A stylish new fragrance called “Irish Leather” inspired by
tack rooms is to be launched at the Irish embassy in Paris next month. The couple behind it are John and Clara Molloy of Memo fragrances, a business set up five years ago to capture personal memories of place through scent.
Since then, Memo has become very successful with a dozen fragrances inspired by Egypt, Lalibella, Luxor and Granada that are sold in places such as Le Bon Marche and Colette in Paris and Harvey Nichols in London.
The son of a racehorse breeder from Tipperary, John Molloy grew up with horses, and the rich olfactory power of saddle soap and old leather gave his Spanish wife Clara the idea of creating an aroma with an Irish theme. A former marketing director of Lancome in Geneva, Molloy quit his job last year in order to mastermind Memo's further expansion. Parents of two small children, the Molloys divide their time between Geneva and Paris.
The full range of Memo’s 13 perfumes, including Irish Leather, will be available in Brown Thomas from May. Prices start at €132 for 75mls. memofragrances.com