L'Artisan Parfumeur Teach Us The Art of Play
We've been running from event to event during this year's Not In Milan, and we have to admit, traversing the city during Design Week can make even the most intrepid cultural explorer utterly exhausted. Seeking to recharge our batteries, we decided to slow things down for an afternoon and spent some time playing pétanque with L’Artisan Parfumeur.
In their activation as part of Not In Milan, the storied French perfume house brought us “The Art of Play,” a collaboration between L’Artisan Parfumeur and Highsnobiety that invited guests to slow down and rediscover the pleasure of leisure. L’Artisan Parfumeur is a pioneering perfume house that has long embodied a certain way of living, rooted in nuance, intention, and quiet beauty. It’s a brand that invites you to notice the details: the turn of a season, the warmth of the sun, the joy of shared time; all of which were present during their time here at Not In Milan.
For the occasion, MAGMA's courtyard was fitted with a custom pétanque lane for the occasion, became a natural meeting place where design met downtime. Laughter bounced off the walls as freely as the metallic clink of boule against boule. People drifted between rounds enjoying the luxury of a day that prioritized leisure over spectacle. Carried on the soft April breeze were the house’s signature scents—floral, woody, and resinous—subtle yet immersive, adding a fragrant layer to the afternoon’s quiet elegance.
While pétanque might be rooted in tradition, but here, it felt fluid, open to interpretation. It was about savoring the throw, watching a boule spin just right, then seeing how the game unfolded from there. No rush, no pressure—just the easy rhythm of play.
More than anything, the day was about the art of play. The kind that invites you to pause, settle into good company, and appreciate the joy of doing something just for the sake of it. Conversations swirled as easily as the boules rolled, casual yet meaningful. This wasn’t just about throwing metal spheres; it was about creating a space where elegance, creativity, and pure enjoyment could coexist.
Taking an old-world pastime into something fresh and relevant, rooted in tradition but effortlessly modern. The beauty of the day was in its simplicity—something as timeless as gathering together to play, laugh, and share the moment.
Want to learn the Art of Play yourself? Check out L'Artisan Parfumeur's latest scents here.
