Women’s Role in Perfume: Celebrating the Female Perfumer

This month, we at Sniph will celebrate Women’s History Month, by recognizing and celebrating the female perfumers who have contributed so much to the world of perfume. Despite facing significant barriers to entry and discrimination throughout history, women have persevered and left an indelible mark on the perfume industry and continue to do so.

Perfume has been around for thousands of years, and throughout history, women have played a significant role in its creation. From ancient times when women used scented oils and herbs for rituals and beauty treatments, to the modern era when women are leading the charge in perfume innovation.

One of the most famous female perfumers in history is Coco Chanel. In 1921, she launched Chanel No. 5, a revolutionary scent that changed the perfume industry forever. The fragrance was designed to be an abstract scent and was inspired by Chanel’s desire to create a perfume that captured the essence of femininity. Since then, Chanel No. 5 has become a classic and remains one of the most iconic fragrances of all time.

Since then, many women have made significant contributions to the perfume industry and have shaped the industry through their innovative fragrances and creative vision.

For example, Amélie Bourgeois and Anne-Sophie Behagel, perfumers and co-founders of Flair perfumes who we proudly collaborate with at Sniph. The duo found each other through Monique Schlienger, with whom they did their apprenticeships. Today, they let their olfactory imagination run free and have found their own bold, artistic and innovative path in niche perfumery.

Another female perfumer who has made waves in the industry is Christine Nagel who has created several acclaimed fragrances for the luxury brand Hermès, including Twilly d’Hermès and Hermès Eau de Rhubarbe Écarlate.

These are just a few examples of the many women who have contributed to the perfume industry over the years. And while women have made significant progress in breaking down barriers and achieving success in this field, there is still much work to be done.

As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s take a moment to recognize and celebrate the female perfumers who have paved the way for future generations and continue to strive for a world where women are given equal opportunities to succeed in all areas of their lives.