Handcrafted in France: Signature Sensory Kits, Proudly Made in France

Since 1981, the publications and sensory kits have been crafted in France with meticulous attention to detail and a relentless commitment to quality.

Glasswork, paper, screen printing, and fine press production come together through the expertise of skilled artisans across France. Every component is then hand-assembled in Provence, at the Cassis workshop.

Each kit is born just steps from the Mediterranean, in a modern creative space nestled between pine-covered hills and vineyards. It is a remarkable natural setting that inspires the team every day, many of whom have been part of this family-run company for years.

From this historic fishing port on the Mediterranean coast, these works travel to more than 70 countries, reaching wine, whisky, coffee, and sensory enthusiasts around the world.

House Crafted Aromas
Precision Built in Le Nez's Cassis Laboratory

The aromatic creations inside each vial are also developed daily in Cassis, in a state-of-the-art laboratory.

Fruit, flower, spice: every aroma follows its own formula. Developed with expert flavor chemists and validated by Viva Lenoir, each profile requires careful compound selection, exact dosing, and extensive trials to achieve stability and striking realism.

Aroma longevity is guaranteed for five years.

Every aroma is also reconstructed specifically for the beverage it belongs to. That means the lemon in Le Nez du Vin is not the same as the lemon in Le Nez du Whisky, which is greener, sharper, deeper, and closer to candied citrus peel.

In the same way, roasted hazelnut in Le Nez du Café carries a woody, ember-like character, while in Le Nez du Vin it evokes a softer, spread-like praline note.

This is not generic flavoring. It is beverage-specific aromatic engineering.

Designed as Sensory Objects
Where Publishing Meets Art, Design, and Tasting Culture

The publications of Le Nez products were conceived to be more than books. They are multisensory design objects that challenge the traditional reading experience.

In 1980, artist Daniel Spoerri encouraged Jean Lenoir to create what he called a book object. Spoerri, known for his iconic assemblage works and his fascination with sensory experience, helped shape the concept from the beginning. Jean Lenoir selected the now iconic encyclopedia style format and the glass vial system still used in Le Nez du Vin today, then entrusted each collection’s visual identity to leading designers.

In 2006, Atelier ter Bekke & Behage reinvented the visual language of the Le Nez du Vin range for its 25th anniversary, introducing bold new colors and a modern graphic presence.

In 2013, the same Paris-based Dutch design duo translated the rich aromatic personality of whisky into form and material for Le Nez du Whisky, which won First Prize in the Publishing category at the 2014 Nuit des Trophées de l’Imprimerie Française.

Viva Lenoir continues this commitment to contemporary design. The Le Nez du Café 60 Aromas edition, released in 2025 and designed by Marge Design, organizes 60 aromas into three independent kits housed in a lightweight, portable case. With its travel journal-inspired booklet and intuitive format, the set recalls the spirit of plein air painting: practical, elegant, and made to be used in the real world.