Mad & Len

Based in the South of France, Mad et Len specialises in exhilarating aromas and home-wares, handmade with an artisan’s special touch. “Mad et Len” comes from Proust’s “madeleine”, in which he recounts how even the taste of a little crumb of madeleine cake makes him remember his childhood, clearly an analogy for the power that a Mad et Len scent evokes.

“…..the smell and taste of things remain poised a long time, like souls, ready to remind us, waiting and hoping for their moment, amid the ruins of all the rest; and bear unfaltering, in the tiny and almost impalpable drop of their essence, the vast structure of recollection.”

(“Remembrance of Things Past”, Marcel Proust)

Mad et Len was formed in 2007 by Sandra Fuzier and Alexandre Piffaut. Their collections draw inspiration from the earth’s natural surroundings, the peaceful atmospheres and the rough landscapes they saw on their travels when they were both once avid globetrotters, before moving to live and work in St. Julien de Verdon in the South of France.

Mad et Len’s products consist of simple home-ware designs, made entirely by hand from laminated iron, scented candles, natural perfumes and hammered plates and dishes. All of which are defined by their refined rawness and exquisite purity, intended to mimic nature’s genuine rhythms and awaken our own primal and tactile senses.

Each Mad et Len collection is produced as a limited series to replicate the tradition of apothecary perfume made on demand. Mad et Len manufactures everything by hand, such as the original organic essential oils distilled from flore, wood and armoate, the hand-made packaging, the candle wax being hand poured and the perfume hand blended to produce unique items every single time.

The challenge for Fuzier and Piffaut initially was how to make raw ingredients smell pleasant and how to adapt these raw ingredients without adding unnatural ingredients instead. The key, they found, was to allow the natural produce to age, which can take up to two years to reach olfactory perfection. By never diluting with oils, Mad et Len scents are incredibly intense and even mesmerising.

“Potpourri”, a mixture of dried petals and spices placed together in a bowl to perfume a room, is effectively what the pair are trying to do with raw materials. Lava rock is taken from the Sahara and is very sustainable in terms of changing its scent, while amber rock made from vegetable gum comes from the Acacia tree. Candles, made in the artisan perfumery town of Grasse, are made from beeswax and natural preservatives and the pouring done by a team in the atelier.

“Dark” and “scent” have been seamlessly integrated as two concepts at Mad et Len. Fragrances like Humus, Black fig, Incense, Tobacco, Amber and Leather are best sellers, making it little wonder that the niche fragrance house has acquired such a cult following. What’s more once the candle is finished you are left with iron cast it came in, which retains the scent of the original candle long after it has been burned up.

Mad et Len Most Iconic Products

Spirituelle Candle

The "Spirituelle" candle is poured and shaped by hand. This natural wax candle features an exquisite scent and is held in a burned steel canister that has been treated with raw oils for a smooth matte finish. The candle is infused with wood, undiluted flower and spice essential oils, releasing a rustic, earthy and woody aroma that creates a warm atmosphere in the home.

Spirituelle Scented Lava Rocks

Mad et Len’s lava rocks are infused with intoxicating scents, sourced from the Sahara desert and cased in a handmade brushed metal vessel. Similarly to the "Spirituelle" candle, the lava rocks release an earthy, rustic smell, with scents of wood, undiluted flower and spice essential oils for a home filled with natural aromas.

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• Candlelight & Scents
• Decorative Objects