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Atelier Materi is a French perfume house that celebrates the raw beauty of materials, transforming them into quiet, modern treasures. Founded by Véronique Le Bihan, deeply rooted in Brittany with its wild, pristine landscape, the Maison conceives of fragrance, design, and craftsmanship as a unified language. Each composition begins with a carefully selected raw material, whose character is meticulously brought out until it appears polished yet retains a vibrant quality. Atelier Materi takes its time, collaborating with artisans and perfumers and prioritizing responsible partnerships. The design reflects this commitment, featuring clean lines, tactile surfaces, and a sense of atelier craftsmanship.
Atelier Materi is the brainchild of Véronique Le Bihan, founder and artistic director. She grew up in Brittany, near the ocean, surrounded by rugged nature and mineral-rich landscapes. As a child, she drew extensively, read, designed house plans, and dreamed of becoming an architect. Later, she studied finance at a business school, as she had long-term ambitions of building her own company. After graduating, she worked for about ten years in Paris in marketing and development for cosmetics and perfumes. Finally, a personal change occurred: she founded her own fashion house and moved with her family to Bordeaux.
The company's founding began with a clear sense of resistance to the fast pace of modern life. Véronique describes how many products in the industry are manufactured very quickly, on a large scale, and heavily influenced by trends, while packaging and supply chains are often organized remotely. For her, this leaves too little room for creativity, character, and a genuine connection to origin. This is precisely where Atelier Materi comes in. It's driven by the desire to rediscover time and bring meaning back into the work. Nature, craftsmanship, and local production should once again be the starting point, carried out responsibly and consciously, without compromising on quality.
The name itself tells the story. Materi is a Breton word meaning matter, a reference to its roots and to the Maison's central theme: the transformation of raw materials through human gestures. Atelier Materi places a natural raw material at the heart of every creation. Around this "main character," a play of contrasts and textures unfolds, carefully composed until the nuances reveal themselves and new facets suddenly become visible.
For Véronique, fragrance is always intertwined with the object itself. Her love of architecture and design is clearly evident in the Maison, as the bottle is not meant to be hidden away, but rather to be a collector's item, a present part of everyday life. The design draws inspiration from Brittany. The deep blue evokes the sea after a storm. The handcrafted concrete cap plays with the minerality of the cliffs, resembling a pebble smoothed by water and time, refined by a golden patina. Each cap bears the mark of craftsmanship, making every piece unique.
At Atelier Materi, luxury begins with time. The Maison describes its approach as a conscious deceleration that respects the rhythm of nature, craftsmanship, and creativity. Instead of rapid releases and short-lived trends, the focus is on creating things that are meant to last. A fragrance should not feel like a fleeting impulse, but rather like a meaningful object that one cherishes and returns to for years to come. This form of luxury is honest, understated, and clear in its message.
Slow luxury here also means being close to the people who create something. Atelier Materi relies on a short supply chain, local sourcing, and French manufacturing to bring together control, transparency, and artisanal excellence. This results in a Maison that sees itself as an atelier, a place where raw materials and gestures become visible. This is particularly evident in the bottle. The concrete cap is handcrafted in Paris, cast in a mold, and allows small air bubbles to show through, creating random patterns. The surface is finished with an antique golden patina. Each piece thus bears its own mark and becomes unique, like a stone found on the beach that you pick up again and again.
Slow luxury is also evident in things that might be overlooked at first glance. The brand's interview series emphasizes the meticulous attention paid to every detail, right down to the Maison's signature. The brand's hallmark approach is engraved on the glass and repeated on the label and box, symbolizing consistency and a commitment to quality. The goal is a modern, understated sense of luxury that doesn't rely on excess, but rather on harmony.
Atelier Materi's Eau de Parfums are like a curated wardrobe: versatile, wearable, yet full of character. The brand works with the principle of raw material as its central element. Each composition is like a clear form that accompanies you in everyday life, yet possesses enough depth to reveal new details with each wear. Many fragrances play with texture and contrasts, for example, plant and woody, delicate and spicy, or creamy and smoky. It is precisely this balance that makes the collection so approachable. It feels modern, precise, and intimately close to the skin.
