Over coffee in Vienna, Paul-Anton Esterházy shares how a 1920s family perfume and a daring Sahara road trip sparked his fragrance house, ESTORAS. Watch to see heritage, adventure, and modern perfumery collide in bold scents.
Paul-Anton Esterházy on Creating ESTORAS Fragrances
From Heirloom Bottle to a Four-Perfume Line
Over a coffee at Café Goldegg in Vienna, Sven Raphael Schneider sits down with Austrian-Hungarian entrepreneur Paul-Anton Esterházy. Together they trace how a dried-out 1920s perfume vial, once carried across the Sahara by Paul’s grandfather, evolved into ESTORAS, a modern niche-fragrance house now launching its first four scents.
Overwhelmed by fragrance choices?
Why This Interview Is Worth Your Time
Paul reveals the step-by-step process of reviving a century-old formula, working with French perfumers in Grasse, and bottling adventure into wearable art. Whether you’re a fragrance novice or a seasoned collector, you’ll pick up insider tips on turning heritage stories into compelling, contemporary products—and see how ESTORAS is gearing up for its U.S. debut.
“ESTORAS was in fact, the Latin form of my family name—Esterházy.”
Paul-Anton Esterházy, Founder of Estoras Perfume
Highlights from this Video
“I sometimes compare it to stepping through the cupboard door into Narnia.”
Watch Paul light up as he recalls the moment perfumery felt like discovering a hidden world.
“Well, it all started with the recreation of my grandfather’s 100-year-old fragrance.”
Jump to hear how Paul reverse-engineered his grandfather’s century-old cologne—the moment ESTORAS was born.
“This is the map — the route they took from Alexandria down to Khartoum.”
Click to glimpse the original diary map that guides each modern fragrance.
“There’s a hint of gasoline to reflect the ships of the port and the car being off-loaded.”
Find out how harbor hustle (and fuel fumes) inspired the notes of Port of Alexandria.
“I think that our fragrances are for strong characters—for complex characters that feel that lust for adventure, that curiosity—what lies behind the horizon. And for me, that’s more about strong characters than the label of gender.”
Skip ahead to hear Paul challenge the old “for him/for her” divide—and invite anyone with a taste for exploration to wear ESTORAS.
Follow ESTORAS on Instagram!
What We Were Wearing
Raphael keeps his Vienna stroll sharp yet relaxed in a navy single-breasted blazer with patch pockets and bold silver buttons—a nautical-heritage nod that pairs effortlessly with stone-beige chinos. A white poplin shirt printed with narrow blue pencil-stripes adds vertical interest while staying understated enough to let his chocolate-brown grenadine tie—with tiny geometric rings—take center stage.
For a dash of pattern and a hit of color harmony, he tucks in Fort Belvedere’s Silk Pocket Square in Brown with Blue Paisley. The swirling blues echo the shirt stripes; the rich brown pulls the whole palette together. One discreet spray of Patina adds the finishing touch: an olfactory signature that’s as polished and nuanced as the outfit itself.
“It was always of utmost importance to me that the fragrances wouldn’t be overpowering, but effortlessly elegant and complex.”
Paul-Anton Esterházy, Founder of Estoras Perfume
Ask the Expert
What does the name “ESTORAS” mean?
It’s the Latinised form of Paul’s family name, Esterházy—chosen so the brand can stand on its own while still nodding to heritage.
How did you recreate a 100-year-old scent?
Paul and his Cambridge classmate Muhammad analyzed the dried residue in his grandfather’s bottle, identified the leathery-tobacco base, then modernized it with bright citrus and pepper.
Why did you settle on 16% oil concentration for every fragrance?
At 16%, each scent lasts like an eau de parfum but still feels fresh enough for daily wear, balancing performance with versatility.
Are the perfumes masculine or feminine?
Neither. Paul designs “for strong, complex characters with a lust for adventure,” making the line confidently unisex.
Where are ESTORAS fragrances produced?
Oils are blended in Grasse, France. Bottling and packaging happen in Austria and southern Germany for tight quality control.
What to Watch Next
Kniže & Co.: A First-Hand Look at Vienna’s Most Storied Tailor
Tour Vienna’s legendary tailor Kniže & Co. and see how this Loos-designed boutique still crafts world-class formalwear.
Viennese Bespoke Tailoring with Hedi Rochowanski
Follow bespoke tailor Hedi Rochowanski through her light-filled workshop to watch true Viennese craft in action.
Wilhelm Jungmann & Neffe Shop Tour
Stroll the oak-paneled aisles of Vienna’s 1881 fabric house to explore 6,000 silk patterns and 140 years of textile history.
Leave a Reply