The best perfumers of all time

A trend that gained popularity primarily in the niche fragrance world at the beginning of the new millennium was the recognition of the hard-working people behind the creation of fragrances.

Perfume brands such as Frederic Malle , Serge Lutens and Amouage realized that with the promotion of their master perfumers they gave much more exclusivity to their products and in return, they gained more loyal customers.

These returning customers associate their favorite perfumes with perfumers' noses who pour talent, imagination and passion into a perfume bottle.

Although many of these names could be higher or lower on the list depending on your personal taste in fragrances, the first three names are arguably the best of the rest, the ones that shaped and formed everything that is classic and modern perfumery.

In case you want to know what perfumers do, here is a little more information for those who want to know more.

WHAT IS A PERFUMER?

The perfumer is a professional trained in the creation of fragrance compositions due to his skills, practices, sense of smell and art in the production of olfactory compositions. Each professional perfumer goes through an apprenticeship in fragrance schools that lasts about three years.

Thanks to the in-depth training and experience acquired, a perfumer is able to convey and identify unique and classic fragrance ingredients to compose abstract artistic concepts.

9. Pierre Bourdon

A brief biography about the perfumer : Pierre Bourdon is a perfumer who was the only student of Edmond Roudnitska* and inherited his precise perfume technique.

One of her most important achievements during her long career was the implementation of Roudnitska's mentality that perfumes are created as works of art.

Before deciding to pursue a career in perfumery, Pierre graduated in Political Science and in 1971 studied with Jean Carles at Roure Bertrand Dupont. He owns the Pierre Bourdon brand and previously worked with Takasago, Quest and Fragrance Resources.

Why is Pierre Bourdon one of the best perfumers in the world?

The creator of the first official aquatic fragrance for men - the nose behind Creed 's most popular fragrances - and a man who has also worked for different companies for high-end and commercial fragrance brands, Pierre has done it all.

Most of their most popular creations are part of our perfume collection. Although he has never created a perfume again, Pierre has left an indelible mark on the perfume industry and on perfume lovers around the world.

Outstanding works:

Creed Green Irish Tweed
Creed Millésime Imperial
Creed Spring Flower

6. Bertrand Duchaufour

A brief biography about the perfumer: Bertrand Duchaufour is a French perfumer with a rich career in perfumery spanning more than five decades.

His professional training began in 1985 in Grasse at Lautier Florasynth, he then spent a full decade at Créations Aromatiques and, after becoming an independent perfumer in 2008, he took on the role of in-house perfumer at L'Artisan Parfumeur.

Currently, Bertrand works for TechnicoFlor as a consultant. Duchaufour's style of combining light and dark notes, especially in her incense-based fragrances, has received significant critical acclaim. In 2017, Duchaufour was awarded Perfumer of the Year by the Russian FiFi Awards.

Why is Bertrand Duchaufour one of the best perfumers in the world?

Duchaufour is the kind of perfumer you either praise to the heavens and return or can't stand his mostly darker creations.

In our opinion, Bertrand has captured both the lightest and the darkest compositions in each creation, always adding a twist to avoid smelling like anything else.

Notable works:

Amouage Jubilation XXV
MDCI Parfums Chypre Palatin
Naomi Goodsir Corpus Equus

7. Alberto Morillas

Brief biography of the perfumer: Alberto Morillas is an award-winning (Prix François Coty in 2003) master perfumer from Seville (Spain) who currently works at the Swiss fragrance and aroma firm Firmenich.

At the age of ten he moved to Switzerland, where he later studied for two years at the Geneva School of Fine Arts and is the most successful self-taught perfumer in the world.

A perfumer with more than 7,000 creations whose inspiration comes from a combination of innovative natural techniques with groundbreaking synthetic molecules and life itself. Alberto is the creator of numerous best-selling men's and women's perfumes that shaped the fragrance industry into what it is today.

In 1997, together with his wife, Morillas founded the perfume brand Mizensir, which offers a line of scented candles and perfumes.

Why is Alberto Morillas one of the best perfumers in the world?

This master perfumer has contributed a lot to this hobby, and it is admirable to see how he transcended from being a self-taught chemist to the most popular and lovable perfumer among common people and perfume enthusiasts.

The perfume industry would not be the same if Alberto had never become what he was. He is, of course, one of the most talented people in this industry.

Featured works:

Initio Parfums Privés Blessed Baraka
Kilian Paris Can't stop loving you
Penhaligon's The tragedy of Lord George

5. Francis Kurkdjian

A brief biography about the perfumer: Francis Kurkdjian is a French perfumer and owner of Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris , which he founded with his partner Marc Chaya in 2009.

In addition to owning his own perfume brand, Francis Kurkdjian is also known for creating Le Male for Jean Paul Gaultier in 1995, which became one of the best-selling perfumes in the world, and has collaborated with over 45 different fragrance brands to date. the date.

