After his bio-engineering studies, Simon Van Cauwenberge (28) pursued additional studies in Paris and Grasse to become a perfumer. He still lives in the center of Ghent, is a guest lecturer at the perfume school ISIPCA in Versailles, and has been working full-time on his own perfume line Loucil since mid-August. He calls them 'Mood fragrances', because they enhance emotional well-being. The first collection will be released at the end of October. It consists of three scents: 'Relax', 'Focus', and 'Energy'. The first is meant to provide calm, the second focus, and the third energy. Loucil perfumes are meant to enhance your mood. How is this possible? "It has been scientifically proven that high concentrations of natural extracts have an effect on your brain and your body," says Van Cauwenberge. "A high concentration of lavender extract, for example, slows your heart rate and calms you down. Rosemary and peppermint make you clear-headed. Bergamot and mandarin increase your heart rate, giving you energy." But that alone is not enough. To ensure that the perfumes smell complex and not just like an overabundance of lavender or peppermint, the Ghent native enlisted Christophe Laudamiel. He developed fragrances for Beyoncé, Tom Ford, Abercrombie, and Ralph Lauren, among others. "He is a top perfumer," says Van Cauwenberge. In addition, he also used AI to investigate which scents best match the extracts, without losing their function. "Perfume is often linked to fashion and luxury, while it can also be a tool for emotional well-being," says Van Cauwenberge. "We already do this for our homes, with scent sticks for example, but not for on the go. You can hardly take a scented candle on the subway. Hence my idea to develop a perfume that has the same effect."
