Where does your love for perfume come from?
I’ve had that love since I was a child. I noticed that I paid more attention to scents than others and was particularly sensitive to them. I collected perfume miniatures and even tried to make perfumes myself with ingredients from DIY kits. However, when I later went to study, my parents thought being a perfumer wasn’t a serious career. So, I pursued pharmacy, which I enjoyed, but my fascination with scents always remained.
How did MIGLOT Perfumes start?
As a pharmacist, I noticed how customers who were struggling would smile when they smelled a wonderful fragrance. That fascinated me. I started experimenting with essential oils but soon realized I had to follow my passion. So, I sold my pharmacy and went to study at ISIPCA, the renowned perfume school in Versailles. Later, I went to London to study Fashion Psychology to understand why people like perfume—or don’t. I also studied aromacology to examine how scents affect behavior. Most perfumers don’t think about this effect, but I wanted my perfumes to do something for people. That’s how MIGLOT came to be. The name is derived from the English phrase ‘me glow’, which I Frenchified into an abstract word, as a nod to my training in Versailles. It perfectly encapsulates what I want: to create perfumes that make people happy.
What is the most important quality of a perfumer?
Empathy. A perfumer doesn’t create fragrances for themselves, but for others. You need to empathize with what people need or want. Additionally, imagination is essential—you have to be able to wonder, like a child, and let yourself be carried away by a story. And, of course, passion. Either you have it, or you don’t—you can’t learn it.
What gives you the most satisfaction?
The most beautiful moment for me is when someone starts to smile upon smelling one of my perfumes. Then I know I’ve done something right, that I’ve pressed the right button somewhere in their brain. Perfume is much more than a bottle on your bathroom shelf; it can offer security, freedom, or just happiness. Perfume is personal, never superficial. Invisible, but always there.
What is your favorite MIGLOT Formula?
That’s a tough question, as it feels like picking a favorite child. They’re all unique and hard to compare. But I’m most proud of Formula 32. That said, it’s not really about that; what matters is what makes people happy.
What makes MIGLOT Parfums different?
We are the first Belgian perfume house. We could have easily chosen a postal address in Paris, but we deliberately chose Belgium. We develop, produce, and bottle all our fragrances here, often with local suppliers. For example, our labels are made from leather scraps from a studio in Ghent. Belgium is a small country, but we have so much talent, which is appreciated worldwide. We can be proud of that. For me, it’s natural to keep production here—not just to maintain control, but also because it’s the most sustainable option.
Sustainability is important to us. We approach it with philosophy and intuition, using common sense, rather than just ticking off a checklist. We consciously choose not to wear labels, because they often cost a lot without being truly relevant. We do what feels right, not what’s expected. The beauty industry often has a negative discourse: if something doesn't contain 'this' or 'that', it’s considered good. But it’s really about what’s in a product and how it’s made. We don’t communicate the percentages of natural ingredients, because that’s obvious to us. We make all our products in small quantities to avoid overproduction. As a company, we also strive for sustainability: we don’t push any perfume on our customers, but guide them honestly and objectively in their search. We also prefer long-term collaborations with partners and suppliers. For me, that’s the only way to survive in a very competitive market.
Why did you choose a living room atmosphere and install your lab in the store?
I wanted to create a place that feels warm and inviting, where customers can escape the hustle and bustle of life. In our Maisons MIGLOT, there are no checkouts, overcrowded shelves, or flashy signs. Nothing should distract, so that customers can focus solely on the scent itself, not on what they see. That’s why all our bottles have the same minimalist packaging, and we don’t use brand names, only formula numbers.
Additionally, I thought it was important to show the lab as the heart of the store. This way, customers literally get a glimpse into our work. We want to share knowledge and show how we make fragrances, while reassuring them that they are buying a fresh product. This transparency is unique to MIGLOT and essential to us.
What are your ambitions for MIGLOT Parfums?
The luxury of well-being is becoming more important, and the experience of scent can make a huge difference. I create perfumes based on my personal experiences, which means each fragrance has its own story. But I also love to see how the scents come to life with the people who buy them. Everyone chooses perfume for different reasons, but MIGLOT perfumes have one thing in common: they’re designed to make people smile. For me, MIGLOT is more than a bottle of perfume; it’s a generous lifestyle, a way of giving. So it all comes together: in essence, I’m doing the same thing now as I did when I was a pharmacist—helping people feel better