Rafael Nadal and Maria Perello Launch New Collaboration With Parfumerie Henry Jacques

When Henry Cremona founded his haute parfumerie Henry Jacques, the mission was simple: To create bespoke scents that embody the personality, emotions, and memories of an individual. Almost a century later, the maison has expanded into signature perfumes but maintains its core value of bespoke craftsmanship. Tennis star Rafael Nadal and his wife Maria Perello initially approached Henry Jacques in search of their own custom scents. But through the process of mixing notes and identifying key aromas, they found that their essences should be shared with the world—launching their collaboration with the parfumerie, dubbed “In All Intimacy.” Perello reflects on the experience with L’OFFICIEL, sharing her insights on the power of scent.

L’OFFICIEL: What were the inspirations behind the three fragrances? 

MARIA PERELLO: My perfume is simply called Maria Perello. I really wanted to create a fragrance that smells of happiness—my main inspiration was my happy memories. It is light but memorable, fresh yet sophisticated, soft but strong enough to last the entire day without being too overpowering. Delicate yet mighty. I also wanted it to give a sense of elegance and youthfulness. 

Rafael initially wanted one bespoke perfume, but as he started the process, it led him down two different paths, and he realized that two scents were needed to fully reflect his personality. Both fragrances perfectly correspond to his lifestyle. Rafael Nadal No. 1 is fresh, light, and ideal for when he is playing. No. 2 is slightly bolder and zestier; he likes to wear it off the court. 

All three fragrances certainly draw inspiration from the Mediterranean and Mallorca, the place that Rafael and I both call our home and is close to our hearts. It’s a funny and beautiful coincidence that our perfumes ended up having with precious olfactive memories of our island. We love the fresh and warm notes that surround us back home. 

L’O: How has your relationship with perfume evolved over the years? 

MP: Fragrance has always been important to me. It’s a part of my daily life and routine; I never leave the house without it, and I feel like something is amiss when I do. I believe in the confidence that wearing the right perfume can give you. I tend to wear a certain perfume over a long period of time, but to be honest, I was never completely satisfied with the ones I wore in the past, as I felt like they didn’t fully reflect me. This is why I am very happy to now have my own bespoke Henry Jacques perfume. I feel extremely comfortable wearing it; it makes me feel elegant, and most importantly, brings me joy. 

L’O: What was it like to develop these fragrances? 

MP: It’s the first time that I’ve gone through this kind of experience, and it’s been very enjoyable and enriching. To create your own perfume is to embark on a journey of introspection and self-discovery; you need to dive deeper into your personality, memories, and emotions. I felt at ease with the team from day one, and this is also what made me want to take the time to go through the process. They are true experts in their field and have a real bespoke culture. We had several sessions just talking, sampling, and discussing scents. I was then presented with different options until we narrowed it down to the final fragrance. I felt very involved in the process; my thoughts and opinions were always heard and respected. In the end, we created a beautiful perfume together, which I am proud of, and I feel that it represents me perfectly. I also learned a lot about the fascinating world of haute parfumerie along the way, and its infinite creative possibilities. Going through this bespoke process showed me how important it is to take all the time necessary to create something beautiful.