“Exposing The Perfumer” Article
May 9th, 2007
In May’s issue of Perfumer & Flavorist there’s an excellent article called “Exposing The Perfumer” by Michelle Krell Kydd (pages 38 - 44). One particular quote that stood out to me is by Jean Guichard, the perfumer of Givaudan, who said, “Perfumery can be compared to painting. There are some masterpieces that we appreciate more when they have been explained to us, when we understand the context, the historical climate, the idea and the personal life of the painter. It is the same for some “complicated” perfumes, such as chypre ones. Some perfumes are simpler to understand, like citrus or floral ones, but we can’t impose olfactive education - the interest needs to come from a person. We can try to introduce a module in school as it is true that children are very perceptive and interested in odors … we can educate their “noses” and help them to be more expert choosing their products later”.
I don’t know about you but I’d send my child to a school that teaches perfumery in a heartbeat. Wouldn’t that be, like, totally cool?
Entry Filed under: This and That
26 Comments Add your own
1. Bryan | May 9th, 2007 at 1:29 am
I’d enroll myself. : ) Ina, a request…may I have a way to contact you? I just have some questions/comments about previous posts, etc. I think you have my email from my posts. : )
2. Elle | May 9th, 2007 at 5:43 am
Like Bryan, I’d enroll in that school in a heartbeat. But, just imagine if schools did have perfumery classes like they have art classes - I’m betting we could wipe out the bland fruity floral trend in no time at all. Paris and Britney would have to turn to marketing signature underwear or something.
3. newproducts | May 9th, 2007 at 6:51 am
What a great analogy. I love to learn about the context, the history, and the idea behind a scent. It adds so much depth to my appreciation of a scent.
4. Fragrant Funster | May 9th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Would love a perfume art class….my idea of paradise really. I’d pretend to be a kid just to get in.
That being said, I can also think of fragrances that are the equivalent of Thomas Kinkade “art”….. or Elvis on Velvet. Though the latter tend to be more amusing in their outre-ness than anything else.
5. Judith | May 9th, 2007 at 7:26 am
This is a great analogy. I teach older literature, and I have found that many students initially dislike something they perceive as difficult or different. But frequently someone will tell me, “I didn’t like this play before we discussed it, but now I think it’s really fascinating ” I think a perfume/smell class is would be wonderful–and who knows, it may be coming: there are already academic, cultural studies texts on the subject (The Smell Culture Reader).
6. Marina | May 9th, 2007 at 8:51 am
It would, like, be totally cool. I’d sign up T. for such a school, like, immediately. can I dream abotu who the teachers will be?
Roucel, of course, Ropion (this is a very prestigious school, see)…*dreams*
7. violetnoir | May 9th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Absolutely, Ina!
I sometimes wish I had majored in chemistry in college. If I had, maybe I would be creating fragrances.
Hugs!
8. Teri | May 9th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
….and just imagine the field trips!
9. Abigail | May 9th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
My second or third thought was similar to Fragrant Funster - what if the teacher really likes the Kinkade’s of the fragrance world?
Though I am a huge fan of using all the senses for education - wouldn’t it be fun to sniff some perfumes as part of a history class or chemistry class? I bet it would help some students remember the facts better.
10. winterwheat | May 9th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
ITA. I think more people would end up liking CdG scents that way, and I wouldn’t feel alone.
11. Fragrant Funster | May 9th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Abigail it totally agree, scent is such a part of history especially. I used to be in an 1600’s historical reenactiment group and when we went to events I had a whole cooking schtick that I did as educational demo…. but perhaps the coolest moment was when I had a blind visitor to the camp and I did the foodways demo almost all by smell, freshly ground spices like mace and cardamom and cinnamon, the smell of gin from juniper berries, rosewater, bread and beer and the similiarity; that sort of thing.
Really one of the finest days I have ever had.
12. Ina | May 9th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Bryan, you can contact me through aromascope at gmail dot com (it’s also on my About Me page).
13. Ina | May 9th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Elle, if that ever happens (which I really hope will!), I’d simply be beyond myself with excitement. As for Britney and Paris, they’d actually be great at marketing lack of underwear.
14. Ina | May 9th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Minsun, doesn’t it? I didn’t used to love classics as much as I do now simply because I didn’t get them. I could use this quote as a plea for people to not dismiss complex scents or anything that might be considered old-fashioned!
15. Ina | May 9th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Funster, curious to know which scents you’re talking about.
I’m totally with you on Thomas Kinkade, though. *shudder*
16. Ina | May 9th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Judith, exactly! I had the same experience in high school, when literature was too hard for me simply because, in all the previous years, we were never encouraged to understand or question anything we read (Soviet times). Once more open discussions occurred, I became a total addict.
17. Ina | May 9th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Marina, yes, of course! We’d also have Mr Sheldrake and Francis Kurkdjian! Ah, Francis…
18. Ina | May 9th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Robin, I often wish I knew even the basic chemistry to understand perfumes better. Sadly, the way it was taught in my school was deplorable.
19. Ina | May 9th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Teri, oh my word! *fans herself*
20. Ina | May 9th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Abigail, I just hope the curriculum will be versatile enough to include all kinds of scents, even the darn fruity florals, just for education (and discernment!) purposes.
21. Ina | May 9th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Kris, absolutely! Or Dinner By Bobo.
22. Ina | May 9th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Funster, how awesome! After all, we do use the visual aids. Why not utilize all the senses? Only logical.
23. Fragrant Funster | May 10th, 2007 at 6:14 am
Ina,
For where I live, “odder scents” mean anything with more spine that the generic fruity floral bbw spray. I mean, this is a town where the Nordstroms Fragrance SAs have never heard of even Comptoir Sud Pacifique which is not odd at all. Where Nordies just recently pulled ALL their Goutals…which are not odd at all either - to replace it with tres minimalist display of a few Flowerbomb boxes in that corner display unit.
My town needs fragrance education in the most desperate way. We don’t even have a Sephora though we are the largest metropolitan area in Virginia proper (not counting the DC suburbs)
sighhhhhh
24. annE | May 10th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
That is such a great idea! I volunteer to be “teacher’s helper”!
25. Ina | May 10th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Funster, ah, I know whereof you speak. I used to live in MN where BBW scents were pretty much standard wear. That or Victoria’s Secret range. Luckily, that has changed quite a bit, with another Sephora opening at the Mall of America, and, of course, the wonderful Cherie Boutique in Wayzata.
26. Ina | May 10th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
AnnE, I hereby enroll you!
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