There are a variety of paths to becoming a perfumer. Some people begin their careers by earning related degrees, while others begin as perfume trainees. A person could even begin by creating his own concoctions at home and selling them through a home-based business. Before becoming successful in this business, most people spend a significant amount of time learning about perfumery and training under other perfumers. Those who succeed quickly in this field frequently do so because they have well-known family contacts in the industry or a well-known name to promote their new perfumes.
The most important task for those aspiring to be perfumers is to develop a good sense of smell. In this field, a person’s sense of smell is developed beyond what is normal for most people. Some perfumers claim to be able to smell over 1,000 different ingredients with just their noses. A perfumer must have the ability to combine scents in a pleasing manner in addition to being able to recognize them. In fact, this frequently includes using odors that most people dislike, such as skunk musk, to create perfumes that people will pay a lot of money to wear.
Some aspiring perfumers attend perfumery school to learn the trade. They could enroll in schools that specialize in perfumery, for example. Others who are interested in this field pursue chemistry degrees, which can be useful when combining different types of chemicals to create scents. While education is beneficial, it is not a strict requirement for someone who wants to work as a perfumer. Some perfume companies also provide in-house training.
Obtaining an entry-level position with a perfume company is one of the most common paths to becoming a perfumer. A person could begin as a trainee and work their way up to becoming a perfumer for a major corporation. This frequently necessitates several years of education.
Some people choose to enter the world of perfumery by mixing and creating fragrances at home, without the help of a school or a perfume company. In order to do so, they can learn about perfuming from books and websites. This is typically a harder route toward success as a perfumer, but may be useful for a hobbyist or a small business hoping to appeal to a niche market. It is, however, not impossible to create a popular perfume at home.