In 2001 he received the Prix François Coty for his professional career and in 2008 he was named Knight of Arts and Letters.

Francis Kurkdjian is the current perfumer for Christian Dior.

Why is Francis Kurkdjian one of the best perfumers in the world?

Best known for creating Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male, which has become one of the best-selling perfumes in the world, and which was the first perfume he created, Francis currently owns the most popular niche fragrance brand in the world.

It could also be said that it is almost solely responsible for niche perfumery becoming a topic and an essential beauty product for a much broader audience. Not to mention that various celebrities also wear and promote MFK perfumes.

The house of MFK offers a variety of innovative fragrances that everyone should try, but we also recommend taking a look at some of their other fragrances, where their creativity aims high.

Featured works:

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir
Juliette has a gun Miss Charming
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau De Parfum

4. Jean-Claude Ellena

Brief biography of the perfumer: Jean-Claude Ellena is a French perfumer and writer who was born into a family of perfumers in Grasse (France) and from a very young age he collected jasmines with his grandmother to sell them to perfumers.

A long-time friend of the legendary Edmond Roudnitska*, he began his student and later professional career at a young age at the newly created Givaudan in 1968.

There, Ellena developed her minimalist approach to perfumery, preserved to this day, of softness, nothing shocking and a gentlemanly approach.

He is the founder of the niche luxury brand The Different Company, which he left in 2004 after being appointed in-house perfumer at Hermès, where he remained until 2016.

Why is Jean-Claude Ellena one of the best perfumers in the world?

Every time you want to feel strong, independent or like a true gentleman, choose one of Ellena's fragrances.

It's one of the rare gifts of perfumery when you discover that you don't always need complex, strong or bold fragrances to make a statement, and every Ellena fragrance achieves that.

Jean-Claude Ellena saved Hermès and put it in the position of top-rated designer fragrance brand alongside Chanel, Dior and Tom Ford .

Outstanding works:

Amouage Dia Woman
Perris Monte Carlo Rose de Mai
Frederic Malle Bigarade Concentree

2. Geza Schoen

Brief Perfumer Bio: Geza Schoen is a German perfumer known for his avant-garde and unconventional approach to fragrance creation. Geza's interest in perfumery began when he studied chemistry at the University of Heidelberg.

Geza's passion for perfumery has led him to collaborate with various brands and artists, such as Diesel, Ormonde Jayne and Clive Christian . He is best known for his Escentric Molecules brand, launched in 2006.

Geza has received numerous awards for her exceptional work in the perfumery sector.

Why is Geza Schoen one of the best perfumers in the world?

Geza's unique approach to perfumery has attracted a cult following and earned him a reputation as a rockstar of niche perfumery. His work is characterized by his willingness to work with cutting-edge synthetic ingredients and big ideas that challenge the norms of traditional perfumery.
Geza's passion for natural ingredients, his admiration for the perfumery of the 80s and 90s and his disdain for most new "niche" perfumes have made him an iconoclastic figure in the world of perfumery.

Notable works:

Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Man
Escentric Molecules Molecule 01
Clive Christian X for Men

1. Dominique Ropion

Brief biography of the perfumer: Dominique Ropion is a French master perfumer trained at Roure Bertrand Dupont (Givaudan) in Grasse.

A fearless perfectionist and true inventor who unashamedly takes risks in creating perfumes, Dominique's end results are always impeccable and a balance of taste and, as he likes to say: "A good perfume should always seem obvious."

Her awards include Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2012, Cosmetic Valley International Fragrance Award in 2008, Cosmetique Magazine Oscar in 2010, and in 2018, she received the title of Master Perfumer at IFF.

Dominique Ropion is considered one of the best and most technically progressive perfumers of all time and his perfume catalog includes more than 300 perfumes.

Why is Dominique Ropion one of the best perfumers in the world?

What exactly makes Ropion take the top spot? Is it his perfect balance of notes and chords, or perhaps his attention to detail like no other perfumer has?

Maybe, but the real reason we think it's the best nose of all time is that, outside of the perfume industry and fragrance enthusiasts, many may not know it by name, but rest assured that millions wear his perfume creations.

The man knows his job without entering the territory of pleasing the masses like Alberto Morillas does, which, in any case, is not bad either.

Notable works:

Nishane Hacivat Oud
Frederic Malle Portrait of a lady
Parfums by Marly Layton

Conclusion

And here you have it.

We hope you enjoyed this article and that you discover even more wonderful perfumes on your olfactory journey.

What are your favorite perfumes of all time? Tell us in the comments section below.

In case you have doubts about whether you should consider purchasing any fragrance, it is always good to take a look at " How to Find Your Scent: Part 1 " and " Part 2 ". This way, you can see if a particular fragrance is worth your time and potentially find your signature perfume.

* French master perfumer and author. He is known for creating perfumes such as Eau Sauvage and Diorissimo by Dior and Femme by Rochas. Many of his creations are still in production.