Behind The Curtain: Interview with Amélie Montale

Growing up immersed in your father's world of fragrances, what was the most magical memory from your childhood that first sparked your passion for perfumery as an art form? 

"I think it all started without me even realizing it. At home, scents were just part of everyday life (a bit like music). My father worked endlessly to build his brands, which are what they are today, starting from nothing. He did everything himself… the design, the name, and of course, the very first juices.

Without knowing it, I was already doing my training as a perfumer just by watching him. I understood that perfume could tell an emotion or a memory, that I could create stories through scents, things that touch me, that feel like me, and that I want to share. It became a way to express what I have inside, a bit like photography, which is still one of my biggest passions."

As Artistic Director since 2017, how has working hand-in-hand with Pierre transformed Mancera into a true “family sonata” — blending his Eastern travels with your visual artistry?

"Working with my father is something really strong and special. I love sharing this with him, even though, obviously, working with family is never simple. We challenge each other… I push him, but most of the time, we’re completely in tune.

He’s very oud, very traditional, almost meditative when he creates. I come with a more visual, curious energy, always searching for that little idea that can change everything. I love suggesting ingredients that are a bit crazy, accords he might not have chosen at first, but that, in the end, really excite him.

We balance each other in the best possible way. He’s the zen master… calm, wise, totally instinctive. I’m the one who shows up with ten ideas at once, always ready to shake things up! I love playing with contrasts. Together, we’ve made Mancera more lifestyle, more fun, more connected to nature and travel. It’s freer now, more about real life and real people and that’s exactly what gives it soul."

Mancera's bottles evoke purity, geometry, and opulence with elements like gold plating and mother-of-pearl. How does your love for Art Deco shape the visual storytelling of your fragrances? 

"At the beginning, Pierre imagined a brand very inspired by Art Deco (pure lines, perfect balance, and even collaboration with an Italian glassmaker for that iconic bottle). But since I joined, nature has become our biggest source of inspiration. The textures, the reflections, the living materials… that’s where our ideas come from.

I travel a lot, and my journeys always feed my creativity: Mexico inspired Xplicit Vanilla, Sicily for Amore Café, my runs along the mountains of the Estérel down to the Croisette inspired French Riviera, and my trip to Uganda… which is still inspiring a fragrance I’m currently working on. *Shhh*

For me, a perfume is an energy you attract, a vibration you wear. The design has to reflect that through the choice of colors, beauty, and balance. Always luxurious, but with a little wild side. And as Pierre always says… something I’ve repeated to myself for the past fifteen years:

'The most important thing is the juice, the juice, and … the juice, Amélie. You can have the most beautiful bottle in the world, but if the juice isn’t good, it will never sell.' "