Thibaud
Crivelli

Maison Crivelli feels almost like an archive of unexpected sensory memories. Do you remember the moment you realised that what fascinates you is not perfection, but surprise?

I don’t think it was a single moment, but rather something that became clear over time through my adventures. I noticed that the most memorable moments were always the unexpected ones, when a familiar material appeared in a surprising context.

This is what led me to focus on surprise rather than perfection. With Maison Crivelli I aim to capture the intensity of these unexpected encounters and translating them into fragrances that feel vivid, emotional and alive.

Your fragrances often begin with contrast. Is there a sensory experience from your life that was so intense you still haven’t found a way to turn it into a perfume?

Not yet, and today we are able to express the graduation of the experiences I have lived through different collections in our portfolio. The eaux de parfum are inspired by susprising, synesthetic aventures I have lived, while our extraits de parfum express either moments which are stronger (Olfactory Shocks), moments which are full of mystery and adrenaline (Olfactory Mysteries) or moments where I could discover an ingredient in different directions (Olfactory escapes—around oud and musks).

When a fragrance begins for you, does it start with an image, a texture, a temperature, a sound, or something else entirely?

It always starts with a lived experience, and more precisely with an unexpected encounter with a raw material. From there, I try to capture everything that made the moment unique: the light, the atmosphere, the temperature, the textures, the sounds, the movement, and the emotions I felt. These elements become the foundation of the creative brief I share with the perfumer.

The brief is not only about ingredients. It is about translating this full sensory memory into an olfactive direction. I describe the contrasts, the rhythm, the physical sensation, the mood, and the emotional tension of the experience. Then, together with the perfumer, we identify which raw materials, textures and structures can best express that memory. The fragrance becomes a co-creation between my lived experience and the perfumer’s interpretation.

If someone spent one day with you to understand your approach to perfume, where would you take them—and what would you want them to experience?

I would take them through different environments where contrasts, textures, cultures can be felt physically. What I would want them to experience is not perfume itself, but the way a moment can be perceived through all the senses. Because for me, perfume is the translation of these multi-sensory experiences: it is a living adventure.

Is there a raw material or accord that still destabilises you in the best possible way?

Yes, many raw materials still surprise me depending on the context in which I encounter them. What fascinates me is precisely how a material can completely change depending on its environment. This is why I never approach an ingredient in a fixed way, but always through the experience in which I discover it.

What should a Maison Crivelli fragrance never become—too polished, too literal, too safe?

A Maison Crivelli fragrance should never become predictable or conventional. It should always bring something unexpected and surprising, whether through contrasts, textures or sensations, while remaining deeply connected to a real, lived emotion.

Your grandfather was a botanist and doctor. Did that early exposure teach you more about precision, or more about wonder?

Not only my grandfasther but also other inspirational people in my family have had a connection with science and adventure: this expands across several generations actually, and it can explain why I have developed such a strong sense of observation and precision, but also a deep curiosity and fascination for nature and raw materials. This duality between scientific rigor and emotional perception is something that still influences my approach today.

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

I can work on my projects pretty much everywhere, except when I have to be physically present in the office, and I feel at ease in all the places that I visit—be it for work or for personal time.

Are there any projects that are personally important to you—whether recently completed or currently in progress?

Each fragrance is a very personal project because it is based on my own lived experience. More recently, the development of the Olfactory Escapes collection has been particularly meaningful to me. This collection allows me to explore an iconic ingredient through several creations, each revealing different facets, sensations and interpretations.

Our latest creation Musc Nurāsana, is especially important as it opens a new chapter dedicated to musk. With this creation, I wanted to go beyond the traditional perception of musk as something soft or clean and explore it as a tactile, vibrant and deeply emotional material. The fragrance is inspired by a stretching session at first light, on a terrace bathed in chiaroscuro. It reflects a very intimate and physical sensation of awakening, making it one of the most introspective and personal creations I have worked on.

Do you have a favourite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

When I am back to Paris, I enjoy being home and welcoming friends there. The space is beautifully decorated, peaceful and well located. I usually gravitate to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd districts, and Palais Royal might be my favourite area.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years—and what has not?

I think people have become increasingly open to niche perfumery and to more expressive, long-lasting and distinctive fragrances. There is a stronger desire for perfumes that feel personal, with a real signature and emotional depth. Clients are looking less for a conventional idea of prestige and more for originality, quality, sillage and authenticity. This is very positive for creative houses such as Maison Crivelli, because it allows us to propose fragrances that are more daring and sensorial while remaining refined.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

Don’t be afraid to try something new or unexpected!

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

I love a French fashion brand named Bourrienne, for their elegant, relaxed and qualitative shirt designs. They are sold in a few locations in Paris. They might also be available in other stores internationally but I would prefer buying from them when I am home.

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

As I travel a lot, I listen to a lot of music through Spotify. Last, I have discovered lately an app called PlantNet which enables me to identify plants and trees by taking a picture of a flower or a stem. I find it quite fascinating.

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

I love reading The Economist for its high-level, neutral and well-documented articles about the economy.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live, regardless of financial or time constraints, which one would you choose?

This is not an easy question for me as I am always on the go and I have lived in very different places so far!
I feel that there is one common feature between all the places I have most enjoyed living in: it is their location on the seaside.
I have fallen in love with Cape Town lately for its iconic landscapes, the hospitality of its people and the amazing quality of food there.