Style Edit: Henry Jacques’ vision lands in Hong Kong – Anne-Lise Cremona, daughter of the legendary French perfumer, explains how defying convention in the perfume world took courage

Apr 27 , 2023

The height of luxury: a bespoke fragrance chest by Henry Jacques. Photos: Henry Jacques

Henry Jacques’ CEO Anne-Lise Cremona and artistic director Christophe Tollemer recently hosted a lunch at Hong Kong’s The Upper House to share the remarkable story of the French perfumer

Continuing her father’s legacy, Cremona hasn’t just upheld the maison’s art of creating authentic, bespoke scents, but defied convention too – take the brand’s Clic-Clac collection, for example

For nearly five decades, French perfume house Henry Jacques has been cultivating a reputation for excellence in its field. Founded by Henry Cremona, whose passion for travel and visiting the world’s most far-flung places has been distilled as inspiration for every scent, Henry Jacques’ approach to perfume making is in the same vein as haute couture fashion – with every last component tailored to the individual, bringing memories and nostalgic recollections to life. Not only are the scent notes designed to be uniquely personal, but the name, format and display are all customised too.

Anne-Lise Cremona, CEO of Henry Jacques.

Continuing its pledge to bring its unique art to discerning clientele across the world, Henry Jacques CEO Anne-Lise Cremona and artistic director Christophe Tollemer held a private press luncheon in Hong Kong on March 30 to share the maison’s story and message. The intimate event hosted just 10 guests at the André Fu Suite at The Upper House.

Skilled teams of artisans and scientists carefully craft each formula for Henry Jacques fragrances.

Anne-Lise Cremona, the daughter of the storied perfumer’s founder, has returned to the family business after an independent career at various perfume groups.

“Henry Jacques embodies an ideal of creativity, quality and authenticity,” says Cremona, whose convention-defying approach continues to drive the company’s development. “I knew exactly where I wanted to go. It was clear to me, but no one dared to go there. It took many rebuffs and much courage to garner respect for my ideal and push the boundaries.”

Examples of the brand’s convention-challenging spirit is its Clic-Clac collection, which sees a return to the oft-neglected art of creating solid perfume. No attention to detail is spared, with the opening mechanism utilising watchmaking processes, while its sleek design adds to the olfactory appeal. Elsewhere, the Les Brumes collection distils the time-honoured rituals of perfume wearing, spraying and splashing, into one unique crystal bottle.

Christophe Tollemer, artistic director of Henry Jacques.

Cremona and Tollemer have worked together closely to drive Henry Jacques’ progress. With their sights set on expanding its global presence, Tollemer designed the brand’s first overseas boutique in Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands to resemble a classic Parisian flat. Channelling similar inspiration, the Hong Kong boutique, in luxury shopping destination Elements, functions as a haven filled with luxurious curiosities just waiting to be uncovered.

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