Lucian Matis

As fashion designer Lucian Matis preps to send his two namesake collections down the catwalk at this week’s staging of Toronto Fashion Week, Deborah Fulsang speaks to him about his love of fragrance as well as fashion.

Q: How would you describe your relationship with fragrance?
MATIS:  Fragrance to me is like an addiction. I could never live without that one sense.

 Q: What was the first fragrance that you ever wore?
MATIS:  It was Chanel Egoiste and it was a present from one of my dear friends that moved to Germany. It was when Romania didn’t have any brand names or any quality fragrances, so I felt very special whenever I wore it.

Q: How many fragrances do you own?
MATIS:  Never really counted them, but if I were to estimate, around 55 to 60, and the collection keeps growing. I can never have enough.

 Q: What scent are you wearing these days?
MATIS:  The essence of my lifestyle now is Lalique, Hommage à L’Homme. I flew all the way to Paris to get it as it is not yet available in stores here in Canada. I was dreaming about it since my dear friend and fragrance expert Marian Bendeth introduced me to it. I also love Vetiver Fatal by Atelier Cologne.

Q: If you were to create a fragrance for your brand, what would it smell like?
MATIS:  The fragrance would be dark and mysterious. I would want to take the Lucian Matis woman on a trip. It would have to be an experience—can’t elaborate more because I want the element of surprise to be there when it does get launched.

Q: What are your favourite scent memories from childhood?
MATIS:  I always loved the smell of spices in my mother’s kitchen; I was fascinated by their smell and colours.

Q: Who has been the best-smelling person you’ve ever met and what did they smell like?
MATIS:  I think Marian Bendeth is the best-smelling person I know. She has such a refined taste in her fragrances and wears a lot of unknown and vintage brands. Her scents always keep me guessing and I presume that is an art in itself.

 Q: What does your home smell like?
MATIS:  At the moment I am working on the Lucian Matis collection of scented soy candles and my house smells like a candle store. In general I love a non-intrusive scent when it comes to my personal space.

Q: Please tell us more about your candle collection that is in development.
MATIS:  For the candles collection, we have three different categories: Lucian Matis Black label, Lucian Matis Home, and the Spa Collection. The first one is dark and sophisticated with scents such as black ginger and pomegranate. The Home collection is happy and soft with red currant, lemon and water lily scents. The spa is the fresh collection that transports you in an exotic forest. Some of the fragrances are Secret Garden, Outdoor Hike and Gardenia.

Q: What are your favourite fragrance brands and why do you love them?
MATIS:  Lalique, Diptyque, [Paco Rabanne] Black XS, L’Artisan [Parfumeur] and so many offbeat brands have created some of my favourite scents.

Q: What are the smells that make you happy?
MATIS:  Fresh smells as well as airy smells make me happy. They add the finishing touches to a positive ambience.

Q: How often do you apply your fragrance during the day?
MATIS:  I generally apply it once a day in the morning. When I attend a party or event at night I make sure to remove the morning scent and reapply my evening cologne. I do have a scent for every occasion and every mood I am in.

PHOTOGRAPHY: GREG SWALES (ADVERTISING IMAGES), JENNA MARIE WAKANI (RUNWAY), PETER NGYEN (PORTRAIT)