What do you hope people will experience when wearing your scents?

Pleasure.

What distinguishes DER DUFT from its counterparts in the perfume industry?

It’s primarily the minimalistic approach to storytelling that distinguishes DER DUFT from its counterparts. DER DUFT chooses to stay away from sharing complicated stories or even fairytales.

We are proud of our goal - creating timeless scents in modern composition.

Could you elaborate on the philosophy behind creating fragrances that diverge from mainstream trends? How do you perceive the role of artistry and uniqueness in your brand's identity?

Our goal is never to follow any trends, instead, to take users on an olfactive journey where fragrance enthusiasts would find perfumes they have not encountered before.

All of this is possible because the perfumers have complete freedom while creating perfumes for DER DUFT.

Our perfumes are unique, full of character and might not appeal to the masses. It’s about connecting with them and creating your own association and story.

The brand name DER DUFT sums it up perfectly. But what about the names of the individual fragrances?

The names of the individual fragrances are indeed "individual", stand-alone. Each name should tell its own story and arouse curiosity. The names should also be different and individual for everyone in terms of association. To put it bluntly, there is no right or wrong way to "smell". This harmonises perfectly with the topic of fragrance itself, as fragrances are always perceived individually.

Tell us about your favourite perfumes to wear, from DER DUFT or otherwise...

Wearing ACT one day and MATCH another day is a contrast I enjoy experiencing. This certainly provokes a sense of pride, joy and pleasure.

How do you choose the perfumers you work with and what do the collaborations entail?

There is no set rule or qualification necessary to become a perfumer, a creator of a DER DUFT perfume. I like to say that I am looking for perfumers whose work I admire as well as perfumers whom I admire personally. Of course, I want the perfumer to be motivated in working with me as well and, of course, I want the perfumer to appreciate the simplistic approach of DER DUFT as a brand.

Why did you choose to work with other perfumers to create fragrances for the collection?

From the start, I wanted DER DUFT to become a brand that brings people together through perfumes and the sense of smell. The name DER DUFT, translated in “The Scent”, was my choice and opportunity bringing together perfumer and perfume lovers. It was never meant to be an egocentric story about myself. If I didn't enjoy the idea of collaborating and learning from others, I would have chosen a different name and branding approach all together.

Are there specific scent profiles or ingredients that particularly captivate you when undertaking the creation of new fragrances?

I love when a perfume evokes one thing in me when I smell it: making me smile. An unusual combination of notes or a surprising twist in the creation is what might do that. It is something that does not happen all too often. But when that smile does appear, ohh does it feel good! Although, I do have individual notes I like better than others. However, there is no set rule as to which notes or combination of notes may create that desired joyous smile!

What excites you about the fragrance, MATCH?

Collaborating and working together with Anne-Sophie Behaghel has been nothing but great. I am grateful for her patience with me as well as her sense of perfection in creating what is now MATCH. Getting there was a journey of trying out various directions until we could settle.

You collaborated with perfumer Nathalie Feisthauer for your fragrance PRIVILEGE. What does it tell us about?

For Nathalie, it was the elements that are available to her in this life. She reflects and interprets them wonderfully in the fragrance. When I thought about the name, for me it was also life itself. To be able to work on a fragrance in 2022 with such a fantastic perfumer as Nathalie is a privilege, a luxury that few people get to experience.

What is the most satisfying (or fun!) experience you’ve had during a collaboration?

When the proposed perfume surprises me and actually makes me smile physically.

What message or impression do you aim for customers to derive from their encounter with a DER DUFT fragrance?

If DER DUFT as a brand and collection of perfumes creates something positive, maybe something surprising in you, I believe we did win already.

In the end, we believe that a smile is both powerful and contagious!

What do you envision for DER DUFT in the foreseeable future?

My goal and vision is for DER DUFT to grow “organically” as they like to say. It is a great satisfaction to reach a growing audience of perfume lovers.