If there is one branch of cosmetics where emotion goes beyond simple product function, it is perfumery. A fragrance can trigger a memory, conjure up an image, or even influence a mood. Choosing your signature scent is no trivial matter… and to guide consumers in this quest, why not rely on artificial intelligence? Patrice Dana, co-founder of Studio des Parfums (a fragrance creation workshop in Paris), has designed Lylo, an AI system that analyzes olfactory preferences and translates them into personalized recommendations, even suggesting a tailor-made perfume.
The perfume industry is not experiencing a downturn. Since the end of the health crisis, this segment has grown rapidly, driven by young consumers willing to invest in finding their olfactory identity.
Many brands have developed, and with this ever-increasing range of products on offer, it is not always easy to know where to turn!
It was with this in mind that Patrice Dana founded Studio des Parfums. Nestled in the heart of the Marais, this space offers workshops where customers have the privilege of creating a unique fragrance with the help of a nose. In addition to the traditional method using a perfume organ, the studio now offers another option: guidance from Lylo, its new artificial intelligence tool.
Technology at the service of humanity
Before founding Studio des Parfums, he worked in the world of new technologies and developed artificial intelligence models. “At the time, the idea was visionary… perhaps too much so,” he explains. “Society wasn’t ready.” The explosion in the use of ChatGPT has changed the game. The general public is discovering AI and its uses are becoming more widespread. For Patrice Dana, this is the signal he has been waiting for to reconcile his two loves, technology and perfume. It is in this context that he is developing Lylo, an AI structured by scientific data and governed by the regulatory constraints of the sector.
When asked if this AI could dehumanize the work of a nose, his response is immediate. “That’s not the point. Lylo was not designed to replace, but to assist. This system can offer a formulation base, a technical framework, but never the soul of the fragrance. The finishing touch, the subtle balance, the intuition of the ‘right scent’ remain the prerogative of the nose,“ insists Patrice Dana. “Lylo structures, the creator interprets.”
The studio’s AI can also make personalized recommendations.
No technical skills are required to use the tool; all you have to do is respond to Rose, Lylo’s voice assistant. Rose guides consumers through 12 modules to identify their tastes, expectations, and profile.
After a 60-minute conversation, Rose makes her diagnosis. And the test is quite convincing. The exchange with the voice assistant is fluid, she responds appropriately to what her interlocutor says… and even allows herself a touch of humor.
If the recommendations do not correspond 100% to the consumer’s expectations, Rose immediately adjusts and corrects the course.
Ultimately, the ambition is clear: to deploy Lylo in stores to enrich the customer experience and support sales assistants in making recommendations.
