“Les Bains Guerbois is an adventure that fascinates me. Straddling over three centuries, it has caught its breath like never before. A breath where exquisite and original scents mingle thanks to these great perfumers whom we invited since 2018 to translate the major dates of our house into fragrances. An eclectic, powerful and unique Parisian story.”

Jean-Pierre Marois graduated from the Sorbonne with a master's degree in cinema and comparative literatures. He then spent most of his professional career in the film industry, directing and producing feature films by directors such as Abel Ferrara, Oliver Stone, and Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu.

Constantly traveling for work, he fell in love with the Hospitality business. Applying his visual knowledge to supervise interior design, staging public and private spaces, brand identity, as well as developing storytelling for his properties, he brings his cinematic vision to the hotel business.

In March 2015, he transformed Les Bains, the legendary Paris nightclub and former Spa, into a disruptive 5-star hotel. In the following years, Jean-Pierre Marois reinvented Les Bains Guerbois and turned it into a Parisian Maison de Parfum.

You didn’t start your career in the fragrance industry; you initially found success as a director and producer. How did those experiences shape your sensibility?

I've always had a passion for art. I graduated in literature and film, so for me, artistic creation is the best path to happiness in this world.

What is the history behind the Les Bains Guerbois perfume brand?

The genesis of the brand comes from the fact that I revamped this legendary address into a 5-star hotel. I felt that Auguste Guerbois's legacy needed to be spotlighted again, and there was no better way than by launching a line of fragrances. So, I began in 2016 with an Eau de Cologne and a scented candle, followed by a collection of Eaux de Parfum in 2018. This approach, combined with my desire to create an original scent for the hotel, led me to work with the “Grande Dame” of perfumery, Dorothée Piot. The process was exciting and made me want to go further.

Les Bains Guerbois perfumes are created by French most talented perfumers. How did you persuade them to collaborate with you?

You’re right! Not only are they the most talented French perfumers, but they are on the A-list of the world's Master Perfumers. The approach was akin to making a film, as I was an independent filmmaker before. I've always had to convince talents to join projects, not for the money, but for the quality and the sense of freedom that independent work provides. In this case, it was the possibility of giving perfumers a sort of "carte blanche" and not being controlled by marketing committees that attracted them to Les Bains Guerbois. The proof is that most of the superstar perfumers we worked with agreed to do a second collaboration with us.

Your fragrances allow us to travel through time, yet they also feel modern. How did you manage to achieve this balance?

Well, as you know, our approach with perfumers is like pitching a movie — the story and concept behind each new fragrance are crucial. Part of this pitch is to remind them that we're not a heritage brand in the sense of creating heritage perfumes, but we aim to tell a story about the past with a contemporary twist. Since they are very talented and smart, they understand this concept and deliver fragrances that are truly contemporary.

Do you have a favorite scent from the entire Les Bains Guerbois collection?

It's very difficult to choose just one; they are all labors of love to me. However, some resonate with me more than others. First, I would mention 2015 Le Phénix; I wear it very often, and it represents a great success for me as it marks the launch date of Les Bains Paris. 2015 Le Phénix is a woody, elegant, and timeless fragrance. Moreover, it won a Fifi Award from the Fragrance Foundation in 2018.

Moreover, 1979 New Wave, a masterpiece by Dominique Ropion, and Oud Laqué, our "oud à la française," are among my favorites.

What is your first olfactory memory?

Probably the mixture of my mother's skin with Guerlain's Shalimar.

Is there a quote that defines you?

Less is more 😉

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