Perfumer. Founder of Chatillon Lux and Maher Olfactive. St. Louis, United States. Chatillon Lux established 2015, Maher Olfactive established 2020. CaFleureBon Perfumer of the Year 2020.
Shawn noticed scent before he noticed perfume. He grew up close to woods, caves, creeks, and undergrowth, and loved the smell of cool water and flowers in bloom. Later, when he shaved his beard one winter, he made a face balm for his sensitive skin. He did not like the smell of shea butter, so he began blending essential oils. That small fix became a door into perfumery.
He is self taught. He bought textbooks and raw materials, tested, and learned by practice. Chatillon Lux started as a skin care project and evolved into fragrance, while his writing job paid the bills. As his voice sharpened, the work moved from functional scent to authored compositions.
Chatillon Lux draws from the history and neighborhoods of St. Louis and keeps prices accessible. The style feels classical with a modern edge, made to be worn and understood. Maher Olfactive is his studio for personal ideas and rarer materials, where he follows an inspiration from a song, an accord, or a place with fewer constraints.
Weinstrasse reflects German heritage in Missouri and family ties to the region. It uses a fougère structure with a white wine nuance to evoke vineyards at harvest, sweet air, and river landscape. The perfume became a finalist at the Art and Olfaction Awards in 2020.
Music informs his method. He thinks in composition, bass and melody, base and top, rhythm and space. He builds harmony first, then edits until every note supports the whole. He prefers structures that change over time, that wear with movement, and that reward attention.
Shawn collaborates with American Perfumer, a platform devoted to independent American perfumers. Together they have released projects like Madame Chouteau and Benton Park, created with a focus on process and authorship.
Through scent notes dot com he documents new creations from first idea to final formula. He writes and films the steps, inviting readers to follow the work and understand how a fragrance takes shape.
“I first started making scents to appeal to others, but now I make scents that I will like.”
