Step into the World's Largest Private Perfume House, with Firmenich’s Frank Voelkl

Since starting out in the early 90s, Frank has brought to life some of the most beloved fragrances of our time. Nowadays he’s best known as the creator of Le Labo’s Santal 33. His portfolio goes on to include collaborations with Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Jason Wu, and Ariana Grande. He’s been prolific in crafting scents that, in his own words, “evoke a profound emotional connection with the power to elicit pure, unadulterated happiness.”In this episode, Frank sits down with Brittney Jackson Moseley, who runs integrated marketing at Scentbird. They explore three areas that are shaping the future of fragrance: sustainability, artificial intelligence, and gender. Frank shares what it takes to become a great perfumer and takes us back to where it all began, his uncle’s farm in Germany, and all the smells that surrounded him.Highlights:The first time Frank felt like he was officially a perfumerEarly scent memories at Frank’s family farm in GermanyFrank’s first exposure to fragrance in Paris in the late 70s/early 80sAttending ISIPCA, a leading perfumery school in VersaillesThe intense training it takes to become a perfumerWhat it felt like to join an industry leader like FirmenichInner Workings: How perfumers work, from idea to the bottle90% of your fragrance creations never get to marketAn inside look into the fragrance development processAfter thousands of trials, how you know a fragrance is doneWhy the best fragrances contain some imperfectionsThe role of fragrance in our lives, beyond seductionScent Spotlight: Glossier You by Glossier, Red Wood by Nomenclature, Bois by CommodityCollaborating with Dora Baghriche and Emily Weiss to create Glossier YouUsing molecules and growing patchouli in a lab as the main ingredient for a fragranceShaping the future of fragrance: sustainability, gender, and AIHarry Fremont’s view on AI in perfumeryWhat Frank would say to his younger self about his journey as a perfumerFeatured Fragrances:Glossier You by GlossierRed Wood by NomenclatureBois by CommoditySoak in all of our audio and video content at https://podcast.scentbird.com.