Lightyears Collection
Jean Kerleo
(1932-)

Jean Kerleo

Jean Kerleo was born on February 24, 1932. In 1955, at the age of 28, he joined Helena Rubinstein, who had a strong presence in France with her cosmetics and treatment business, even though her perfumes were light and, in her own words, created from inexpensive ingredients.

In 1965, while working for Rubinstein, Kerleo was awarded the Prix de Parfumeurs de France. From 1976 to 1979, while still working for Rubinstein, Kerleo served as president of the Society of French Perfumers.

In 1967, two years after the death of Madame Rubinstein, Jean Kerleo became perfumer/technical director for the house of Jean Patou.

At Patou Kerleo is credited with creating such modern classics as 1000, Ma Liberté, Voyageur and Sublime. Additionally, Kerleo created fragrances for Yohji Yamamoto and Lacoste, two brands which were being marketed by Jean Patou under license.

In 1999 Kerleo left Jean Patou to become a co-founder and director of the Osmothéque, an institution dedicated to preservation and research of fragrances, particularly historic fragrances that were milestones in the development of modern perfumery.

• M. H. Rudolph, 01/26/2009.
  Ma Liberte - Can't be 1987; I bought a tiny bottle in 1984.