Ode Annecy

“Capturing the magic of a specific place and linking those unique moments to a fragrance, this is the goal that I set for myself.”

Edouard Maumejean, founder of Ode Annecy

Designed as an olfactory treat by someone who truly loves Annecy, and who ended up moving here permanently a dozen or so years ago, Ode Annecy as a new brand of mood fragrances created as a declaration of love for his new home.

Revealing the olfactory treasures from the hidden nooks and crannies of the area – the lake, mountains, forest, and underbrush – this is Edouard Maumejean’s promise and the impetus for the brand.

“I worked for a long time in marketing and communications, and I like to tell stories. In this case, I wanted to tell one that is inspired by the memory I have from a trip; a mood fragrance named Acqua dell’Elba, from the Island of Elba. Once back home, the captivating fragrance that spread through the air worked like a memory inducer, with one flashback after another every time I inhaled. We subconsciously associated our vacation with the mesmerizing scent. I asked myself how incredible would it be for people to be able to bring a bit of the magic of Annecy back home with them to immortalize their experience.”

At the beginning of the Covid pandemic, Edouard starting thinking about changing careers and entering a profession that would provide more meaning to him. And then he met with Rémi Pulvérail from Atelier Français des Matières (French Materials Workshop), a company located in Archamps (just down the road from Annecy), and which brings together a concentration of expertise from France’s high-end perfume industry: from sourcing rare essences to bottling unique elixirs. They only work on custom projects, limited series, and accelerating the development process.

From this encounter, the Ode Annecy adventure began: a range of interior fragrances using diffuser sticks, spreading aromas through capillary action. When writing the specifications, Edouard wanted to make sure all his products are locally produced, environmentally friendly, and fair trade. The glass bottle is refillable and comes in a colorful box that can be recycled. The brand is a member of 1% for the Planet, which redistributes 1% of its revenues to organizations working on projects to preserve the environment.

Annecy in the air

Everything about his fragrances exudes Annecy: a beautiful city located in an exceptional natural setting, changing from season to season, with the mountains making each one so truly distinct.

Été (summer), the first fragrance in the range and launched on June 21, 2023, feels like a summertime swim in the lake, a delightful reminder of the cool, pure mountain water. “I explained this feeling to Eléonore de Staël, a perfumer who created this unique fragrance in line with the stringent standards of high-end perfumes. She worked with ingredients from Atelier Français des Matières, using mint and ginger as the dominant notes to provide that cool feeling, as well as white flower essences, like jasmine, musk, and vanilla, to add a bit of sun.”
For Automne (fall), we were inspired by walks in the sun on the wilder shores of the lake: Saint-Jorioz, Duingt, and the flanks of Mt Semnoz. We sought to strike a balance between gentler terrain and the forest, playing with bergamot orange, lemon, and mint, rounded out with notes of pine and hay.
Hiver (winter), launched just a few days ago, reminds you of that comfortable feeling when stepping indoors after spending a day out in the cold: a soft, cozy warmth that mixes incense, cinnamon, coffee, with a hint of smoke from the fireplace.
Printemps (spring) is still in the development phase and will be available on March 23. Every season offers a harmonious olfactory experience designed like an elixir of inspiration, opening the gates into an entire world of pleasant memories.

A drop of water from the lake: here, there, everywhere

More than an interior fragrance, Ode Annecy pays homage to the city, the lake, and the surrounding mountains.

There is a lot of imagery and symbolism, and each bottle contains a drop of water from the lake, taken by Stéphane Janssoone while freediving 15 meters below the surface of the lake. The latter founded a breathing school in Annecy.

A quick word from creator Eléonore de Staël

“Smells are deeply linked to emotion and memory. This is the first time that I created fragrances connected to a place and the seasons. Instead of starting with the ingredients or an essence in mind, I was guided by feelings: warmth, cold, calm, peacefulness… to tell a story that embodies a specific place and then transcribe the emotions it evokes into a fragrance. A creative process located halfway between sharing and introspection.”