James Taffin on The Inspiration Behind His Namesake Fragrance Line
As Taffin fragrance launches in Qatar, Bazaar meets founder James Taffin De Givenchy
For New York and Miami-based Taffin, creativity, innovation, and modernity have always been guiding principles. Launched in 1996 by James Taffin de Givenchy, nephew of the renowned couturier Hubert Taffin de Givenchy, the Maison’s one-of-a-kind high jewellery pieces have captivated clients with their clean, elegant aesthetic, and the use of striking gemstones juxtaposed against surprising materials to create pieces that are both unconventional and unexpected.
In 2020, the Taffin universe expanded into fragrance, marking a significant milestone in its story. For James, it felt like a natural progression. “I grew up in the world of fragrance,” he says. “I was born in Beauvais, a small town north of Paris, where my father and uncle established the Givenchy perfume factory. At the age of 16, I was an intern there, working on the line, filling L’Interdit in its iconic bottles. I still recall my father carefully arranging the blotters – the perfume samples – on his desk and inviting me to give my opinion. It was the best possible education for a young apprentice. I truly loved it and I knew that one day I would create a fragrance collection… Taffin Fragrance fulfills this dream.
”Now, thanks to an exclusive partnership with Printemps Doha, the fragrance line has arrived in Qatar. In sharp contrast to the cutand- paste perfume bottles that saturate the industry, each limitededition, unisex perfume drawn from Les Couleurs de Taffin is housed in a beautifully crafted glass bottle featuring a wooden cap, textured bottle, and family crest. “Most bottles look the same,” says James of the similar aesthetic that defines the market, but for a brand that has built its reputation on individuality and uniqueness “it was never about just adding a different cap. We work with colours and we have a strong sense of texture in our jewellery and I wanted to see how we could organically develop the bottles into something that felt true to the fragrance creations and the Taffin universe.
”The intersection of jewellery and perfume is an interesting one, given that both products are fundamentally personal and, in their greatest forms, have the potential to become an intrinsic part of the wearer’s life. “My clients live with their jewellery on their skin and it’s the same with fragrance – it’s something that is so close to your body that it becomes a part of you”, says James. “There is a parallel there. I always thought that it was strange that there wasn’t more convergence between jewellery and fragrance and that where it does exist, in some cases, the perfume does not do justice to the jewellery brand.”
At Taffin, the same passion and dedication runs through the jewellery and the fragrance, creating a kind of symbiotic relationship between the two. “With my jewellery, I am not looking to fit into the market. What is more important to me is how you can make something beautiful and construct it very well. That was the first starting point for the perfume; questioning how we could make a perfume that would be like the jewellery – solid, balanced, and well-constructed – and that would represent the way I look at the world through my jewellery.”
A shared sense of unbridled creativity also runs through the Taffin universe; bold, free, and fluid. “If you look at my jewellery and the perfumes, they are really organic,” says James. “There is, unquestionably, a correlation between how you live your life, how you move through the day, and what you end up producing or making. You find a niche when you start to develop a craft that allows you to express yourself. That’s ultimately what it is all about – the need to feel alive.”
For clients in the Middle East, traditionally drawn to both industries, that thought process and marrying of concepts is a perfect pairing. “The guests I met during our launch in Doha, and across the region more generally, were extremely knowledgeable about fragrance. They understand the notes, the layering, how something is going to wear. It was wonderful to have those conversations with guests that felt a true appreciation for Taffin.”
Images supplied.
From Harper’s Bazaar Qatar’s Summer 2024 issue.