Parfums d'Elmar: A fragrance journey through opulence and craftsmanship
A Swiss financier, two exceptional perfumers and fragrance names from Hawaii: the story of Parfums d'Elmar sounds like a film script. Add heavy crystal bottles bearing a family crest and a concentration where a few sprays last all day. Here is what lies behind the brand and which fragrance might suit you.
- Founded in 2017 by Elmar and Angelika Métry in Birchwil near Zurich.
- Composed by perfumers including Mark Buxton and Christian Carbonnel (alias Chris Maurice).
- "Quintessence de Parfum": up to 35% perfume oil.
- Many fragrance names come from Hawaiian, such as Leilani and Mahina.
From the trading floor to the bottle
Parfums d'Elmar was founded in 2017 by Elmar and Angelika Métry in Birchwil, a small village near Zurich. Elmar Métry came from the world of finance; industry portals describe him as a former private banker. Angelika is said to have encouraged him to turn his passion for fragrance into a brand of his own.
The logo is no fantasy emblem: it shows the Métry family crest. A detail that suits the brand. This is not about fleeting trends, but about fragrances you treat like a family heirloom.
The noses behind it: Mark Buxton and Christian Carbonnel
Mark Buxton, born in England and raised in Germany, shaped the style of Comme des Garçons in the 1990s. The fashion house's first fragrance from 1994 is his. That he became a perfumer at all was pure chance: he actually wanted to study fashion design, ended up studying geology and then bet on German television that he could identify any perfume on the market. The fragrance company H&R (now Symrise) then offered him a place at its perfumery school.
Christian Carbonnel, who also works under the name Chris Maurice, specialises in niche and oriental fragrances. He has composed for Xerjoff, Nishane, Masque Milano and Zoologist, among others.
Quintessence de Parfum: crystal, gold and plenty of concentration
Parfums d'Elmar calls its concentration "Quintessence de Parfum". The perfume oil content is up to 35%. For comparison, a classic Eau de Parfum is usually well below that. The result is a fragrance with great depth and longevity. Less is more here; two or three sprays are enough. More in our 20 tips for perfume layering.
The bottle is no supporting act either: hand-polished crystal, semi-transparent coloured glass and a heavy gold-plated cap made of zamak. Selected editions even carry more than 360 Swarovski crystals on the cap. A bottle you don't hide in a drawer, but put on display.
Hawaii in a bottle: the fragrances
Many names in the collection are inspired by the Hawaiian language. Leilani, for example, means "heavenly flowers", while Mahina means "moon". A small selection:
- Zaya: apple pie, caramel, cognac and cinnamon on tonka, sandalwood and vanilla. A gourmand for long evenings. You'll find more sweet fragrances in our article Gourmand perfume: 7 fragrances good enough to eat.
- Elixir d'Amour: bergamot and fig leaf, a bouquet of lily of the valley, jasmine and rose, plus saffron, oud and caramelised sugar.
- Leilani: warm, creamy amber with powdery accords and a hint of fruit. Light and radiant.
- Yaringa: marine and fruity-fresh, with myrtle and seaweed. A summer holiday for every day.
- Momona: spicy and exotic with ginger, saffron, black pepper and cardamom.
- Blue Banana: creamy Blue Java banana with coconut, saffron and a touch of oud.
The industry has taken notice, too: Parfums d'Elmar has been honoured several times in recent years as a luxury niche perfume brand at the Luxury Lifestyle Awards.
Curiosities about Parfums d'Elmar
Things you probably didn't know
- A perfumer thanks to a TV bet
Mark Buxton actually wanted to study fashion design. His career began with a bet on German television that he could identify any perfume on the market. Afterwards, H&R (now Symrise) brought him into its perfumery school.
- Zamak is actually German
The heavy cap is made of zamak. The name is an acronym of the German words for the metals it contains: Zink (zinc), Aluminium, Magnesium and Kupfer (copper). The alloy was developed in the USA in 1929.
- Hawaiian with 13 letters
The Hawaiian alphabet has only 13 letters: five vowels, seven consonants and the ʻokina, a mark for the glottal stop. That's why names like Leilani or Mahina sound so soft.
- The banana that tastes like ice cream
Blue Banana plays on the Blue Java banana. Unripe, it is silvery blue-green, and thanks to its creamy, vanilla-flavoured flesh it is also known as the "ice cream banana".
- A crest instead of a logo
The Parfums d'Elmar emblem is the Métry family crest. A piece of family history on every bottle.
Parfums d'Elmar has also released a fragrance together with the Stuttgart brand OLAKALA: Mango Wooud (2025), with mango, passion fruit, guava, oud and leather. Read how OLAKALA visited us in Bregenz in our look back at the OLAKALA event.
Frequently asked questions about Parfums d'Elmar
Where does Parfums d'Elmar come from?
Parfums d'Elmar is a Swiss niche brand. It was founded in 2017 by Elmar and Angelika Métry in Birchwil near Zurich.
Who composes the fragrances of Parfums d'Elmar?
The brand's perfumers include Mark Buxton, known for Comme des Garçons, and Christian Carbonnel, also known as Chris Maurice.
What does "Quintessence de Parfum" mean?
That is what Parfums d'Elmar calls its high concentration. The perfume oil content is up to 35%, which is why a few sprays are enough.
Can I try the fragrances first?
Yes. We include a sample of every fragrance you order, and you can request up to 4 further free samples via the order note in your cart. Or visit us at our boutique in Bregenz.
Parfums d'Elmar at 4D OUTFITTERS
You'll find the fragrances of Parfums d'Elmar at our boutique at Kornmarktstraße 7 in Bregenz and in our online shop. With every fragrance you receive a sample of the one you ordered, and via the order note in your cart you can choose up to 4 further free samples. Shipping is free from € 200, you have a 14-day right of return and you collect stars in the 4D Insider Club with every order. Questions? Write to service@4doutfitters.com.
Your 4D OUTFITTERS team, Bregenz
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