At the crossroads of French expertise in perfumery and a free spirit inspired by the American West, French Cowboy offers a unique vision of perfume, bold, creative and resolutely contemporary.
At the heart of this adventure is Ashley Santiago, co-founder of French Cowboy and perfumer at Givaudan, one of the world's leading fragrance houses. Born in California and of Mexican-Caribbean descent, she honed her skills between Paris, New York, and Singapore, enriching her vision with diverse cultural influences.
Photo credit: @frenchcowboy, pictured here Ashley Santiago, co-founder of French Cowboy.
When we first discovered French Cowboy, the brand was presenting its first two fragrances, Pear Pavlova and Mezcal Chocolat, two creations with contrasting worlds that laid the foundations of its olfactory identity. Since then, the collection has expanded with two new fragrances: Fig Lemonade and Vanilla for Breakfast.
We met with Ashley Santiago to discuss the genesis of French Cowboy, his approach to perfumery and the universe that is emerging behind this unique brand.
Interview — Ashley Santiago, co-founder of French Cowboy
You discovered perfumery at a very young age. How did this passion become a vocation?
I have dedicated my life to perfume. I discovered it at the age of 14, initially as a hobby, before gradually organizing my entire life around this passion. Since high school, I have dreamed of creating my own perfume line, even though, at the time, it seemed incredibly improbable.
French Cowboy combines French know-how and cowboy spirit. What is the story behind this name and identity?
I'm from California, but I've lived in France for most of my adult life. All my mentors have been French, and my approach to perfumery is deeply French. However, I tire easily of traditions and always want to push boundaries and innovate.
It's this blend of French craftsmanship and cowboy spirit that inspired the brand name. There's also a connection to my personal history: my grandfather was a vaquero, a Mexican cowboy. So there's a link between my roots, of which I'm extremely proud, and my adopted country, France.
The first two fragrances, Pear Pavlova and Mezcal Chocolat, explore very different worlds. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind each of them?
For Mezcal Chocolat, Mathis Molinié introduced us to an unexpected combination: a chocolate mousse paired with black olives, pepper, lime, and rum. This idea gave rise to an olfactory universe built around rum extract, cade, and cocoa absolute.
With Pear Pavlova, Allie Goodbun transports us to a completely different world: that of a Parisian showgirl, the stage, and the spectacle. It's a fragrance that evokes performance and prominently features pear and musk.
These first two perfumes seem to complement each other while being very different. Were they conceived as a duo?
The fragrances weren't designed as a duo in the strictest sense. I want to be able to put my whole heart and soul into each perfume in this collection. However, that wouldn't have been possible with a launch of twelve fragrances at once.
French Cowboy also places great importance on its environmental commitment. How does this translate into concrete action?
We are members of 1% for the Planet and donate 1% of our sales to environmental organizations. We believe it is important to take care of the planet and preserve our environment.
This also translates into an attention to biodegradable materials and the sustainable sourcing of natural ingredients.
In your opinion, what distinguishes French Cowboy from other perfume houses?
Expertise in perfume creation, combined with new perspectives.
Finally, what are your ambitions for the future of French Cowboy?
I simply want to continue creating perfumes that are unlike any other on the market.
French Cowboy: fragrances to discover
Today, the collection includes four eau de parfums:
Pear Pavlova — a fruity and musky creation imagined with Allie Goodbun.
Mezcal Chocolat — a gourmand and bold fragrance created with Mathis Molinié.
Fig Lemonade — a sparkling interpretation centered around fig and freshness.
Vanilla for Breakfast — a creation centered around vanilla, developed in collaboration with Mia Fall.
Each fragrance is available in a 100ml bottle for €90 on the official French Cowboy website.
Discover it at: frenchcowboy.com
