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1. A perfumer is a person who creates fragrances for household
products, toiletries, cosmetics, and fragrances.
2. A fragrance in its most basic molecular form is made of
carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur. An average
fragrance has 60 to 100 ingredients; more complex aromas can
have as many as 300.
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| 3. Most perfumers start their apprenticeships
at around the age of 18 or 20. Their studies can take up to
20 years in order to become a master perfumer. Some perfumers
study chemistry, but traditionally they are trained "in-house"
within a perfume "house" or company. The ISIPCA, Institut
Superieur International du Parfum, de la Cosmetique et de l'Aromatique
Alimentaire, a world renowned school in Versailles, France,
trains many of the most talented perfumers. In the United States,
the American Society of Perfumers' goal is to encourage the
art and science of perfumery. Most perfumers never acquire wealth
or recognition due to the fact that there are millions of combinations
of scents, but only a few are widely accepted by the public
as wearable fragrances. |
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4. Incomes range widely for perfumers, as their success depends
on their talent. An average perfumer starting out would earn
about $65,000 per year.
5. Most perfumers have labs where they work and store their
materials. Most perfumers work for houses, or perfume companies.
Master perfumers may branch off and open their own house.
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6. There are between 400 to 500 perfumers in the world. A
well-trained perfumer is a priceless commodity to a company
that manufactures household products or cosmetics. About half
of the perfumers work in the United States. That means that
there is one perfumer out of every million Americans. Jobs
are available in this field, but becoming a perfumer is difficult
with much education and a discriminating sense of smell required.
A perfumer tests a new scent.
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