Sissel Tolaas is a fragrance officer at Balenciaga. But she also examines Berlin milieus for odors. The results are amusing and inspiring at the same time.
Mud and molecules: Sissel Tolaas after the Balenciaga show in early October at the Parc des Expositions in Villepinte. Julien Boudet for Berliner Zeitung at the weekend
It smelled scandalous in the hall full of mud. Balenciaga’s most recent fashion show, for which a gigantic mud landscape had been erected north of Paris, once again caused a stir. While creative director Demna’s fashion was hardly questioned, the setting was all the more of a mystery. How was this done? Who was involved? It is now known that controversial Spanish artist Santiago Sierra was behind the installation. On the other hand, we have a woman from Berlin to thank for the fact that the mud smelled so peculiar. More precisely, the fragrance researcher Sissel Tolaas, who has been working closely with Balenciaga for several years. Not only does she scent the shows of the luxury brand, she is also involved in product development, such as recently when creating a “Couture Candle”. If, according to unconfirmed rumours, there will soon be a Balenciaga perfume, it is already clear who will have a hand in it.