued to leave his signature lingering impression in the air over the course of his 45year career with IFF.