The world of Papier d'Arménie

In tune with the times since 1885, Papier d'Arménie® is much more than a home fragrance: it's a heritage.
Born from a trip to Armenia and a bold intuition, this cult little notebook perpetuates a unique artisanal know-how, passed down from generation to generation.
Made in Montrouge with patience and passion, it diffuses the warmth of benzoin and transforms each interior into a welcoming, refined and timeless place.

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES SINCE 1885

A STORY OF CREATIVE AUDACITY
AND TRANSMISSION

The history of Papier d'Arménie® begins in the 19th century. During a trip to Armenia, Auguste Ponsot noticed that locals were scenting and disinfecting their homes by burning benzoin. Seduced by this traditional and ecological practice, he decided to import this product to France.

THE BIRTH

His associate, pharmacist Henri Rivier, then discovered that dissolving benzoin in 90% alcohol produced a persistent odor. Adding perfume created a pleasant and persistent aromatic blend. All that remained was to find a medium. This would be blotting paper, which absorbed the mixture while retaining the original odor of the benzoin and burned slowly without creating a flame.

 

A CENTENNIAL FRENCH FAMILY BUSINESS

The production of the oldest home fragrance is artisanal and similar of that of a luxury product... 6 months and no less than 12 production stages are necessary to obtain the famous little booklet

Mireille Schvartz, great-granddaughter of Henri Rivier, thus perpetuates the family tradition, scrupulously respecting this unique know-how which makes Papier d'Arménie® products so successful.
Located in Montrouge, nearby Paris and since its inception, the business is a family owned. Some employees have been loyal to Société Papier d'Arménie® for three generations.

 

 

THE EXPERTISE OF A LUXURY PRODUCT
6 months of manufacturing

Henri-Rivier's great-granddaughter, Mireille Schvartz, continues the family tradition. A team of 10 people working in three different professions will lovingly craft the little notebook. During this long journey, it will go through the meticulous and rigorous supervision of a laboratory manager and through six different hands, some of whom have been with the company for up to 3 years.

It all begins with Styrax officinalis: the finest benzoin resin, secreted by the aliboufier, a tree from Laos. It is delivered in the form of "tears." Following an immutable ritual, the benzoin resin is dissolved in alcohol for several weeks. Then perfume extracts are added. This solution, the composition of which remains secret, impregnates a special blotting paper. The operation is carried out manually, sheet by sheet.

 

OUR OTHER PRODUCTS

 

CANDLES

Our exclusive range of candles was born from the encounter between Mireille Schvartz, great-granddaughter of the founder of Papier d'Arménie, and Francis Kurkdjian, renowned perfumer-creator. Available in the three original Papier d'Arménie® scents, it recreates the olfactory universe by releasing the inimitable and subtle scent of burning papers. Made from vegetable wax with a cotton wick, they are produced in France using exceptional expertise inherited from master wax makers. Each candle has a burn time of approximately 50 hours.

3 Armenian paper candles 2026
white burner paper Armenia
BURNERS

Inspired by the first burner released in 1996, with its triangular shape topped with a small dome, it will optimize the diffusion of Papier d'Arménie® scents.

Made of ceramic or terracotta, it is available in several colors.