Today, our spotlight falls on Christine Nagel, the in-house perfumer of Hermès since 2014. In another life, Nagel would have been a midwife, but fate made it so that she turned out to be one of the world’s most renowned perfume artists out there. Let us take a look at her journey and find out what led her to where she is today.
From Geneva to Hermès
Born on October 7, 1959, Nagel grew up in Geneva, Switzerland. She began her academic journey studying medicine, wanting to become a midwife, but things didn’t quite go according to plan. She was more interested in subjects revolving around chemistry, which led her to grow an interest in perfumery.
After completing her studies in organic chemistry, Nagel started her career in the research department of Swiss fragrance firm Firmenich. There she met Alberto Morillas, who was her colleague at the time. She was fascinated by the emotional reactions his fragrance elicited and wanted to switch to the perfumery section, but her request was denied. This was because she didn’t have a background in perfumery to begin with. She didn’t quit on her dream. Instead, she switched to chromatography, where she became one of the few in the world trained to recognise ingredients using only her nose.
Nagel’s next destination was Italy, where she started her own business. Within a year, she held 60% of Italy’s perfume contracts, including work for Fendi and Versace. But she didn’t start creating designer perfumes until she moved to Paris in 1997.
Awards & Achievements
Nagel has been recognised with awards from the Fragrance Foundation France, the François Coty Foundation, and the Marie Claire International Fragrance Awards. She is also currently the only in-house perfumer for Hermès https://www.vperfumes.com/ae-en/brands/fendisince Jean-Claude Ellena, who had become the brand’s first house perfumer in 2004, retired in 2016.
Notable Creations
Armani Si
Si Eau de Parfum by Giorgio Armani is a chypre-fruity feminine fragrance. A sophisticated, balanced blend of vanilla, florals, and fruitiness. A versatile fragrance that you can wear to the office and your nighttime hangouts.
D&G The One
The One by Dolce & Gabbana is an amber floral fragrance for women. Its composition is very warm and sensual with a powdery vanilla trace. The vanilla and amber at the base ground the citrus and florals, which themselves help brighten the base notes.
Etat Libre d’orange Archives 69
Archives 69 by Etat Libre d’Orange is a unisex amber spicy fragrance with a unique blend of spicy, fruity, and balsamic aromas. In this composition, Christine Nagel offers a prismatic rendition of olabinum that splits the core incense resin into its constituent facets to create a new scent.
Find Christine Nagel’s fragrance creations and more at V Perfumes, your go-to perfume shop in Dubai. Shop at the best prices in the UAE and Gulf region and don’t miss out on exclusive offers online and in-store.
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