I recently discovered the beauty of Hedonist and therefore I wanted to include its lovely creator the young, Hungarian-born, Paris-based perfumer Viktoria Minya in the interview series. Thankfully she was game and here are her very enjoyable answers.
A good day starts with… waking up with twinkles of fading memory from a pleasant dream.
I’d never leave the house without… my keys! It might be obvious for others, but I lock myself out of the apartment way to often… Ever since the last incident, I do an “airplane routine” every time I leave my flat: while holding the door still open, I actually say out loudly “Keys?” “Check!”.
I always feel good when… I am in close proximity to nature. In a park, a forest, a lake, beach, mountains, anything.
My favorite thing in the world is… being surrounded with my beloved ones + home-made banana/strawberry ice-cream.
The next thing I want to buy is… a printer that actually works.
The place I always come back to is… Budapest. As I live in Paris, I come back to Hungary quite often to visit my family. Before living abroad, I thought I find Budapest especially beautiful due to my obvious links to it, but it seems, you do not have to be born there to appreciate its sweet and sour history and the unique atmosphere.
My personal style is… sophisticated with an interesting twist.
My favorite perfume… is always what I am currently working on…! Concerning others’ creations, I am pretty unfaithful when it comes to perfumes: I fall easily madly in love with a new launch, just to get bored within a month and “go home” to my long-time perfume “relationships”. One of my faithful companions is Boss Bottled.
When I travel, I… obsessively note down every scent that hits my nose.
To relax I need… total silence.
I like to gift people with… something that is “researched” and I would be also happy to receive.
When I have a bad day, I… first cry, then try to rationalize, and then feel worse, because I realize I cried about silly matters.
I find my inspiration… quite often in nature and usually when I am alone. But inspiration finds me from time to time randomly: via a person passing next to me on the street, or through a meaningful conversation, or in the form of a refreshing summer night rain at the foot of the Eiffel tower!
Something I would never want to miss… worthy traditional celebration of round year anniversaries within my bigger family + Orange Flower Absolute!
My last mistake was… thinking that I can prepare sushi for 10 people without making a huge mess in the kitchen.
In my fridge there is always… frozen fruit, totally obsessed with them!
On my nightstand I keep… various perfumery-related books + earplugs for guaranteed total silence in my sleep!
The perfect weekend starts with… a grasse matinée, which means word by word “fat morning” in French, it’s actually staying in bed all morning.
My role model is… professionally, it is Olivier Cresp. On a personal level, I am surrounded with wonderful people whose nobleness, big-heartedness and generosity amaze me every single day!
Something I always want to be asked in questionnaires like this is… “Do you really know how to bellydance?” “Oh my! How do you know that?! 😀 I actually had a blooming bellydancing career that I gave up for perfumery.”
Isn’t Viktoria adorable? I enjoyed her answers very much. Who knew there are bellydancing perfumers out there…
I definitely look forward to the perfumes Viktoria will surprise us with in the future.
Have you tried Hedonist? What do you think?
Olfactoria's Travels 
I love it! What wonderful answers! I couldn’t help but answer the questions in my head as I read along and I have to say that I didn’t come up with anything as interesting, as funny, or as charming as Viktoria’s answers.
I laughed at the printer thing. I can sympathize because I totally need a new one too!
Her answer are really witty and funny, I’d love to meet her one day, she seems like such a nice person.
Great interview and fun answers! I am so with Viktoria on the printer problems, the kitchen mess and the ear plugs. ;-). I love Budapest too – lots of satisfyingly pointy bits.
I can’t speak for the pointy bits in Budapest, but I’m with you both on the kitchen mess. 🙂
Great fun! She could start a craze for Boss Bottled – I must try it!
Me too! 🙂
What a fun interview! I still want that bottle just for the crystals in it. I did some bellydancing for a few years. It’s actually a lot of fun. The costumes were great too with all the sparkle and flowing fabric.
I’m sure you will want Hedonist for the juice as well once you’ve tried it.
Another bellydancer, yay! 🙂
Thanks to Viktoria for such wonderful answers. She sounds like a very interesting person that I would like to meet.
I think so as well!
Hi to Viktoria from another Hungarian !
I quite fell in love with Hedonist and plan to order a FB. I need its golden sunshine in this murky weather.
I was wearing Hedonist for a week now and funnily it’s slightly different every day.
Maybe your shared Hungarian roots make Hedonist such a hit with you, M.
There is one thing though, separating us (the Orange Flower Absolute…)
I really enjoyed this interview! I have a sample of Hedonist, and I
agree with Lady Jane Grey, in the fact is seems slightly different each time
I wear it. I also love it, and will probably order a full bottle from Luckyscent.
The bottle is gorgeous! (so is Viktoria)!!
Great that Hedonist works so well for you too!
I haven’t tried Hedonist yet but I loved your review of it, B. Viktoria’s answers are great and many chime with me once again. Like poodle, I highly recommend belly-dancing classes for a fun way of keeping fit.
Hopefully you get to try Hedonist. Maybe it’ll be available in London soon…
The third bellydancer, I love it! 🙂
Tara, you can order a sample of it from the website! Cost me 5 euros (I live in London too) inclusive of shipping, so it was alright 🙂
When I read your review of Hedonist, while impressed by your love it, it didn’t call to me as something I need to try right away. After reading these great answers from Viktoria, I am going to make sure to find myself a sample!
And ironically, I took some belly dancing classes while living in the US but never here in the Middle East. It is great, fun exercise!
She is a charming lady! I’m glad Viktoria herself has convinced you to try Hedonist! 🙂
Thanks for the lovely interview. I just recieved a small vial of Hedonist and really am taken with it, so your article is welcomed timing.
That is good to hear!
Even before your interview, I was totally crushing on Viktoriya and Hedonist. Now that I know she loves homemade banana/strawberry ice cream, makes sushi and belly dances, I find her all the more charming and beautiful. Thanks for including her in your series, Birgit!
I’m glad you enjoyed it Suz! 🙂
Pingback: The Best Of 2013 | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: Monday Question – Who Is Your Favorite Perfumer? | Olfactoria's Travels