Gowé, the scent of Africa
Gowé, a very popular plant in West Africa where it is valued for its healing properties as well as being burned like incense, has now joined the perfumer’s palette.
Perfume
De Laire bases: a 150-year revolution
The Smell Talk at Palais Brongniart during Paris Perfume Week dedicated to the de Laire bases attracted a crowd of over 150 visitors, keen to listen to Symrise perfumers Aliénor Massenet and Pascal Sillon recounting the bases’ long history – and get the chance to smell some of them.
Notes Shanghai: China’s fragrance moment
Everything moves fast in China, and the world of fragrance is no exception. Every six months in Shanghai, the Notes exhibition sees Chinese, Asian, and European brands set up shop to present their creations, welcoming very young houses alongside more established names. Here is a brief overview of this year’s early edition that ran from April 2 to 5, 2026, and is redrawing the market’s contours.
Technical expertise and creativity: applied research at Eurofragance
In an increasingly competitive market, fragrance houses are becoming ever more inventive in combining new technologies with hedonism. The Spanish company opens its doors to introduce us to its dedicated department, aptly named “Innovation To Market.”
Oakmoss: an exemplary case of IFRA’s role
Certain iconic ingredients had to receive use restrictions – by IFRA Standards, government regulations or both – such as oakmoss. What problems do this ingredients poses? How has it been regulated? Matthias Vey, IFRA Vice President of Scientific Affairs, looks at the history of their IFRA Standards.
The Incense Trade Route, by Sterenn Le Maguer-Gillon
What is the history of incense and its trade? That’s the question answered in this article, which traces the history of the “Incense Route” over several centuries, from its earliest beginnings to the inscription of the Dhofar region in the Sultanate of Oman as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
Naturals take centre stage with DSM-Firmenich
A year after the release of its book Grasse, de la fleur au parfum published by Gallimard, innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty DSM-Firmenich continues to ramp up its approach to naturals. An approach that aims to “use science to harness nature and enhance its riches.” Xavier Brochet, Global Head of Natural Product Innovation, tells us more.
Perfume as a way of life in the Middle East
Frankincense, bakhoor, attars: perfume is deeply rooted in Omani culture, starting with the Latin roots of the word, per fumum, meaning through smoke. The love of fragrances can be found throughout the Middle East, inextricably linked to how people see themselves and others, to their personal values, to the social rituals that unfold in daily life or at special occasions.
Scent, money, and ethics
Several scandals have hit the fragrance industry recently – while the word ethics is repeated over and over by the perfume brands. Maybe one of the keys lay in the fair remuneration of the first links in the chain? What seems obvious is yet far from being the rule. We offer an analysis of this burning issue, published in the last issue of Nez magazine.
Nez x GDR O3 – Smelling of roses
Did you know that a better understanding of the origin of the rose’s fragrance would pave the way for innovations both in cosmetics and pharmacy? This is, among other things, what the CNRS research engineer and member of the GDR O3 Benoît Boachon explained to us.
“The human adventure”, by Jean-Claude Ellena
Our day-to-day lives are being increasingly infiltrated by what is given the catchall name of artificial intelligence. Perfumers are no exception. So how does AI change our relationship with the creative process? Drawing on an historical analysis of his profession, Jean-Claude Ellena offers a review of these new technologies, often championed by the perfumery industry.
Nuts and cereals: the new tasty treats
Walnuts, hazelnuts, puffed rice and toasted granola are some of the all-new gourmand notes making their way into our bottles. Let’s take a look at their botany and history, as well as the latest releases featuring them, with Mane perfumer Mathilde Bijaoui and independent perfumer Anatole Lebreton.
Grasse, home-away-from-home for dsm-firmenich
Although dsm-firmenich is best known for its expertise in synthetic molecules, the composition house has been present in Grasse since 2007. It has gradually put down roots in the town, culminating in 2020 with the acquisition of Villa Botanica, a nature-rich haven open to perfumers and clients the following year. It is now releasing a book that tells the story of this journey and reveals the four-season symphony at the heart of the world’s perfume capital.
Bagatelle international contest: discovering the roses of tomorrow
The Bagatelle international new roses contest has been highlighting and honouring outstandingly beautiful and fragrant roses since 1907. Nez was one of the judges for the 116th edition alongside, among other jury members, Jeanne Bichet, an evaluator at Luzi. Let’s plunge our noses into the petals of tomorrow’s roses.
Mandy Aftel : “Joy from Jean Patou took me to exotic places in my imagination”
Some perfumes disappear as quickly as they appeared. And yet there are the perfumes that count, the ones that forever mark the life and career of a perfumer. Today, Mandy Aftel talks about Joy by Jean Patou, the scent her mother used to wear. An olfactory shock that inspired her vocation.
Perfuming music: Mane and Cercle team up for a series of immersive concerts
Cercle creates experiences and organises festivals and concerts that shine the spotlight on cultural and natural heritage with a fusion of music, aesthetics and showcasing artists and venues. Ugo Charron, Mane perfumer created its olfactory signature: Golden Hour scent will be diffused on 10 July in Geneva for a concert in front of Saint Pierre Cathedral.
Leather and perfume: skin to skin
In many ways, leather and perfumery have a similar history, always closely linked. Leather gloves have been perfumed since ancient times, although the profession of master glover-perfumer was not given formal status until much later. At the heart of the great perfumery classics, the leather accord is now making a strong comeback. Christine Nagel, in-house perfumer at Hermès, and Céline Perdriel, perfumer at Cosmo, take a closer look.
With La Fabrica, IFF explores new pathways for olfaction
Since 2002, IFF has multiplied the synergies between its perfumers, artists across disciplines and students from various art schools. The objective is twofold: give tomorrow’s designers chance to become well-versed in olfaction and to nourish the creativity of the company’s perfumers.
Tuberose, by LMR Naturals
On the occasion of the International Exhibition of Raw Materials for Perfumery (SIMPPAR) which will take place on May 31 and June 1 in Paris, we invite you to discover a series of articles originally published in the book From Plant to Essence – A World Tour of Fragrant Raw Materials. For the last leg of our journey, let’s embark for India, where LMR Naturals, IFF’s subsidiary for natural ingredients, has partnered with Nesso, a tuberose producer.
Vanilla, by Mane
On the occasion of the International Exhibition of Raw Materials
for Perfumery (SIMPPAR) which will take place in Paris, we
invite you to discover a series of articles originally published in the book From Plant to Essence – A World Tour of Fragrant Raw Materials.
Let’s find out more about the Malagasy vanilla bean grown by Floribis, with whom Mane has established a partnership since 2000.