In the Eau de Parfum collection, you'll find, for example, Cèdre Figalia . It combines the green freshness of fig leaf with the strength of cedarwood and feels like a clear breath of nature. Santal Blond is a soft, light sandalwood with understated elegance, ideal if you appreciate a refined warmth without the heaviness. Narcisse Taiji plays on the interplay of strength and fragility, leaving a lasting impression as a scent poised between light and shadow. Poivre Pomelo carries a sparkling citrus note, enlivened by Timut pepper, resulting in a particularly fresh and vibrant fragrance. Iris Ebène brings the sensual, comforting facets of iris into a floral, slightly leathery setting.
If you're looking for a quick guide, a simple rule of thumb helps: If you want freshness, start with Poivre Pomelo or Cèdre Figalia . If you're looking for soft, elegant warmth, Santal Blond and Vanille Carbone are often a perfect match. If you love contrasts that shift between light and dark, Narcisse Taiji and Iris Ebène are strong contenders. The collection is designed so that you can cover a range of moods without the fragrances sounding too similar.
The Extraits de Parfum are the concentrated heart of Atelier Materi. They are composed for those seeking depth, elegance, and a distinctly noticeable presence on the skin. Each fragrance is concentrated at 30 percent and is designed to leave an intense, long-lasting sillage. At the same time, the signature style remains modern and precise, because it's about balance, about the interplay of tradition and contemporary style, without heaviness for its own sake.
Néroli Hasbaya interprets orange blossom in a gourmand, almost addictive way. Neroli brings radiant freshness, while pistachio and almond add a soft, creamy sweetness. The result feels like warm light on clean skin, elegant and inviting, perfect for days when you want to combine radiance with comfort.
Burgundy Oud is a contemporary take on oud wood. The composition is enlivened by fresh, sparkling notes of blackcurrant. This makes the fragrance less dark and heavy, but clearer, more modern, and at the same time very sensual. An extrait for evenings, for self-confidence, and for that moment when you command attention without being loud.
Black Oregano embraces contrast. Aromatic oregano facets meet the warmth of woods and the deep, sensual trace of leather. The result is bold, edgy, and full of character, like a perfectly tailored black outfit that you don't explain, but simply wear.
Ambre Paper It also plays with contrasts. Benzoin takes center stage, revealing its smooth, vanilla facets, while saffron contributes a burning, almost electric warmth. The result is amber without the dustiness, more like warm paper held in your hand, familiar yet exciting.
An extrait requires less. One or two sprays are often enough, especially at pulse points or on the back of the neck. If you prefer a particularly elegant look, spray lower, for example on the chest or collarbone, so that the fragrance doesn't run in front of you but breathes with you. Extraits are ideal if you're looking for a fragrance that feels like a statement and lingers long without seeming rushed.
Atelier Materi conceives of fragrance as a collection of materials, textures, and moods. Discovery Sets are designed precisely for this purpose. They offer you the freedom to explore the Maison's signature style at your own pace, without the pressure of immediate commitment. You'll experience the diverse effects of raw materials, from light and transparent to dark and velvety, and from spicy to vibrant. You'll also discover how the fragrances evolve over time and which compositions best suit your skin and lifestyle. The brand describes Discovery Sets as a curated selection that allows you to explore the essence of the house at your own speed.
To allow a Discovery Set to work its magic, a small ritual helps. Wear only one fragrance per test day, ideally in the morning on clean skin. Give it time, as the first few minutes rarely tell the whole story. Note how the fragrance feels after 15 minutes, after two hours, and in the evening. Don't just ask yourself if it smells good, but if it suits you. Does it feel like a sophisticated everyday companion, or more like a statement piece for special evenings? If you want to compare, use paper strips only for your initial impression and always make your final decision on your skin.
Discovery sets are ideal if you want to get a feel for a new brand. They're also perfect if you already have a favorite but are looking for a second signature piece for another occasion. And they make sense if you enjoy collecting, mixing and matching, and choosing based on your mood.