Where Perfume Becomes Poetry: Inside the Universe of Dusita
Written by Ally Santos
There is a particular gentleness in the way Pissara Umavijani, founder and perfumer of Parfums Dusita, speaks about scent. Even over Zoom, you can feel the sincerity that defines both her personality and her creations. Dusita is a house built not just on olfactive beauty, but on memory, poetry, and the belief that perfume can lift the human spirit.
Pissara Umavijani / Images provided by the brand
Seventeen years ago, Pissara left Thailand for Paris with a dream: to build a perfume house rooted in emotion and authenticity. She named it Dusita; a Thai word that translates to “paradise,” but also the joy of being present, the happiness of inhaling something beautiful. She shared this, and more stories behind the brand, during an online presentation for industry insiders organized by the U.S. distributor Kintessence NYC.
“My father always told me sincerity is more important than profession,” she said, referring to her late father, the celebrated Thai poet Montri Umavijani. “When we compose a perfume, raw materials communicate directly to people. They speak.”
Dusita’s creations have earned awards and international recognition, but for Pissara, the truest reward is something simpler. “When someone tells me my fragrance made them feel something deeper; that means more than any award.”
Tonka Latte: A Warm Hug in Paris
One of the new highlights of Dusita’s collection is Tonka Latte, a scent that took two years to perfect. Pissara created it during the early years of motherhood, and the perfume carries that sense of warmth, gentleness, and quiet comfort.
She describes it as “sitting in a small Parisian café, watching the city wake up.”
The sweetness of caramelized tonka bean, the coziness of warm milk, a touch of musk and spice; all wrapped in a soft, embracing aura. What makes it remarkable is its simplicity; not simple in construction, but in feeling.
“Gourmands are not my specialty, so balancing the notes was challenging,” she explained. “But this fragrance had to feel like a warm hug, comforting, intimate. A small morning ritual in Paris.”
Every detail, from the formula to the artwork on the box, was created by Pissara herself.
Rhapsodie Noire: A Parisian Night in Motion
If Tonka Latte is morning light, Rhapsodie Noire is Paris at night.
The idea came to her during a walk from her boutique along the Seine toward Notre-Dame. “I imagined Paris in the 1920s; jazz music, piano, cigar smoke, people drinking rum and cognac. A cinematic feeling. Always in motion.”
Inspired by the music of Gershwin, the perfume blends tobacco, patchouli, lavender leaf, coffee, and vanilla into a fougère-gourmand hybrid that feels nostalgic yet modern. It moves the way jazz moves; layered, spontaneous, alive.
Rhapsodie Noire captures a city that has lived many lives, a night that feels equal parts elegant and restless.
Pelagos: Barefoot in the Sun
Then there is Pelagos, a fragrance born from a sunlit memory of Greece. Pissara describes it as “a moment of walking barefoot on holiday, feeling fresh air, cold water, the contrast of wind and warmth.”
She worked with raw materials that genuinely breathe: Italian bergamot, Persian lime, French citron, and an aquatic accord she built from scratch. In the center is one of her favorite materials; orris butter paired with creamy sandalwood and grounded by vetiver.
“Orris butter is a dream material. You can shape it in so many ways. Pelagos took a long time because I wanted the contrast to feel real; the freshness, the brightness, and the deep creaminess underneath.”
The result is radiant, airy, and quietly emotional.
Perfume as a Path of Life
What becomes striking during any conversation with Pissara is how deeply personal perfumery is for her.
“If we’re not happy, we cannot create. If we are happy, we create more. Perfume is intimate. Dusita is the path of my life.”
She believes beauty must be sincere, a philosophy she inherited from her father. Her most personal creation, she says, is Mélodie de l’Amour.
Transparency note: We’re proud affiliate partners of Dusita. This article wasn’t sponsored in any way, but if you’d like to explore Dusita fragrances, you can find our exclusive offer on the Offers section. We may earn a small commission.