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Beauty

Scent
MEMORY

By Jenny Starr Perez

VERONIQUE GABAI CHANNELS HER SUN-DRENCHED ORIGINS INTO A SOULFUL FRAGRANCE HOUSE.
Some fragrances make you feel nostalgic. Others transport you. But a select few have the rare power to make you feel more like yourself. That’s the ethos behind Veronique Gabai’s namesake fragrance line, a collection infused with intention, sensuality, and the soul of the French Riviera.

Born in Antibes on the Côte d’Azur, Gabai describes her childhood as “sun-drenched and sensory-rich.” She recalls the scents of orange blossoms in the garden, jasmine sold by vendors at night, and the crack of pine nuts under her fingers. “All of your senses are constantly enchanted,” she says. “You smell, you see, you feel, you hear. I wanted to give people that sensation.”

Gabai began her career at L’Oréal and later held leadership roles at LVMH and Estée Lauder. “What I learned is that you cannot compromise with quality, innovation, or desirability,” she says. “You need a stellar product, and you need to be extremely good at sales.” Those experiences shaped her understanding of both aesthetics and ethics. “Whatever you do in business, it’s not just what you do—it’s how you do it.”

Launching her fragrance brand was an emotional and creative calling. “Perfume is my way of expressing myself,” she says. “This is what I do with my heart. If I don’t create perfume, I’m sad.” Each fragrance she develops begins with a clear emotional intention. “Some people are inspired by imaginary characters,” she explains. “For me, the ingredients have personality. I want to bring that to life.”
Her line is rooted in Mediterranean values—what she calls humanism and hedonism. “We bring pleasure,” she says. “We bring joy and a sense of well-being. And we do it in a way that people can feel good about.” Gabai emphasizes ethical sourcing, green chemistry, and a design ethos that favors refillable and reusable elements. “Luxury products should not be thrown away,” she says. “You make choices. Every detail has to be thoughtful.”

The brand’s Aroma collection explores the intersection of perfumery and aromatherapy, using natural ingredients to support well-being. “I use it every morning after my shower,” she says. “It gives me a boost of energy and joy.” She layers it with her oun fragrance and repeats the ritual at night to wind down. “It’s part of how I connect with myself.”

When asked which scent reflects her most personal story, Gabai doesn’t hesitate. “Souvenirs de Tunisie is my childhood,” she says. “Orange blossom is in the pastries, in the coffee, in the garden. It’s everywhere.” She describes Noire de Mai as her strength and ambition, and Ode à la Joie as her happiness. “That one is my happy place,” she says. “It smells like joy.” Her creative process includes music, books, and deep sensory memory. “When I created Délice de Bois, I listened to Juliette Armanet on repeat,” she says. “The whole vibe of that fragrance came from one song.” Each scent, each formula, each package is layered with intention. “You won’t smell like anyone else,” she says. “The chemistry is just for you.”

veroniquegabai.com

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