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A few years ago, Alina and I rented an old farmhouse with friends and spent a family vacation in the Aquitaine region of France. Little did I know that this trip would provide the inspiration for my newest fragrance creation.

It was one of those magical evenings in the close medieval town of Penne. The sun was igniting the horizon and the air was lush and velvety. We were strolling along beautiful narrow streets to this amazing sanctuary that was over a thousand years old to listen to a soprano perform Ave Maria.

As I passed by one of the houses, the intoxicating scent of honeysuckle stopped me in my tracks. It was as if the flower was exhaling, breathing out its sweet scent, calling for me to pay attention to it. We were all mesmerized by its pure beauty—its hypnotic fragrance, precious petals, luscious leaves. I never smelled anything like it before and, of course, had to pick one to take with me.

Once the performance began, the music and that brilliant voice filled the sanctuary. As the sound escalated, so too did the plucked honeysuckle's scent, to the point where everyone inside literally turned their heads to see from where the aroma was coming. It was an enchanting experience like none other. As I was sitting in the sanctuary, I was actually taking notes on what I was smelling.

When I returned from the trip, I had to recreate the scent so I could relive that magical moment again and again. After I finished the fragrance and brought it to Alina to smell, without me saying a word, she looked at me and simply said “Penne.”

Every waking moment truly has the potential to inspire a scent. It could be a certain time of year, a magical destination, an intimate exchange, even a scene in a movie—and suddenly a memory is triggered, and, in my mind, I begin designing a scent to capture it. What scent instantly transports you to a special moment in time?

—Lev Glazman