The Beauty Alchemist: A Conversation with Samer Zakharia, the Visionary Behind Maison Flamel and Maison Douze
credit photo: Irène de Rosen
*MAISON FLAMEL *MAISON DOUZE
*MAISON FLAMEL *MAISON DOUZE
In the heart of Paris, where centuries-old alchemical traditions meet contemporary beauty innovation, Samer Zakharia has crafted something extraordinary. As the founder of MAISON FLAMEL and MAISON DOUZE, he represents a new breed of beauty visionary – one who seamlessly weaves together the mystical and the scientific, the ancient and the modern.
Drawing inspiration from the legendary medieval alchemist Nicolas Flamel, Samer Zakharia has transformed his lifelong fascination with esoteric sciences into two distinctive luxury brands that are redefining the boundaries of beauty. MAISON FLAMEL, his skincare venture, channels the transformative power of alchemy, while MAISON DOUZE, his perfume line, maps the celestial influence of astrology onto the art of fragrance.
Born in Lebanon and shaped by the rich perfume traditions of Kuwait before making his mark in Paris's competitive beauty industry, Samer Zakharia brings a uniquely multicultural perspective to his creations. His journey from L'Oréal marketing executive to founder of two cutting-edge beauty brands embodies the very transformation his products promise – one of vision, persistence, and alchemical magic.
In this exclusive interview, Samer Zakharia shares his philosophical approach to beauty, reveals the mysterious origins of his brands, and offers a glimpse into the future of luxury skincare and fragrance.
Samer, the name "MAISON FLAMEL" evokes a rich tapestry of history and mystery. What inspired you to connect your brand with the legacy of Nicolas Flamel, and how does this alchemical spirit infuse your approach to beauty?
For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by all things esoteric. I’ve read many books about magic, mythology, astrology and alchemy. I instantly fell in love with the story of Nicolas Flamel: how he travelled, learned, evolved, succeeded, helped and shared. More recently, I rediscovered him through the Harry Potter Saga as well as many alchemy-related Japanese cartoons (anime).
Then, in 2014, I woke up one morning and I had Maison Flamel in my mind: the name, the concept, the products… everything was there and the rest was history!
All things considered, I believe alchemy infuses my vision of beauty, because I consider beauty as a tool of power and transformation that goes beyond "looking pretty". Through beauty, albeit with a lot of faith, discipline and our secret combination of science and magic, anyone can transform their insecurities into strength and their darkness into light.
Your journey from Lebanon to Paris, from marketing at L'Oréal to founding your own brand, is fascinating. How has this multicultural and multifaceted background shaped your vision of beauty and wellness?
Alchemy is essentially multicultural. Its quest for youth and abundance goes back to ancient China, India and Egypt. Then alchemy travelled along the Silk Road and the Arabs reintroduced it to the Western world. In that sense, beauty born from alchemy can only be multicultural.
On a more personal note, I have grown up surrounded by many different archetypes of beauty, different ways of looking and feeling good and worked within different environments in the beauty industry. That is why I strive to channel, express and synthesize this diversity through my creative work.
Can you elaborate on your creative process and how you transform the sparks of inspiration into tangible products?
Inspiration can be found anywhere and anytime, even (dare I say especially) when you're washing the dishes! You simply need to be in a contemplative, receptive state of mind. I read a lot of books about alchemy and ancient esoteric sciences in general, they are great sources of inspiration. People are also a more or less direct source. Sometimes, I run into a client, a friend or even a stranger who would say a word or a phrase that would unwittingly spark a product concept. However, when I am at my best, I simply dream of ingredients and products and wake up with the full product description in mind. That being said, actually making the product accounts for at least 80% of the work. At this point, it's all about persistence, teamwork and a lot of organization.
MAISON FLAMEL appears to offer more than just products - it's an experience. How do you see the role of ritual and ceremony in modern beauty routines?
