In the world of fragrance, there exists a group of individuals whose talents are as extraordinary as they are elusive. These are the ‘noses’ – the perfumers whose olfactory artistry shapes the very essence of our most beloved scents.
For the past decade, The Perfume Society has been at the forefront of unveiling the mysteries behind these master craftspeople through our multi award-winning magazine, The Scented Letter.
Our regular feature, ‘A Working Nose‘, offers readers an unparalleled glimpse into the lives and minds of these olfactory virtuosos. This world-exclusive series of in-depth interviews delves into the personal working styles, composition techniques, and daily routines of both established master perfumers and rising stars in the industry.
We’re rather proud that it’s a feature unmatched by any other publication, offering fragrance enthusiasts a rare opportunity to understand the intricate process behind the creation of their favourite scents and iconic fragrances.
So, if you’d like to learn more about the lives of the ‘noses’, and perhaps even gain some olfactory insight into the way they imbue their creations with their own unique characters, or styles of composition; do sign up for your FREE e-subscription to The Scented Letter Magazine. And don’t forget to browse the always fascinating shorter interviews with noses on the website.
But the world of perfumery isn’t just for the professionals. At The Perfume Society, we have always believed that everyone can benefit from a deeper understanding and appreciation of scent.
That’s why we’re excited to share with you a collection of aromatic wisdom from these remarkable noses; with practical tips and insights that you can incorporate into your daily life to enhance your sense of smell and deepen your relationship with your most cherished fragrances.
These ‘noses’ possess a talent that goes beyond mere chemistry and technique. They are time travellers and emotion weavers, capable of transporting us to cherished memories and evoking powerful feelings with just a single whiff. Their creations have the power to make us feel more confident, more alluring, more creative – transforming not just how we smell, but how we feel about ourselves.
For too long, these artists of scent worked very much behind the scenes, their noses in anonymity, and their contributions to our sensory experiences unacknowledged. But now, like great chefs emerging from their kitchens or painters stepping out from behind their canvases, perfumers are beginning to take centre stage in even greater numbers. They’re sharing their stories, their inspirations, and the intricate processes behind their olfactory masterpieces.
Join us as we celebrate these extraordinary individuals and hear their advice on how to improve our own sense of smell. Whether you’re a fragrance aficionado or simply curious about the world of scent, prepare to be captivated by the wisdom, creativity, and passion of the world’s most remarkable noses…
We asked:
What can each of us do to enhance our appreciation of fragrance? What is your best tip for improving a person’s sense of smell?
The Noses Said…
‘‘If you train your nose, you’ll be able to make the difference between the main olfactive families. In fact, everyone has his own olfactive memory like a “library of scents”, made of smells you associate to people, places, travels, objects, food, moments of your life, etc. You can enrich this library by smelling fragrances in store or trying them on skin to live with them.
Some are fresher, some are more sensual, try to put words on what you smell to define the different sensations. Then repeat, repeat ceaselessly. Practice by smelling blind. Be spontaneous, say everything, feel free to write everything which comes to mind.
Time after time, you’ll have your own references and you’ll be able to classify fragrances by main themes, like woody, aromatic, citrus and ambrée. Memory. That’s the most important thing. You need to smell again and again and again the same thing and then mix it with other things and see how it changes.
Like cooking – you need to taste all the time to improve your palette and it’s the same with smell. I cannot say enough how important memory is, that act of memorising how something smells, what it means to you.’
‘It’s often just a matter of paying attention, be focused by the smells around you. And another thing is usually you notice the smell but it’s difficult to express about it, you need to know the words.’
‘The best thing to do to enhance our appreciation of fragrance is to smell it! The more you smell more you develop your sense of smell. Smelling raw materials is also a good way to improve your abilities. The key is to focus and concentrate on what you smell all the time: a fragrance, a smell in the street, food, etc.’
‘Smelling, smelling and smelling again. There is no secret, I think it is a matter of passion and patience. Perfumery involves a huge amount of knowledge – like learning the raw materials, the big accords, the historical fragrances…
To me it is like learning a language, it is not only learning words that allows you to speak, you have to understand the culture behind it and the history of the nation to become fully fluent.’
‘Curiosity is a good thing to explore and develop a person’s sense of smell. You have to not be afraid of smelling things you think you don’t like at first sight.’
‘The most important thing is that people become more aware of what a great sense smell actually is. Taste and sight always seem to come first and people aren’t so focused on their nose. What perfumers do is to close their eyes and focus on that one sense a lot – I mean all the time, not just at work. There are so many studies that say the nose is so closely linked to memories and images, it’s incredibly intense. But you have to explore it deeply.
When you smell something – lavender, a particular perfume, a cooking ingredient – you have to forget what it literally is and instead link it a personal feeling, whatever it makes you feel. The more you analyse those emotions and link that to personal feelings, the better you become at smelling more and memorising those smells. This is how we learn at perfumery school. It has to be personal or it has no meaning.’
‘To truly appreciate fragrance, embrace smelling. Take in the everyday scents, from morning coffee to your favourite dish. Give importance to your sense of smell; it’s a powerful memory trigger! Don’t underestimate its impact, it holds the key to unlocking vivid recollections and enhancing your overall sensory experience…’
Written by Suzy Nightingale
