The Memory Keeper

Ben Gorham—a native Swede born to an Indian mother and a Canadian father—graduated from the Stockholm Art School with a degree in fine arts, but a chance meeting with perfumer Pierre Wulff convinced him that he’d rather create fragrance than paintings. With no formal training in the field, Gorham, a heavily tattooed 31-year-old, sought out the services of professional nose Jerome Epinette, explaining his olfactory desires and letting Epinette do the mixing. The result is Byredo Parfums, a line of five outside-the-box scents debuting Stateside at Barneys New York in October. All are unisex and inspired by memories from Gorham’s life. Chembur, for example, is an incense-based homage to his mother’s hometown just outside Mumbai. Green is an interpretation of a cologne his father once wore. And Pulp, a fruity blend, was informed by the time he spent in the Caribbean, where his UN–employed dad was posted. The name of the line comes from the expression “by redolence,” said Gorham, pointing out that “redolent” can mean either aromatic or evocative—two adjectives that he hopes apply to his brews.

Photo: Thomas Klementsson