WHO SAYS AN PERFUMER IS ALWAYS BEHIND THEIR DESK?
For many, the image of a perfumer is quiet, meticulous, seated behind a laboratory bench surrounded by blotters and formulas. But Maxime Exler challenges that assumption entirely.
A perfumer at MANE and collaborator of AENTOS, Maxime is also a triathlete, an outdoor enthusiast, and someone who has lived and worked across cultures including formative years in India. Movement, endurance, and exposure to nature are not separate from his creative process; they are part of it.
From the very beginning, his worldview aligned naturally with AENTOS. Our brand was built on the belief that scent begins outdoors, in soil, moss, wood, humidity, wind. Maxime’s love for nature and sport mirrors that philosophy. His understanding of rhythm, breath, and balance translates into fragrances that feel alive rather than constructed.
Our partnership has never been purely technical. It is built on conversation, shared values, and discussing materials, memory, and structure. The dialogue between us about restraint, evolution, and emotional well-being is what shapes the fragrances we create today.
A TYPICAL MORNING IN SHANGHAI
SHANGHAI MORNING COVERSATION
Shanghai at 6am fresh pancakes sizzling, elegant architecture glowing softly, cool air perfect for morning exercise and quiet reflection. Sarah & Maxime enjoying breakfast in Shanghai Jing An Area.
"Mornings in Shanghai are my reset. I ride early, just as the city is waking, stopping for a Chinese pancake at one of my usual spots. By seven, the cycling crowd gathers at Baker & Spice; there’s an unspoken rhythm to it. A quick coffee, a quiet moment, then home for a shower before the day begins." - Maxime Exler
WHAT IS AENTOS SIGNATURE PERFUME?
It’s easy to just generalize and say “Nature,” but for me, nature is the soil, the dirt, the moss that grows on trees, the moist forest after rain, and the slightly animalic scent of animal quietly through the woods.
The 72 micro-seasons of the year. Spring that sprouts delicate flowers and wild herbs. Winter snow that settles over the earth, covering the soil but never stopping what lives beneath it.
With inspiration from foraging in the mountains, we built AENTOS to bring calmness.
We want to build perfume that enhances emotion in a non-traditional way, not decorative, not obvious, but rooted. Something that feels like standing in the forest, breathing deeply, and finding your own path. -Sarah Ching Co -founder
