In this Photo Story we share something about one of our creative team members: Robin Keupink.

“My name is Robin. I am part of the production team at Puredistance. Aside that I also make illustrations, which include certain holiday illustrations that are posted on our social media, and illustrations that are used for specific printed works like postcards or notebooks.

“I made the Puredistance Warszawa lady. I am particularly proud of that one, because it reached so many people around the world as it was used as the main visual for Warszawa. I am very grateful that, at Puredistance, there is space for my passion for drawing, and that I can contribute to the creativeness of Puredistance.”

“I always liked drawing, ever since I was young. I enjoyed putting something on paper that was in my mind, and drawing gave me a certain serenity. When I was an early teenager, I let drawing go for a while because I wanted to focus on music, but with some encouragement of my family I picked up the drawing pencils again. From this point on I started to draw more seriously, and began focussing on one particular style.”

“My main expertise is portraits, both color and black and grey. I have been trying to get better at them since I was 18, and I am still focussing mostly on portraits in my spare time. Illustrating for Puredistance, thus, does not only allow me to use my passion in my work, but it also challenges me to try new styles and develop new skills within my creative realm. Sometimes it is difficult to let go of my perfectionist attitude and my urge to create very detailed drawings. Luckily, the team helps me when I need some guidance to a certain type of style.”

Aivaras Stanevicius and Domas Monk: the team behind Crime Passionnel. 

Situated in the heart of Copenhagen, Crime Passionnel offers a select range of hard-to-find fragrances. The brand selection and the knowledge of perfumes at Crime Passionnel is unique in Denmark. Puredistance is proud to be sold here and Crime Passionnel is the only store that is authorised to sell our brand in Denmark.

The interior of Crime Passionnel is very special and is in line with their philosophy of offering the customers a unique (smelling) experience.

The story and the concept of Crime Passionnel is a real one. Emotion and love for perfume is literally in their blood!

And in the same way Aivaras and Domas have built a reputation as a store with a unique story, they have selected authentic brands that are not part of large, commercial luxury powerhouses.

Tamara Vos, in charge of the (manual) assembly of the Puredistance perfumes, together with Jan Ewoud Vos, paid a visit to Crime Passionnel for a presentation of the brand to a select group of journalists. 

Aivaras holding a Puredistance giftbox with AENOTUS in the intimate garden behind the store which he decorated in a wonderful way for the Puredistance presentation.

Jan Ewoud Vos explaining the essence of Puredistance and the difference between main stream perfumes and a truly exclusive brand like Puredistance. The existence of niche-perfume stores and hard-to-find-high-quality perfumes is something few people in Scandinavia are yet aware of.

After the personal and intimate presentation at Crime Passionnel (small is beautiful!), I enjoyed the bright colours of Nyhaven in Copenhagen. Visually as rich and diverse as our 100 ml collection with leather holders in colours that match the soul of each perfume.

More than ten years ago I founded Puredistance and I really love all eight perfumes we have done so far, but I missed my own signature scent in our collection. Three years ago (May 2015) I decided to start up the process of creating one.

I came up with the name AENOTUS and asked Antoine Lie in Paris to create my signature scent. After having worked successfully with Antoine on Puredistance BLACK, WHITE and WARSZAWA, I thought him to be the best perfumer to translate my vision into my signature perfume.

We met in Paris and I showed him the idea behind AENOTUS. A perfume that would first refresh and then – unlike the 1000+ perfumes that are fresh but quickly fade away – transform into a sensual, but subtle (skin)scent. A refined and silently seductive perfume that doesn’t give away its personality to everyone instantly.

I knew I was asking Antoine something complicated. And indeed, it turned out to be a complex task to combine freshness with a warm and long lasting sensuality. It took us nearly three years, we had to increase the perfume oil percentage to an unprecedented 48%, and we had to overcome our frustrations more than once, before we were satisfied. I will not forget the commitment Antoine has put into our cooperation; he never gave up and kept on sending me rework after rework.

The result is a perfume that, despite its high percentage of perfume oil, is not loud – and after an intense and fresh opening – transforms into a delicate scent, very close to the skin. Only those dear and near will be close enough to enjoy its subtle and intriguing character.

And why the name ‘Aenotus’? Just like ‘OPARDU’ it is a non-existing word I came up with that perfectly represents the story and essence of the perfume I envisioned. It stands for ‘the notes of the winds blown by Aeolus’. In Greek mythology, Aeolus is the God of the winds who brings coolness to the South of Europe. In AENOTUS the cool notes of Aeolus are fusing with the soft, sensual warmth of the South. And the classic (Latin) ending of the word Aenotus suggests the depth and maturation of time.

Now I can only hope you will love AENOTUS as much as I do.

P.S. And apart from the joy of wearing AENOTUS on my skin, I also love its smell on my clothes. For days, even weeks, I can smell the perfume in my scarves and sweaters.

At Puredistance we not only try to create a collection of elegant and sophisticated perfumes of the highest quality, but we also care a lot about the packaging and presentation of our perfumes. 

We think good old fashioned customer service is very important. As a result we only sell in less than 100 stores (in 40 countries). Only few stores in the world are able to do justice to the beauty and exclusiveness of our brand and give the right service. For years Sens Unique has been one of the 2 stores in Paris that are authorised to sell us, because they not only give great service, but also present Puredistance in a beautiful way.

Our presence at the perfume fair Esxence has been a memorable one. Never before have we received so much recognition for our Perfume collection, from all kinds of people, from all parts of the world. It seems more and more people start to recognise that our promise of true exclusviity and timeless beauty is more than just a promise. And since everything we achieve at Puredistance we achieve together, our team returned home with a lot of positive energy!