Over the years, many of you have asked to see an Australian fragrance offering in-store. We’re excited to share that the wait is over.
Et Al welcomes Grimoire Parfums, an independent Australian fragrance house by Trung Vu—also known as Troy—into our world. Thoughtfully composed and deeply atmospheric, each scent reflects a layered, personal approach to perfumery.
With five scents available at our Flinders Lane and Emporium stores, we wanted to introduce the mind behind the brand. We sat down with Troy to learn more about his creative process, inspirations, and the stories behind Grimoire.
What inspired you to start Grimoire Parfums?
Grimoire began as a way for me to explore my potential as an artist. My background in dance and makeup taught me how to shape emotion through movement, colour, and transformation. Storytelling has always been part of my life. My mother used to tell me Vietnamese folklores, and perfume became another medium to express that inner world. I wanted to create something that reflected who I am, but also something simply beautiful. Each scent draws from a folklore or story from around the world, led by the narrative's emotions and created with cultural respect for the stories' origins.
Where are your fragrances made?
Every fragrance is compounded, bottled, and assembled by hand in my Melbourne studio.
What was the first fragrance you ever fell in love with?
My first love was 5th Avenue by Elizabeth Arden, a tiny miniature dabber hidden in my mother's bathroom vanity. But the fragrance that made me want to pursue perfumery was Cuir Amethyste from Armani Prive. It smelled like potpourri, leather, and dusty porcelain, and it took me back to wandering through neighborhood garage sales in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Describe Grimoire in three words.
Sentimental, Classical, Macabre
How do you see Grimoire fitting within the world of Et Al?
Grimoire and Et Al share a similar philosophy around artistry and identity. Grimoire’s world is dark, elusive, and uninterested in performing difference. It exists with the intention of being true to itself. Et Al has that same androgyny, independence, and clarity of vision. There is a natural alignment in how both approach creativity.
Is there a scent in the collection that feels most personal to you?
Penanggal is the most personal. It is drawn from a Southeast Asian story and carries a strange sense like a homing instinct, even though I have only been back twice in my life. I wanted it to feel like the tropical air of a Southeast Asian summer, where insects buzz, fruit ripens, and flowers turn narcotic in the heat.
As we head into the cooler months, which Grimoire fragrance would you reach for?
Todorac and Catoblepas are my recommendations. Both are warm, ambery, and spicy. Todorac is more textural and based on Balkan liquors, while Catoblepas is an amber that deviates from a traditional amber structure and is based on East African culture.
For someone new to Grimoire, where should they start?
The Discovery Kit is a great place to start. It features all five fragrances, each one highly stylistic and completely different from the next. Come in and try them on skin, let the story, the emotion, and the cultural references guide you. You will know straight away when you connect with one, and that instinct is the truest way to choose.
Grimoire Parfums is now available to explore in-store at our Flinders Lane and Emporium locations.
Visit us and discover your new signature scent.
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