Today the couple behind the new niche brand Jul et Mad, Julien Blanchard and Madalina Stoica have graciously agreed to answer my questionnaire.
Julien and Madalina have met on the streets of Paris, fell in love and eventually decided to turn their love story into an olfactory one. They closely work with perfumers to ensure to stay true to their ideals and their story, striving to turn experience into scent.
Their three perfumes (extraits) Stilettos on Lex, Terrasse á St-Germain and Amour de Palazzo have stealthily made their way into my heart as well as my regular perfume rotation. Soon I will have to decide which one of the three will enter my perfume closet in full bottle format…
Let’s get to know the two a bit better now:
A good day starts with…
Julien: a good espresso
Madalina: a smile from Jul
I’d never leave the house without…
Julien: my blackberry
Madalina: a spritz of perfume, a touch of makeup and a stylish handbag
I always feel good when…
Julien: having a nice dinner with friends
Madalina: I accomplish everything on my To Do list for the day
My favorite thing in the world is…
Julien: discovering new cultures and customs
Madalina: being awaken in the morning by a ray of sunlight
The next thing I want to buy is…
Julien and Madalina: a plane ticket
The place I always come back to is…
Julien: Nepal
Madalina: home, in the Carpathian Mountains
My personal style is…
Julien: casual chic
Madalina: elegant chic, quite classic
My favorite perfume…
Julien: Terrasse à St-Germain
Madalina: Stilettos on Lex
When I travel, I…
Julien and Madalina: like to get lost and mingle with the locals
To relax I need…
Julien: a good reading with Chopin concertos background
Madalina: a good book
I like to gift people with…
Julien: a good bottle of wine (French)
Madalina: small attentions, especially when they least expect it
When I have a bad day, I…
Julien: go for a walk in Paris
Madalina: sing, trying not to think about it
I find my inspiration…
Julien: at a café terrace
Madalina: everywhere, from a simple walk to a striking piece of art
Something I would never want to miss…
Julien: a full sun eclipse
Madalina: a family gathering with my mother and all sisters together
My last mistake was…
Julien & Madalina: forgetting an anniversary
In my fridge there is always…
Julien: a great bottle of champagne
Madalina: lime and Tonic for my T&T (Tanqueray and Tonic)
On my nightstand I keep…
Julien and Madalina: a pile of books
The perfect weekend starts with…
Julien and Madalina: the papers and a good brunch
My role model is…
Julien: No particular role model, but I have great admiration for some specific people
Madalina: Ms. Annette Green, the founder and mastermind behind the Fragrance Foundation
Something I always want to be asked in questionnaires like this is…
Julien: How did I get involved with the Perfumes coming from Neuroscience?
This is what makes life beautiful: unexpected situations and opportunities that open new perspectives and horizons. Just like in love, we must seize the moment and make the best out of it.
Madalina: Tell me one of the reasons why you wake up every morning. My answer: To live every moment to its fullest, as life is very short.
Aren’t those two lovely? I adore their story and the way they made a life together privately and in business, which cannot be easy (says the woman who works in her husband’s office 😉 ).
I am very curious where the story of Jul et Mad will takes us with the next perfume. In the meantime I am still having a hard time deciding on my favorite…
Do you have one? Have you tried the line? Let me know your thoughts!
Olfactoria's Travels 
A Perfumed Love Story with Neuroscience and lots of books – what a great read Olfactoria. You’ll have us thinking that the world is full of such lovely people. I think Stilettos on Lex for you but I could be wrong. And I could be biased as I love Dorothée’s body of work. Mind you I love love and laughter too, which can both be found in that bottle.
I could do worse that have you thinking that the world is full of such lovely people… 😉
Thanks for your advice about Stilettos, it is defintiely in the running (but so is Terrasse! Argh, I can’t decide!!!)
They have a beautiful story to tell and I look forward to the next installments. My favorite is Terrasse a St. Germain.
Me too!!!
Terrasse is indeed lovely, most of the time I’m leaning towards this one as my favorite too (but then again there is Stilettos… see above). 😉
I haven’t tried the line but I will now I got to know the couple behind. They both look and sound lovely. 🙂
That is great, Ines! I’m sure you will enjoy one (or all) of the three!
Haven’t tried the line, which is poor of me as it was right there in a store I was in the other day! Option anxiety, I guess. Next time for sure.
Loved the answer about waking up to sunlight, agree with that one, unless your curtains are too thin and it’s 4am in summer.
And I accidentally read that the lime and tonic for the gin were on the nightstand, and I thought: ‘That’s my kind of woman!’
Charming couple indeed, and I look forward to trying the perfumes.
When confronted with hundreds of bottles in a store, I turn extremely test-shy too. It’s just too overwhelming.
I had to laugh out loud about the lime on the nightstand mistake, too funny! 😀
Glad you enjoyed the interview, I hope you’ll enjoy the perfumes too!
Thanks very much for a fun post, Birgit. Having met both Jul and Mad, I can confirm that this is exactly how they come across in the flesh: chic, smart and cosmopolitan.
As for the perfumes… I honestly don’t know which is my favourite yet. I like the dryness of Amour De Palazzo, but I also appreciate the rose/sandalwood accord of Terrasse… and the curious fruitiness of Lex…
Still undecided, as you can see! 😉
It speaks for the quality of all three that we can’t decide… 🙂
Great that you met the two of them in person!
Romance and perfume … I’m not sure life gets any better than that.
(Unless you toss in a gin-and-tonic. And have a good bottle of champagne in your fridge.) 🙂
Thanks for another fun interview, Birgit. I have samples of their perfumes. Of the three, I like Amour de Palazzo best so far.
I thought Amour de Palazzo would be your favorite, Suzanne, it’s very you!
Romance and perfume – the best combination indeed!
I just recently got hold of samples of this line, finally. All three are lovely, I think my favorite is Terasse but Stilettos is so lovely too-I just can’t decide!
With both these two and the wonderful Arquiste scents I got samples of in the same package I’m in serious trouble 🙂
I can see that! I’m glad you like them, Eva!
What an absolutely adorable couple! I did loudly say, “Awwwww!” when I saw that they both forgot their anniversary. Very cute.
Love the series, Birgit! And love the new header shot too. This is the first time that I have gotten a gander at it. Looks great!
Jul et Mad is a terrific line that I admire and have recommended to friends. Unfortunately, my tastes run heavier and more dramatic than their fragrances. So far, it’s not for me, but who knows about future additions!
They are a cute couple – and such an attractive one!
Thanks for your kind words regarding the new header! 🙂
I noticed the header too (yesterday) but since I wasn’t sure how long ago you’ve changed it I decided not to comment. I think it’s great and reflects purfectly the change in your “perfume consumption.”
Thank you, dear Undina!
I enjoyed the interview so much! I think you found simple and very… real (?) questions and it’s nice to read answers from those you interview.
For a long time I thought that I liked only Amour de Palazzo but recently the other two in the line are growing on me.
That is great to hear! Maybe the other two needed the warmer weather? I imagine especially Terrasse suits you wonderfully!