Designer on Fragrance
French designer Sonia Rykiel, known for her Parisian knitwear house, described perfume in almost literary terms — as a brief, deliberate escape from the noise of everyday life.
In Her Own Words
“Perfume is like a parenthesis, a moment of freedom, peace, love and sensuality in the disturbances of modern living.”
— Sonia Rykiel
A Parenthesis, Not a Statement
Rykiel’s framing is unusually poetic for a fragrance quote: rather than describing perfume as identity or status, she describes it as a pause — a deliberate, contained moment set apart from the rest of a hectic day. That view fits her broader design philosophy, built around Parisian ease and personal comfort rather than rigid formality.
A Designer’s House
Rykiel founded her fashion house in Paris and became known internationally for her signature striped knitwear and a relaxed, confident approach to women’s fashion — earning her the nickname “Queen of Knitwear.” Her view of fragrance as a small daily escape reflects that same emphasis on comfort and personal pleasure over performance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sonia Rykiel known for in fashion?
Her Parisian knitwear house and signature striped designs, which earned her the nickname “Queen of Knitwear.”
How did Sonia Rykiel describe perfume?
As a “parenthesis” — a brief moment of freedom and sensuality set apart from the disturbances of modern life.