Maurice Roger

Maurice Roger is a prominent figure in the fragrance industry and has left an indelible mark on the world of perfumery thanks to his work as a fragrance businessman. Maurice Roger joined Dior in the early 1980s, focusing on new fragrance projects. He was known for his approach to creating perfumes, seeking a dramatic impact and pushing the boundaries of conventional scents. It was under his direction that the iconic Dior perfume Poison was created. Poison is the first Dior perfume that does not carry the name of its founder. Maurice Roger wanted an unsettling, provocative and mysterious fragrance. In his search for this bold scent, Roger commissioned its creation from several leading perfumers without giving them any specific instructions. To determine the final fragrance, samples were sent to the ten most elegant women in Paris, and Roger asked them to rank the aromas in order of preference. He chose the perfume that the ten ladies liked the least. Roger worked closely with the perfumer Jean Guichard in the creation of Poison. Writer Paul Valéry once said that "Perfume is the poison of the heart". In addition to Poison, Maurice Roger played a role in the development of Fahrenheit, another iconic Dior fragrance. Maurice Roger’s approach to creating perfumes was characterised by his desire to extend the boundaries and create fragrances with a dramatic impact.