I think ritual and ceremony are central in modern beauty routines. In fact, beauty rituals and ceremonies have always existed (usually related to bathing experiences or celebrations such as weddings) as they have hygienic, symbolic and social meanings. MAISON FLAMEL is a brand that comes inherently with alchemical rituals, it is part of its makeup and not an add-on: we have our oxygen facial ritual in department stores, specific ways of sampling and applying the products and so on. Nowadays, I am happy to see that beauty routines are becoming more and more ritualized, with tools, massage techniques and even well-being and spiritual affirmations!
Are there unexplored areas of alchemy or beauty that you're eager to delve into?
Yes, countless areas. Namely setting up a plantation to extract patented active ingredients from our special alchemical plant Alchemilla (aka Lady's Mantle)
In your view, what role does beauty play in personal transformation? How does MAISON FLAMEL facilitate this process?
Legend says that two mischievous angels have led the world to its ruin by teaching the artifacts of beauty and jewelry to women then the art of metallurgy and war to men. Strangely enough, beauty and war are two sides of the same coin: that of angelic (divine) power and transformation, the former being more powerful than the latter, because it excites and stirs it.
In reality, this power is none other than alchemy, embodied by MAISON FLAMEL. To make weapons and jewelry, you have to know how to work metals. More importantly, to make elixirs of youth and scented love potions, you have to know how to distil plants. And to do all this, we need the fire of the alchemist, the Promethean flame of intelligence that comes from above to transmute matter below.
Can you tell us about the genesis of MAISON DOUZE? How does this astrological perfume line complement and expand upon the Maison Flamel philosophy?
MAISON DOUZE is a Parisian fragrance brand inspired by astrology. As you know, I have always been fascinated by esoteric sciences, especially astrology. Growing up in Kuwait, there was perfume everywhere around. The story behind the brand is funny and echoes with your question about inspiration. One day, I was cleaning my refrigerator and I thought to myself "maybe the Moon influences the kind of food we would like to eat on a given day". And since taste and smell are related, I decided to create a cosmic fragrance brand. So I started researching the link between plants and spices and cosmic energies of the zodiac and imagining combinations of ingredients to channel the energy of each sign. On a more personal note, I was also inspired by 12 everyday anonymous muses _friends and acquaintances_. I like to say that MAISON DOUZE is an olfactory dialogue between the intimate and the universal.
You've created a unique synergy between astrology and perfumery with MAISON DOUZE. How do you envision this concept evolving in the future?
So many things left to explore. Within Chaldean ("Western") astrology, we can explore different planets, stars and constellations and strong moments (such as conjunctions). But there are also other versions of astrology that are equally inspiring...
As the creator of a beauty brand, we're curious about your personal skincare and wellness routine. What does your daily regimen look like, and how has it evolved since founding Maison Flamel?
I only use my MAISON FLAMEL products on a regular basis, but I also try other brands every now and then. I adapt my routine to my skin needs and seasonality. I do have some favorites though: I cleanse my skin everyday with Gel H2O and/or Miel H2O (depending on pollution level in Paris, often double cleansing is a must), I use my ROUGE H2O AHA exfoliator once or twice a week and my go-to skincare range is the copper based collagen-boosting CU2+ serum and cream.
MAISON FLAMEL has a strong presence in prestigious locations. How do you see the role of physical retail evolving for niche, luxury beauty brands like yours?
Over the past 10 years, real-life store experiences have become a bit normalized and stale, and people have turned more and more to digital channels that offered quick and efficient experiences at more convenient prices (especially during the pandemic). I have started to witness the reverse trend as of late, with digital brands trying to open their physical stores. And quite thankfully so! In fact, I have always believed and still believe in brick and mortar experiences, shops and department stores. If the product is good and authentic and the salesperson is passionate, magic happens, the kind that cannot be replicated online. In this regard, we have been somewhat postmodern, I suppose!
Looking ahead, what are your ambitions for MAISON FLAMEL? Are there new categories or markets you're excited to explore?
My goal is for MAISON FLAMEL to be a worldwide brand within the 5 coming years. We are targeting the US market for 2025 and China in 2026. I am currently working on transformative face masks for MAISON FLAMEL and a new zodiac-inspired collection for MAISON DOUZE. Stay tuned!
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