All the Souls of Comporta

Pierre Bouissou - Comporta, Portugal

By: Aurélie ROUTHIER

It’s the story of a man, Pierre Bouissou, who grows up in Nice and studies medicine there because he dreams of becoming a plastic surgeon. Beauty already.

And then he quickly understands that the operating room will not be his playground, and he launches into another career, that of Marketing, with a capital M at that time. Everything is then possible for those who have ideas, passion, audacity… and strong backs!

That’s how he takes the lead of major luxury houses and mingles with beauty and the makers of beauty, all at breakneck speed.

For the past few years, Pierre has slowed down and reinvented himself once again, in the South, near the sea, and this time on Portuguese soil.

He opens the doors of his sublime house in Comporta and shares with us his latest creation, personal this time: the perfume Alma da Comporta.

In a few words, can you describe Comporta, your adopted Portuguese village?

It’s a 25 km-long stretch of white sand, between 500 meters and 1.5 km wide. On one side, the ocean; on the other, the estuary of the Sado River. Comporta tells its story through rice fields, pine forests, and wild beaches.

When you discovered it, it was still a well-kept secret.

Yes, I actually bought my land in 2010, long before it became a sought-after destination for bohemian-chic tourists, top interior designers… and investors! From my very first visit, it was love at first sight. It was instinctive, magnetic. I felt that I belonged to this place, whose raw authenticity and untamed nature I immediately loved. I found my breath again, my true nature. Coming to Comporta means letting go of all the reflexes of the rushed homo sapiens.

“Breath” is truly what one feels here: how did you envision your house?

Space, light, nature: the trinity I wanted to bring to life within these walls. And the architect of the house, Christophe Bernard, perfectly captured this vision by designing a home that seamlessly connects contemporary architecture with natural elements. A house where the interior opens fully to the exterior, and the exterior is constantly invited inside.

The house is decidedly modern, with vast open spaces, abundant openings, and a multitude of terraces to admire, at any hour of the day, the ever-changing display of colors.

Is there such a thing as a Comporta style?

Simplicity and raw beauty—originally those of the fishermen’s huts by the rice fields. That’s the authenticity of materials I wanted to bring into this house. Since the surrounding environment is the main protagonist here, I wanted a very pared-down interior design, focused mainly on Portuguese objects and furniture. When I discovered the rugs and cushions from Saudade, I immediately fell in love with the high-quality craftsmanship behind each piece, as well as the modern reinterpretation of Portuguese aesthetic codes.

This timeless place is indeed conducive to contemplation and meditation, but it also became a driving force since it inspired you to create something!

Yes, I wanted to bring together in a fragrance all the unique scents and sensations one experiences in Comporta. It was a long process, carried out with my friend, the talented perfumer François Demachy. Unlike the approach taken by big brands, I wasn’t trying to appeal to the widest audience—my only obsession was to craft an olfactory expression of the soul of Comporta as I personally experienced it.

It was important for me to create this perfume also with Portuguese people and for them to recognize themselves in it. And indeed, they have made it their own.

Tell us in words what we cannot smell through our screens.

Alma da Comporta is a subtly sophisticated fragrance. Imagine a daydream on the edge of the rice fields, carried by aromatic, citrus, and woody notes. It is a discreet yet powerful ode to Comporta and to all the elements—earth, water, and air—that make it pulse constantly with life.

Why the name “Alma da Comporta”?

Because Comporta is more than a captivating place, more than extraordinary nature, more than a fascinating culture: it is a way of life in its own right. A soul that pierces through you. I suppose I wanted to capture it in a bottle, to forever hold its essence in case it were ever to fade one day!

Are objects important to you?

I don’t have many objects in my home, but the ones I’ve chosen hold deep meaning for me, and I remember exactly the emotion that went through me when I chose them. For example, in my apartment in Lisbon, I have two large brass paintings that I found in a gallery in Lisbon. They weren’t for sale—they were simply decorating this gallery dedicated to furniture. I had such a crush on them that I begged the gallery owner, who eventually agreed to part with them.

Your definition of beauty

True “beauty” is never ostentatious. You know it’s there when something greater than yourself connects with the senses, with the soul, without necessarily being able to explain it rationally. Beauty is what moves us before we have time to think, carrying us away into a story. Personally, I often perceive it through materials. I love the tactile, even olfactory, relationship with matter. Probably a professional habit!

In your pantheon of inspiring people, who would you include?

The Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen, who knows better than anyone how to work with tactile materials and light. I love his timeless creations that escape fleeting trends.

The duo Karl and Olivier from Studio KO are also, for me, masters of architecture. In all their projects, there’s a very modern and distinctive approach, but always with great respect for the context and the history of the country in which they work. I love the fact that they always highlight local craftsmanship with great sensitivity.

The writer Leïla Slimani, whom I met before her Goncourt Prize. I adore her commitment, her sharp and sensory writing. And like me, she has a deep love for Portugal since she settled there a few years ago.

A “Saudadesque” object in your home?

A typically Portuguese floor lamp I bought in Lisbon, which now sits in my home in Paris. Its natural straw lampshade evokes hair blowing in the wind, a warm, almost human presence. Its bohemian feel contrasts with my Parisian interior and brings me joy every time I look at it… joyfully nostalgic for Comporta: saudade, in other words!

Your rug takes flight—where does it take you?

I would cross the rice fields and settle on a dune in Comporta! Just another part of Comporta. Why look elsewhere for the beauty and serenity we already have close by?

Your secret spots in Comporta that you’re willing to share with us?

Cavalariça, one of my favorite restaurants, which reinvents Portuguese flavors.

Lavanda, a boutique in Comporta where I love to find beautiful pieces of Portuguese craftsmanship when I have gifts to buy.

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