A Maison de Parfum With NYC Roots

When French natives Sylvie Ganter and Christophe Cervasel decided to create their own fragrance business, they started in New York City. The couple, who met a decade ago while working in the U.S., discovered a shared penchant for cologne, a style of fragrance invented in 18th century Germany. Once favored by European royalty, it’s suffered recently from a reputation as a down-market cousin to French perfume. Both are a blend of essential oils and alcohol. The greater concentration of essences in perfume gives it more staying power. “I always wore cologne, but I was frustrated because it didn’t last,” says Ganter, who previously worked in the perfume divisions of luxury groups LVMH and Hermès.

The couple became acquainted when Cervasel hired Ganter to work for a company he owned that developed perfumes under license for fashion brands. Soon afterward they fell in love and quit their jobs to start a business. They sold their apartments to raise money and in 2009 introduced Atelier Cologne, a collection of highly concentrated colognes that rival perfume’s staying power but still have the fresh citrus scents that are cologne’s hallmark.