The Minds Of Matine: Marie Kellou & Arthur Ponroy

Colorful bottles. Unexpected scents. A slightly rebellious attitude. Maison Matine has never been interested in doing perfume the traditional way.

Founded in Paris in 2019 by Marie Kellou and Arthur Ponroy, the brand was created with a simple idea: fragrance could be more creative, more inclusive, more accessible — and a lot less serious. Before perfume, Marie and Arthur worked together in a creative agency. When they couldn't find fragrances that really felt like them, they decided to create their own.

We caught up with Arthur to talk beginnings, inspiration, favorite scents and what they hope you feel when you spray Maison Matine.

 

FIRST THINGS FIRST: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE MAISON MATINE?

Traditional perfume brands mainly talk about love, seduction and glamour. We love niche perfumery because it is much more creative, but it can also be very expert, difficult to understand and often very expensive.

With Maison Matine, we wanted the best of both worlds: high-quality, creative fragrances, but with simple messages, accessible prices and no unnecessary complexity.

 

MAISON MATINE IN THREE WORDS. GO.

Creative, Sustainable, Generous.

 

WHICH MAISON MATINE SCENT BEST REPRESENTS YOUR PERSONALITY — AND WHY?

Esprit de Contradiction. It represents a certain French spirit, but also the relationship between Marie and me, the two founders of Maison Matine. We often challenge each other, we don’t always agree, but in the end we find a common path. I think good ideas often come from contradiction.

 

WHAT MAKES YOUR FRAGRANCES DIFFERENT FROM TRADITIONAL PERFUME HOUSES?

We don’t really look at what others are doing — maybe that’s why we are different! We start with an idea we love and give our perfumers a lot of creative freedom. We want to create great fragrances without following the traditional codes of perfumery.

 

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR NEW FRAGRANCES AND PACKAGING?

Mostly in everyday life: a trip, a conversation, a feeling, a moment at the end of a night, something we see in the street… We start with an idea or an emotion, then ask a perfumer and an illustrator to interpret it in their own way. This dialogue between fragrance and visual art has been part of Maison Matine from the beginning.

 

LAST ONE: WHAT'S ONE THING YOU HOPE PEOPLE FEEL WHEN THEY WEAR MAISON MATINE?

I simply hope it makes them smile and feel good. Perfume should bring a little joy to your day.

 

 

PERFUME, WITHOUT THE RULEBOOK

Maison Matine may have started because two creative people couldn't find fragrances that felt quite right for them, but it has grown into something much bigger: a different way of thinking about perfume.

One that's colorful instead of conventional. Collaborative instead of exclusive. Thoughtful without taking itself too seriously.

Because choosing a fragrance shouldn't be about following rules.

Pick the bottle that catches your eye. Spray the scent that matches your mood. And make it your own.

 

XOXO,

Team Parasol Y Mar