#018 Grimoire Parfums - A Conversation with Trung Vu

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Trung Vu, the self-taught perfumer and creative force behind Grimoire Parfums—an independent house built entirely by hand and shaped by myth, memory, and the darker edges of beauty.

Trung’s journey from dancer and makeup artist to perfumer reveals a life lived through movement, transformation, and expression. His work transcends genre and gender, blending classical perfume structure with an instinctive, emotive style that feels at once ancient and avant-garde. Each creation is an exploration of the unseen, the symbolic, and the psychological, inviting the wearer into a world both intimate and otherworldly.

In this note-by-note masterclass, we explore Nephilim (Volume I – Mesopotamia), a fragrance that opens Grimoire’s mythology with red wine, ivy, rose, and resins—a scent that bridges the sacred and the profane. Built around ritual, duality, and human nature, Nephilim sets the tone for the entire collection.

We then journey through the broader Grimoire Parfums library, from the Balkan warmth of Todorac, to the forested chill of Nøkken, the tropical folklore of Penanggal, and the resinous mysticism of Catoblepas. Each Volume draws from a different mythology or geography, revealing the way scent can act as both story and spell.

Rooted in freedom and resistance to convention, Trung’s practice reflects a reverence for perfumery’s golden age and a curiosity for its future. Every label, every blend, every formula passes through his hands—a modern artisan working in solitude, building a world steeped in ritual, tension, and quiet beauty.
Watch as we unravel the process, philosophy, and patience behind one of Australia’s most distinctive and evocative fragrance houses. From materials and compliance to myth and meaning, this conversation opens the pages of a Grimoire that feels truly alive.

https://www.grimoireparfums.com.au
Socials: Instagram: @troyperfumes; @grimoireparfums1