Osmetheca: Olivier Pescheux, Givaudan Master Perfumer (1966-2023)

Quick answers

Who was Olivier Pescheux?

A perfumer born in Paris (France) in 1966, trained at ISIPCA and promoted to Master Perfumer at Givaudan. He died in Paris on 10 July 2023, aged 57.

Employers

Payan Bertrand in Bangkok (Thailand) from 1990, Annick Goutal in 1992, Kao Corporation in 1993, then Givaudan from 1998, with a short spell at Quest International before returning in 2006.

Houses

Mainly Diptyque, plus Paco Rabanne, Dior, Lacoste, Montblanc, Parfums de Marly and Essential Parfums.

Major creations

One Million (Paco Rabanne, 2008), Eau des Sens (Diptyque, 2016), Fleur de Peau (Diptyque, 2018), Orphéon (Diptyque, 2021).

Biography and career

Olivier Pescheux was born in Paris (France) in 1966 and graduated from ISIPCA. His career began in 1990 at Payan Bertrand in Bangkok (Thailand). Back in Paris in 1992, he worked for the house of Annick Goutal. In 1993 he moved to Kao Corporation.

He joined Givaudan in 1998. After a brief period at Quest International, he returned in 2006 and stayed for the rest of his career. Givaudan later made him a Master Perfumer.

Givaudan announced his death on 11 July 2023. He died the day before in Paris (France), aged 57. CEO Gilles Andrier called him “the architect of many of the most beautiful and iconic fragrances of the industry”. He also praised his commitment to mentoring the next generation of perfumers.

Notable perfumes

Six creations whose attribution and year are documented by a first- or second-tier source. Diptyque dominates the list published by Givaudan.

Year	House	Perfume	Source
2008	Paco Rabanne	One Million (with Christophe Raynaud and Michel Girard)	Givaudan, 2023, Numéro, 2023
2016	Diptyque	Eau des Sens	Givaudan, 2023, Fashion Headline, 2016
2018	Diptyque	Fleur de Peau	Givaudan, 2023, ELLE Belgique, 2018
2018	Diptyque	Tempo	ELLE Belgique, 2018
2019	Montblanc	Explorer (with Jordi Fernández and Antoine Maisondieu)	Moodie Davitt, 2019, Cosmetics Business, 2023
2021	Diptyque	Orphéon	Givaudan, 2023, Moodie Davitt, 2021

Other creations and awards

Givaudan also credits him with Higher for Dior and L.12.12 Blanc for Lacoste, without dates. Cosmetics Business adds Eau Mohéli for Diptyque and Herod for Parfums de Marly. Essential Parfums lists Divine Vanille as his. None of these sources gives a launch year.

Year	House	Perfume	Source
Not established	Dior	Higher	Givaudan, 2023
Not established	Lacoste	L.12.12 Blanc	Givaudan, 2023
Not established	Diptyque	Eau Mohéli	Cosmetics Business, 2023
Not established	Parfums de Marly	Herod	Cosmetics Business, 2023
Not established	Essential Parfums	Divine Vanille	Essential Parfums

Nez listed him in October 2023 among past winners of the Prix François Coty, alongside Alberto Morillas, Olivier Polge and Francis Kurkdjian. No first- or second-tier source we have read gives the year of his award.

Olfactory signature

Givaudan described his writing as “elegant and luminous”. Xavier Renard, the group’s Global Head of Fine Fragrances, pointed to “his ability to transcend any material, to make any ingredient tell new stories”.

His range was wide. One Million, co-written with Christophe Raynaud and Michel Girard, became a mass-market icon. At Diptyque, Eau des Sens is built on orange blossom and bitter orange, lifted by ginger and patchouli.

Orphéon, launched for Diptyque’s 60th anniversary, portrays a 1960s Latin Quarter café that faced the brand’s first shop. The Moodie Davitt Report calls it fresh, floral, sensual and woody, with juniper berries, cedar and tonka bean. For Divine Vanille at Essential Parfums, he said he wanted to capture the “soft, spicy and carnal facets” of vanilla.

“Olivier liked to define himself as a craftsman, and he really was.” Xavier Renard, Givaudan

Key characteristics

Training

ISIPCA

Employer

Givaudan from 1998 until his death, apart from a short spell at Quest International

Most cited house

Diptyque: Eau des Sens, Fleur de Peau, Tempo, Orphéon, Eau Mohéli

Style

“Elegant and luminous”, in Givaudan’s words

Frequently asked questions

Who was Olivier Pescheux?01

Olivier Pescheux (Paris, 1966 to Paris, 2023) was a Master Perfumer at Givaudan. An ISIPCA graduate, he co-created Paco Rabanne’s One Million and composed many Diptyque fragrances.

Which perfumes did Olivier Pescheux create?02

Givaudan cites One Million by Paco Rabanne, Higher by Dior, L.12.12 Blanc by Lacoste, and Eau des Sens, Fleur de Peau and Orphéon by Diptyque. Cosmetics Business adds Eau Mohéli (Diptyque), Herod (Parfums de Marly) and Explorer (Montblanc).

Who created Paco Rabanne One Million?03

Olivier Pescheux, with Christophe Raynaud and Michel Girard. It launched in July 2008.

What did he compose for Diptyque?04

Givaudan cites Eau des Sens (2016), Fleur de Peau (2018) and Orphéon (2021). ELLE Belgique also credits him with Tempo, released in 2018 alongside Fleur de Peau for the 50th anniversary of Diptyque fragrances. Cosmetics Business adds Eau Mohéli.

Where did he train and work?05

He graduated from ISIPCA. He worked at Payan Bertrand in Bangkok (Thailand) from 1990, for Annick Goutal in 1992, at Kao Corporation from 1993 and at Givaudan from 1998.

When did Olivier Pescheux die?06

On 10 July 2023 in Paris (France), aged 57. Givaudan announced his death the following day.

Did he compose Herod for Parfums de Marly?07

Yes. The official Parfums de Marly page names neither the perfumer nor the year.

Sources

Published on 4 November 2026 · Updated on 4 November 2026 · Author: Sabrina Carlier · Osmetheca.

Olivier Pescheux