Escentric Molecules owes its existence to an aroma-molecule that does not exist in nature. Iso E Super was created in a laboratory at IFF in 1973. It remained unknown outside the world of perfumery until the launch of Escentric Molecules, though its elusive presence hovers at relatively low concentrations in the background of many fragrances for both men and women. Among perfumers, it is prized for its velvety, cocooning effect.
Perfumer Geza Schoen has a reputation as a rebel in the fragrance world.
In 2001, disillusioned with the industry’s increasing commercialisation, he resigned his job at fragrance manufacturers, H & R in Paris and moved to London. Here he met designers, Brian Kirkby and Zowie Broach of Boudicca, working with them over several years to create their fiercely individual scent, Wode.
It was in London, in 2006, that he launched Escentric Molecules: Often described as the ‘anti-fragrance fragrance brand’ Escentric Molecules confounded expectations to become an exponential success.
In 2009 he initiated The Beautiful Mind Series, working with outstanding women in different creative fields to construct fragrances dedicated to the power of the female mind. In 2017 he launched Project Renegades with friends and fellow-perfumers, Mark Buxton and Bertrand Duchaufour.
Throughout his career Schoen has collaborated on conceptual projects such as Paper Passion, a fragrance with Steidl, Wallpaper* and Karl Lagerfeld; and worked with artists such as Wolfgang Georgsdorf, for whom he made 64 odours for Smeller, an olfactory organ that spectators can play like a piano to make aromascapes.