The name Memo comes from the word memory, and that idea is deeply personal. Molloy traces her first emotional connection to perfume back to childhood. Her mother’s perfume. The smell of books. Parisian stone after rain, and pine trees in Spain.
Scents linked to early years often stay with us the longest. Only later did she realise how powerful this sensory heritage could be. Perfume, she discovered, can hold emotion in a way few other art forms can.

From Conversations to Creation

Before founding Memo Paris, Molloy edited a publication called 22 Perfumers in Creation. A project that changed everything. Through long, in-depth conversations, she met perfumers whose creativity was often kept behind the scenes.
Encounters with talents like Aliénor Massenet and Sophie Labbé sparked something new. Not just admiration, but a clear desire to create with them. That’s when Molloy knew: that was the path she wanted to follow.

A Creative Duo That Never Stands Still

Memo Paris was built by two different creative minds. John Molloy came from a background in luxury branding. Clara Molloy from writing and artistic direction. That contrast still fuels the brand today. They exchange ideas constantly. They challenge and surprise each other. In fact, they feel they rediscover one another with every new project. No boredom. No creative autopilot. A healthy sign, especially in a world of endless launches.

Timeless With a Contemporary Edge

Memo’s storytelling feels timeless but rooted in the now. That balance comes naturally. Each place that inspires a new fragrance is approached with respect for its history, while staying firmly in the present. It’s the same philosophy behind the perfume: to create something that’s nostalgic but at the same time lasting.

When Words Follow the Fragrance

Memo’s taglines often read like short poems. Take Odéon’s “The Seine and the rose”. Or Irish Leather’s “The gallop of the wind”. Interestingly, these phrases usually come after the fragrance has been created. Once the scent has settled and revealed what it wants to say. The words are not meant to lead, but to listen. Take for example Irish Leather. “The gallop of the wind” captures the sensation you feel when wearing it.

Wearing What’s Yet to Come

Surrounded by fragrance all day, do you still feel inclined to wear perfume? Absolutely. Clara Molloy mostly wears future Memo Paris creations. Scents that are still in development. Testing them on skin is both work and pleasure, and discovery remains part of the ritual.

Travel, Memory, and Unfinished Ideas

Is there a travel memory still waiting to become a perfume? Yes, and Clara Molloy’s answer is unexpectedly simple: the smell of bread. Sometimes the most ordinary scents are the most evocative. It’s proof that inspiration doesn’t always come from far away.

Appealing to the American Audience

With the U.S. becoming a key market, Memo Paris stays true to its roots. The French touch remains central in a bold fashion. That spirit, Clara Molloy hopes, will resonate with an audience that values creativity and demands quality. Odéon’s warm reception at its New York launch suggests it already does.

Looking Ahead

With Marc-André Heller, a former L’Oréal Groupe executive, joining as a a new CEO, the vision for the future of Memo Paris is clear. Continuity, at full speed. A sharper focus on what defines the brand, with more confidence, clarity, impact, and above all: a stronger invitation into Memo Paris’s fragrant universe.