Many paths, one road 

Before Ben Gorham, the founder and artistic director of Byredo, entered the world of perfumery and created one of the most recognizable brands in the world, he studied business, political science, interior design, played professional basketball and graduated from an art school in Stockholm. Ultimately, however, it was a meeting with a French perfumer that opened a new path for him, one he still follows today. 

This resulted in the creation of the first fragrance according to Gorham's own design. The composition was then used for candles he hand-made and gave to friends. A name quickly emerged as well, derived from the Old English word redolence, which simply means scent. 

Gorham’s motivation for creating perfumes was the desire to “translate” specific emotions and places into the language of scent. His rich background and multicultural experiences (his mother is from India, his father is half Scottish, half French-Canadian, and he himself was born in Sweden and has lived in Canada and the USA) allow him to create compositions that are personal yet universal and timeless. 

After 20 years Byredo is one of the most recognizable brands in the beauty world, one that can no longer be described solely as niche. That does not change the fact that under its banner extraordinary, luxurious compositions created from passion continue to be produced. 

A story that continues 
 
Among the brands that appeared on Galilu's shelves in the early years of our activity and remain there to this day is Byredo – introduced by us to Poland in 2008. This is how Agnieszka Łukasik – co-founder of Galilu – recalls the beginnings of the cooperation: 

"We discovered Byredo thanks to Wallpaper magazine, which we had been reading for years. The internet didn't function then as it does today, and apart from travel, which opened up a world of new brands to us, we had few opportunities to get to know them. I remember a short mention of a new niche brand – minimalist, with a beautiful label and a charismatic founder. 

Ben Gorham, a former Swedish basketball player of Indian descent, created a project that stood out from the start for its simplicity and striking aesthetic. At that time there was also talk in the industry about controversies surrounding the bottle design – opinions appeared that its cap was too similar to those used by Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle. It was ultimately changed. 

Initially the collection consisted of just five fragrances: Gypsy Water, which remains a bestseller to this day, as well as Green, Pulp, Chembur – inspired by Gorham's Indian heritage – and Rose Noir. Some of them have disappeared from the offer or been discontinued over time. 

Two years after Galilu opened we established direct contact with the brand, and orders came to us straight from Stockholm, in small paper boxes. Today it's hard to believe how far Byredo has come. The small project we remember from the early days has grown into one of the most recognizable brands in the beauty world, now valued at around 2 billion euros." 

Between the living moment and memory 

On July 30 Byredo is releasing fragrance that is intended to capture that brief and fleeting moment when the ordinary “now” becomes a memory for life – the moment in which the present takes on a new meaning. 

The composition opens with a lively, green note of galbanum and a juicy, bright accord of blackcurrant. The first encounter with the scent is intense and exciting – like a moment filled with sensations and a sense of infinite possibilities. 

In the heart the composition begins to calm. A powdery iris appears, accompanied by resinous, warm labdanum giving it depth. The tempo slows, and the moment slowly etches itself into memory. 

Finally an enveloping vanilla emerges that takes control of the composition. Enriched with addictive Ambrofix and an intimate cloud of musks it radiates warmth, creating an amber, radiant aura. The scent stays close to the skin – it becomes a memory that does not fade but subtly endures. 

For the next two weeks we have the pleasure of being the only place in Poland where you can discover Future Memories. We believe it will stay with you for a long time.