Photo: TFWA

MEET JILLIAN
The Roots of Love

Every true perfume lover knows that a fragrance has the power to inspire love and connection. Jillian embraces this enchanting quality by crafting an olfactory universe that enhances the experience of love. For yourself, others, and the nature around you. Join us as we go ‘behind the scents’ to uncover Jillian’s story, where the beauty of fragrance meets the magic of love.

Growing up amid the lush landscapes of the Northern Delta in Vietnam, Jang Kều (also known as JK) was always surrounded by the vibrant colours and diversity of nature. This environment nurtured her vivid imagination and profound love for the natural world.

Inspired by this connection to the earth, she embarked on a mission: to celebrate and share nature’s treasures with the world, while promoting sustainability in order to preserve nature for future generations. This vision led her to establish UCC Europe, a research and development company for scents and fragrant products, and to launch a prestigious Swiss fragrance label in 2019: Jillian.

The name Jillian is derived from ‘Jill’, meaning ‘sweetheart’, and serves as a nod to the brand’s heart and soul: love. But Jillian’s love isn’t just a concept. It’s a story told through intricate layers, much like how a fragrance unfolds through the olfactory pyramid: with top, heart, and base notes. The journey begins with the top layer, symbolising self-love through a scent that reflects personal identity. The heart of Jillian represents the act of sharing love with others, evoking emotions, and forming connections. At the base lies the brand’s foundation: a deep love for nature.

By using natural essences, Jillian supports the sustainability movement, promoting reforestation and climate-positive practices. Each fragrance encapsulates these three layers of love – love for yourself, others, and the world around us, transforming the perfumes into meaningful, one-of-a-kind experiences.

ECO-CONSCIOUS CREATIONS

Fragrance creation is akin to capturing nature’s aromas in a flacon. In this spirit, Jillian honours the earth as the source of all its remarkable raw materials. The brand’s manifesto, “Every scent plants a future,” is brought to life through a commitment to dedicating all profits to reforestation.

The perfumes are also crafted with environmental consciousness in mind, using pure, natural essences and ethically sourced ingredients. The brand prioritises Swiss craftsmanship and transparent sourcing, using only the most premium, sustainable raw materials to create refined, high-quality fragrances.

Many of these scents are developed by the Swiss perfume house LUZI and a handful of skilled perfumers, such as the renowned Mark Buxton, David Chieze, and Mirella Pomina. The minimalistic and modern flacons are from Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, and reflect Swiss minimalism beautifully with their clean lines, understated luxury, and craftsmanship. Each flacon is hand polished and adorned with a zamac cap and a creatively designed label, crafted by artists to narrate the story of every fragrance. The glass bottles are fully recyclable and wrapped in eco-friendly packaging made from recycled paper, reflecting Jillian’s commitment to sustainability.

Exclusive Q&A with
FOUNDER JANG KỀU

Photo: TFWA

Jillian Founder Jang Kều - Le Parfum Scentabase

What is your professional background in perfumery?

People often wonder why I suddenly entered the perfume industry, but the truth is it wasn’t a sudden decision at all! Twenty-one years ago, after returning to Vietnam from studying abroad, I unexpectedly became the director of an American flavour and fragrance company. This role allowed me to collaborate with various global fragrance houses and learn the craft from experienced perfumers. Currently, through my group of companies (GroupG Asia Pacific), I provide innovative fragrance solutions to food and cosmetics manufacturers across Asia.
For many years, my focus was primarily on brand consulting, so few people were aware of my work in fragrances. In 2019, I met Jürg Koller during a business trip and shared details about my Green Happiness program. Not only did he generously support the cause by donating funds to plant 3,000 mangrove trees through my foundation, but the encounter also sparked a conversation about sustaining these efforts through the creation of a perfume brand. The vision was to help connect wearers of the perfume with nature and encourage environmental contributions. Jürg arranged a lunch in Paris with master perfumer Mark Buxton and perfumer David Chieze, setting the foundation for a brand that would seamlessly integrate nature-inspired fragrances: Jillian.

What inspired the flacon and cap design?

The design was inspired by a desire to create something that reflects both elegance and nature, serving as more than just a vessel for the fragrances. It had to be a statement piece that reflects the brand’s commitment to the environment. Each flacon is hand polished to remove any imperfections, resulting in a smooth, flawless surface that creates a stunning ‘crystal clear’ effect, which is further enhanced by the invisible dip tube. The cap’s design, a unique and dynamic J-shape, is inspired by organic forms found in nature, while the flacon reflects simplicity and sophistication, with subtle artistic touches that elevate it to a luxury status. The goal was to make the bottle feel timeless, something that could be kept as a keepsake and reused rather than discarded. This aligns with our focus on sustainability, as I believe every part of the product, from the scent to the bottle, should carry a meaningful message.

Which Jillian fragrance is your personal favourite?

My personal favourite fragrance from the Jillian collection is Fall in Lust. This scent is incredibly special to me because it was directly inspired by my reforestation project, Forest Symphony, which is part of my Green Happiness initiative. The fragrance, crafted by the talented perfumer David Chieze, captures the essence of the forest, evoking the deep connection I feel towards nature. It perfectly represents how we can unite art and environmental responsibility within a luxury product. Fall in Lust represents more than just a fragrance; it’s a symbol of my vision to merge beauty, sustainability, and a commitment to reforestation.

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