David Yurman Essences and Q&A with perfumer Harry Frémont

After I had the chance to sample the new David Yurman Essences, I was then offered the opportunity to conduct a virtual Q & A with the creator behind them -Harry Frémont. Mr. Fremont is a Master Perfumer at Firmenich, who are involved in the creation of many of our favorite scents.

 When Mr Fremont's answers came back, I was thrilled with how in depth he went. His knowledge and love of perfumery are evident and he talked not just about the new David Yurman's but fragrance in  general.

 First , a  little background on  the David Yurman Essences. There are three scents, all inspired by a gemstone- Fresh ( green ) , a fresh and crisp aquatic floral. Delicate ( pink ), a soft   dewy floral of lotus blossom , peony and and rose, that smells very much like it's name  and Exotic ( amber )  a spicy, warm vanilla  and amber  oriental.

Q & A with Harry Fremont:

Q.  With the essences being inspired by gemstones, how does one get a feel for what a stone should smell like in a perfume?

A. As a perfumer we try to translate emotions, lifestyle and sometimes colors, the gemstone with their specific color and brightness were a very nice source of inspiration for example the citrine was really giving me the idea of something sensual and warm which I tried to interpret into a fragrance for Exotic Essence.


Q. These Essences are very different from the original ( and lovely ) David Yurman, what sets them apart in your eyes and nose ?

A. The original David Yurman has a very strong signature and very rich and faceted. Each of the three essences have also their own character but are kind of more easy to wear still keeping the quality of the brand.

Each correspond to a mood or a certain ambiance. From the freshest to the more sensual they can fulfill any fragrance desire:

The Fresh Essence is more playful and sparkling : juicy fruits and fresh florals

The Delicate Essence for example is very romantic feminine and floral

And the Exotic Essence again is more mysterious sensual slightly darker with some creamy woody.

All of them for me can be worn during the day or the evening depending of what aura the lady wants to have around her.

Q. When initially beginning a fragrance, where do you start? What inspires you ?

A.  The brief itself for me can be the best source of inspiration and it is always exciting for me to go to a good briefing and have ideas popping into my head, new combinations, new effects .

As a gardener Nature is also a great source of inspiration, trying to transcend or sublime smells from nature is always a great challenge for me.

And then there is life, how people interact between them, how they wear fragrance, what do they expect from it . As a perfumer I believe fragrances are always a reflection of our times and I think it is important to integrate the experience of the moment into them.


Q. Where do you see fragrance in general heading in the next year or so?

A. Difficult to say I don’t believe there are olfactive trends anymore, but I think or maybe I wish fragrances are going to become easier to understand and more enjoyable to wear, we are going to achieve that by using more quality materials and sometimes materials that have a story to tell. For example Sustainable natural extracts where the consumer will feel good about buying this fragrance containing this material because it helps some communities in a certain part of the world where it is produced. In general the consumer will need more and more to find an emotional connection with a fragrance he wants to buy.


Many thanks to Mr. Fremont , and I hope you've enjoyed getting a peek into perfumery.

The David Yurman Essences are $ 85.00 each at Bloomingdales and http://www.davidyurman.com/