Bernard Chant was the head perfumer for International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), celebrated for his mastery of the patchouli powdered chypre.
His creations — including Grès Cabochard, Clinique Aromatics Elixir, and Aramis — carried a muted animalic quality that gave them unusual depth and presence, even when he moved into fresher floral territory. He worked with brands including Estée Lauder, Ralph Lauren, and Coty, and his collaboration with Max Gavarry on Estée Lauder's Beautiful remains one of the best-selling perfumes ever made.
1966AramisAramis
1973Aramis 900Aramis
1975Halston ClassicHalston
1977Aramis DevinAramis
1978LaurenRalph Lauren
1982JHLAramis
1985BeautifulEstée Lauder
2015CinnabarEstée LauderThe patchouli powdered chypre — concentrated, animalic compositions with a suppressed emotionalism that continues to influence modern reworkings of the genre.
Scentsation editorialFragrances credited to Bernard in our catalog, by house.
Radiant luminosity and ethereal transparency. Kurkdjian's fragrances glow — they possess an inner light that makes them feel both airy and profound. His palette favors ambroxan, saffron, and delicate florals, composed with a musician's instinct for harmony.
234 creations
Refined elegance and measured sophistication. Polge's compositions for Chanel embodied the house's aesthetic — never too much, never too little, always precisely right. His fragrances have the quiet authority of impeccable tailoring.
76 creations
Noble materials and classical structure. Creed fragrances are built around the finest natural ingredients — ambergris, royal water, hand-selected musks — composed in the traditional infusion method that has defined the house for centuries.
54 creations
