“MATCA evokes the origins — the true source of things.”

Interview with the Founders of One of Romania’s First Botanical Perfume Studios: “MATCA evokes the origins — the true source of things.”

👉 Click the link to read the full article. Interview by Corina Răcorean.

Wearing a perfume is symptomatic. We long for it. It’s part of both our social and intimate lives. A scent has to uplift us, just as much as we allow it to. MATCA creates botanical fragrances with a wild, complex edge — crafted with the generosity of a perfumer eager to expand the natural palette with innovative ingredients that harmonize perfectly.

We invite you to dive into a conversation that uncovers the story behind building a brand and a dream, and offers a glimpse into the fascinating work of a perfumer and the making of botanical scents.

How did the MATCA story begin, and what makes it different on the Romanian market?

It all started with fascination — watching thick golden drops of oil slowly fall from a mechanical press, playing with tiny vials filled with intoxicating scents, pausing to breathe in the stillness between each drop, diving into piles of perfumery manuals. Curiosity turned into knowledge, and knowledge into passion. Slowly but surely, this path led us to create MATCA. It happened organically — full of doubts and hope — until one day, it became real.

We officially launched the brand in 2019, and in September 2020, we introduced our first four fragrances, along with our website.

Our perfumes come with transparent labels listing every single ingredient. We use no animal-derived ingredients and offer a truly natural alternative to conventional perfumes. Though our creation process honors ancient perfumery traditions, we also embrace modern natural ingredients that enrich the composition. Our approach is minimalist — “less is more” — and through our scents, we aim to speak the magical language of the plant world.

Why wear a MATCA perfume?

You shouldn’t wear a perfume just because it exists. You wear the one that resonates with something deep inside you. If one of our creations strikes that inner chord, then that’s the only reason you need.

We hoped people would give space to passion-driven, locally grown brands. And from what we’ve seen so far — they truly are open and receptive.

MATCA perfumes are natural yet modern, and they echo sustainability. Are fragrance lovers ready for this? Do people recognize the value of such scents?

Yes, natural perfumes stand out — they’re distinct, and they behave differently on the skin. Each composition evolves with time and chemistry, revealing different facets depending on the wearer. They’re also harder to create. Natural ingredients are complex, sometimes wild, and must be carefully balanced.

Still, many perfume lovers appreciate this complexity. Once you discover their depth and use them long enough, it’s very likely you won’t want to go back to synthetic perfumes.

We were pleasantly surprised to see that most people who ordered a MATCA discovery set fell in love with at least one of our fragrances. That tells us people do recognize quality and appreciate something that dares to be different.

You also mention that MATCA perfumes have therapeutic qualities. What kind of effects can they have, depending on the ingredients used?

It’s true. Earth’s medicine has been known and used for thousands of years. Now, science is beginning to catch up and validate what traditional wisdom always knew. In today’s fast-paced world, we’ve lost some of that connection to the earth.

We don’t market MATCA perfumes based on their therapeutic benefits — we’re not aromatherapists — but these benefits are a natural, beautiful bonus. Whatever touches your skin is absorbed into your body — whether it’s harmless, harmful, or healing.

We won’t list all the ingredients and their benefits — we’d need a full book for that. But here are just a few you’ll find in our blends:

• Bergamot, a citrus with an unusually complex scent, is a top note and excellent “blender” thanks to its high linalool content. It helps with anxiety, insomnia, and depression — both calming and uplifting — and it’s great for the skin. You’ll find it in Pianista, Smoked Sunday, and Oakmoss/Tabac.

• Atlas Cedar, a warm, woody base note with light spice and great fixative properties. It’s known to be calming, nerve-soothing, and even aphrodisiac. You’ll find it in Lurra.

• Jasmine, the queen of flowers, is used as an absolute in perfumery — a more concentrated extract than essential oil. It’s an aphrodisiac, antidepressant, and sleep aid. It’s featured in Pianista and Oakmoss/Tabac.

MATCA is a name that evokes the mother, the origin, the root. Why did you choose this name?

Because, for example, when we use bitter orange in a MATCA perfume, it comes from a sun-kissed tree on a hillside in Italy. The neroli in Lurra — a precious, prized essence — is steam-distilled from the actual blossom of the bitter orange tree. We don’t use the synthetic alternative, which is more accessible and doesn’t come from the source. MATCA reminds us to return to origin — to the true source of things.

What’s next for MATCA?

We’re excited to launch the new fragrances we’ve been quietly working on. In this field, creation takes time — it can’t be rushed.

In the near future, we’d also love to develop more bespoke olfactory identities for other brands, as part of their overall storytelling and marketing. We just wrapped up such a project and really enjoyed the process.