Memo Paris
Founded 2007 · Paris, France · Clara and John Molloy
Memo Paris builds its catalogue like a travel notebook: each perfume is a place, and the whole is an itinerary. Irish Leather and Lalibela are its big names, and its presentation — enamelled bottles with filigree — is among the most carefully made in niche.
History
Clara Molloy, a writer, and her husband John founded the house in Paris in 2007 on a literary premise: each fragrance is the memory of a specific place. The collection is organised into Cuirs Nomades, Les Échappées and other geographical series — Ireland, Ethiopia, Kedu, Sicily. Perfumery is in the hands of Aliénor Massenet across much of the catalogue. Irish Leather, from 2013, with juniper, leather and green tea, is the composition that holds the house up.
Iconic models
Irish Leather (2013)
Juniper, leather and green tea. The house's best known and best rated.
Lalibela
Frankincense and vanilla, after the Ethiopian city of rock-hewn churches.
Marfa
Tuberose and musk, after the town in the Texas desert.
Worth knowing
The whole catalogue is a map: every bottle is a real place, and the house treats it as travel writing rather than perfumery.
