Étienne de Swardt spent seven years writing fragrance concepts for Givenchy Parfums within LVMH before founding Etat Libre d'Orange in 2006, which makes his dismantling of industry conventions all the more deliberate. The name references the Orange Free State, the Boer republic of his South African birthplace. The house works with leading perfumers including Antoine Lie, with no restrictions on materials or concept. The results range from the notorious Sécrétions Magnifiques, Tom of Finland to the genuinely beautiful and wearable.