Sophie van Balen, founder of Mmoire, is striving to educate, stimulate and create appreciation for the experiencing of scents by offering an exclusive perfume experience. Her mission is informed by her brand values: living bravely, modern design, thoughtful feelings, and unique scents. Together, these values create a fragrance that makes people feel like they belong to a culture — the culture of Mmoire.

"Our sense of smell is something we utilize every day to understand our world and our place within it, but it is perhaps the sense that we take for granted the most."

Mmoire arose from the idea that people overlook the power of fragrance in our daily lives, and seek to bring a sensation of scents to invigorate daily experiences. 

Sophie van Balen, founder of Mmoire

The name Mmoire is inspired by the French word moiré, which is a silk technique from the 1800s known for its organic lines and crinkled texture. While visiting an exhibition at the Hermitage museum in Amsterdam, Sophie was inspired by this special fabric treatment. It reminded her of the movements that occur during the perfume fusion process.

Moiré also means movement; this fragrance is not static, but changes with skin contact in reaction to individual pheromones.

Mmoire is also an ode to the French word mémoire, for the recounting of one’s personal experience. Our sense of smell is closely linked to memory and emotions. It plays a large role in our minds and how we make sense of the world. Perhaps larger than we think.