This week have have perfumer Kitty Shpirer. She is the founder and perfumer of niche brand Bissoumine. The line consists of eight perfumes, my favorite is the wonderful Les Fleurs de Nall, I only did short, first-impression-style mini-reviews of the first six releases.
Kitty is such a kind and nice person, her line is one where you can feel the personal touch. It is not a marketing driven business, but a labor of love.
Let us get to know Kitty a bit better.
A good day starts with… a cup of coffee and a quiet moment.
I’d never leave the house without… my iPhone.
I always feel good when… gardening and having my dog around.
My favorite thing in the world is… a beautiful kinetic model, made for me by my husband for my birthday, imitating bird’s flight while playing music from a music box. It is like a time tunnel, as if you are in a dream.
The next thing I want to buy is… a new car.
The place I always come back to is… Les Jardins du Musée International de la Parfumerie in Grasse. A pleasant and magical garden where plants used in perfumery are gathered from all over the world. One can smell, touch and dream.
My personal style is… casual for everyday and some 20’s inspiration when I am in the mood to play.
My favorite perfume… L’Heure Bleue de Guerlain and Chergui Serge Lutens by Christopher Sheldrake.
When I travel, I… am looking for inspiration and ideas.
To relax I need… to be in a peaceful garden with friends and have a good laugh.
I like to gift people with… things I personally made for them.
When I have a bad day, I… take a warm perfumed bath while listening to music.
I find my inspiration… in different forms of the arts, in interesting insights, in nature.
Something I would never want to miss… a good inspiring concert.
My last mistake was… reacting too fast.
In my fridge there is always… milk for coffee.
On my nightstand I keep… the iPad and the book I read.
The perfect weekend starts with… a great cup of coffee at our favorite bookshop with all the other “regular” week-end clients.
My role model is… in perfumery: the courage and determination of Gabrielle Chanel and the creative sensibility of Christopher Sheldrake.
Something I always want to be asked in questionnaires like this is… What’s next? Coming next is Bissoumine’s 9th perfume “aria sublime”, dedicated to renowned counter-tenor Andreas Scholl, whose voice inspires me for many years. He has composed a baroque piece dedicated to the perfume… a lot of excitement for me. 🙂
Kitty likes her coffee! 🙂 I can identify with many of her answers, I really envy the quiet and leisurely Saturday mornings in the book store.
As for the upcoming perfume, I received a sample of aria sublime and will report back once I’ve tested it thoroughly, my first impression is that this is a very unusual perfume, and having smelled a few in my time, that is not something I can say very often.
Do you know anything from Bissoumine? What do you think?
Olfactoria's Travels 
No I didn’t know. But I am glad I do now. Aramiac for perfume I believe. Outrageous concept with a song and a perfume. A baroque perfume with a counter-tenor solo accompaniment… Wow! Thank you for this journey which I can’t wait to go on too.
A very intriguing concept indeed! Have fun exporing the line, Jordan!
Lovely bottles !
They are!
Thank you for this great interview..I just ordered the sample set!
Great! Have fun with it!
Awesome to discover a perfumeur who loves l’heure bleu like I do and coffee… Thanks Birgit. Am going to hunt for a sample and hope that it will arrive on my African soil soon. Beautiful bottles too…
That is great, Nana! I hope you enjoy the perfumes.
I discovered Fleurs de Nall thanks to you, Birgit and it’s a Wonderful perfume!!!!
Thank you, Florence! That makes me very happy!
🙂
Thank you for the lovely interview, Birgit. I have ordered a sample set as well!
Cheers
Safran
Good for you, Safran! I hope you find a few perfumes to love in the set!
I’m really enjoying hearing about the people behind these small perfume brands.
The model Kitty’s husband made for her sounds amazing and I’d love to visit that garden in Grasse.
Me too, it must be an amazing garden!
You continually introduce me to people I’m pretty sure I would adore in real life. Thanks Birgit.
Portia xx
Kitty is adorable alright!
Thank you for that nice compliment, Portia! xx
having read their working ethics (headed to their website after the sweet interview) I was willing to give those a try 🙂 merci
That is great to hear, beautycalyptique! I hope you enjoy the perfumes.
oh I’m definitely looking forward. aramaic name deserves a little attention from such a language nerd as I am 😀
(I told them I came through you of course)
I enjoy your blog in general and the interviews are a unique touch, much like when I read chemist in the bottle for the chemistry explanations.
Thanks
Thank you, shellyw! Glad you like the feature!
From Rosy
MERCI for the interview. Kitty and BISSOUMINE lines is the best and the most genuine crator I know in GRASSE Surroundings where we live. Her Husband is a real talented man !
Every of her creations are a true moment of enchantment, travel and dream.
to know her is a MUST.
Hello Rosy,
thanks for your kind comment.
It must be great to know Kitty and her husband personally.
I’m not familiar with the line at all. I really enjoyed Kitty’s answers, as well as the introduction to the line. Thank you!
I had never heard of Kitty or Bissoumine, so thank you for the introduction! I went to her site and ordered the sample set. You should get a commission for any sales resulting from this post..lol.
🙂
I’m glad I could introduce you to something new. I hope you like the perfumes, Jennifer!
Kitty is just a Wonder. It’s a personality that inspires. Great to know her! By the way, I’m wearing her L’ombre de Figuer more than 2 years and I still adore it!
It’s great that L’Ombre de Figuer works so well for you.
Kitty seems like a wonderful person indeed!
Once again I am late to the party. But better late than not at all. I really love your form of interview. it is so revealing and I did indeed learn a lot about Kitty Shpirer and her perfume house which is new to me. So…..off to explore Bissoumine!
I’m glad I could introduce you to Kitty and her perfume line, Lanier.