A conversation with Stéphane Chambran
Those who know me well will know that I have a thing for turning my bathroom into a personal spa.
I realised just how much of a mini-obsession this is for me while attending a recent workshop in Milan hosted by Jacqui Lewis of The Broad Place when she asked us to make a note of our “likes and delights” in our everyday life.
One of the first things I wrote was, “Showering with lush soap + large bathrooms.”
And it’s so true. Bathrooms for me are almost sacred spaces – perhaps the most important place in a house or hotel – because it is where we get to relax, restore, and renew ourselves daily. I always start and end my day with a shower and revel in taking this time for myself, even if it is just for a few minutes, because here, I can truly be with myself as my thoughts dim to a quiet hum.
That's why I couldn't resist being intrigued when Mircea emerged on my Instagram feed earlier this year. It was a few months before its official unveiling, and as I explored the brand’s philosophy and aesthetic, I was instantly enamoured.
Image by Corentin Bertau
Founded by Stéphane Chambran, a former brand developer at L’Oréal Luxe, Mircea is a personal care brand that seamlessly blends his commercial expertise with his background in art history and product design—while championing an innovative, eco-conscious approach.
In fact, what caught my attention the most was Mircea’s packaging concept — each shower gel is ‘assembled’ when you receive it. In other words, you purchase the lightweight dispenser made from frosted Libyan glass, select the shower gel fragrance of your choice (which is delivered in the form of granules that are 100% made with natural perfume from Grasse), and once it all arrives, all you need to do is pour water into the bottle, add the granules, and voilà, your shower gel is ready to be lathered. Genius.
It goes without saying that the scents offered, all inspired by natural landscapes such as mountains, valleys, and forests, smell utterly divine.
Stéphane Chambran
In anticipation of a feature that I’ve prepared for Konfekt, which is set to be unveiled in one of its upcoming printed issues soon, I sat down with Stéphane to find out a little more about what brought Mircea to life.
Why did you decide that Mircea was needed in the personal care sphere?
The bathing ritual is our most ancient daily routine. Humans have been investing in this moment of self-renewal for thousands of years, probably 100,000 years. Today, it is still our unique self-moment between our social and familial interactions. Having worked in the cosmetic industry for 20 years, I was frustrated that all the focus was given to skincare, perfume and makeup. Even the most thoughtful niche perfume brands look into bathing products as a last step, almost always downgrading their juices to develop body washes. I wanted to return a true sense of quality to it, with no limitations regarding the essential oils used and their price. The goal is to create an experience of bathing in nature, a pure indulgence.
Also, I felt it was really frustrating not to find a luxury brand that would walk the talk of eco-conception, always packaging their bath products in single-use plastic (in refills too). This leads also to a sense of history: from Egypt through to the Mediaeval times, or even in more recent history, the vessels of beauty products were beautifully designed in long-lasting and elevated materials (think alabaster, glass, metal, etc.). Here again, our bathing ritual deserves more than just disposable and cheap plastic bottles.
Is there a story behind the brand name ‘Mircea’?
The true story is that while I was working on Mircea, I read a lot about ancient rituals, myths, and rites. Mircea Eliade’s research deeply inspired me — he is probably the most recognised expert in the history of religions. And then, Mircea is derived from the Slavic root mir, meaning ‘peace’, but also ‘world’ and ‘cosmos’. I felt it was a beautiful symbol for this moment we want to create, like entering a cathedral for the senses.
Images by Corentin Bertau
How do you wish people to feel when they connect with and use Mircea's shower gel?
Like bathing in pristine nature. Renewed and pure, both physically and spiritually. Like: this high quality scent and softness on my skin is the evidence of a conscious act of care for myself.
Are there any upcoming future plans?
My dream is to propose a collection of body wash scents, like niche perfumery does. We already have a few in the works that I cannot wait to share.