5 Questions With Sandra Lucas, Perfumer
What does it mean for you to have won the People’s Choice Award at the 3rd International Perfumery Contest Mouillette d’Argent?
At a personal level, it’s been really rewarding to receive the award. I put a lot of work and effort into the project. Also, the fact the award was chosen by the public makes it even more special. In the end, we want the public to like our creations, not just the industry experts.
Would you consider your creations more like art or science?
Actually, they go hand-in-hand. Perfumery is an art. Like everything in art, the idea comes first from a source of inspiration, something your imagination created (the evocation of a memory, a landscape, a person…) and then you get swept along with it. However, in the end, it always needs to be supported by science. Without science, perfumery as we know it today wouldn’t exist, nor would the variety and quality of materials we use.
What do you like best about working at Iberchem?
I would say the working environment, for two main reasons. First, the multiculturalism of the company enables you to work with colleagues from all over the world. It gives you the chance to travel and work on almost every continent. The second reason would be the cross-generational aspect of the company, with a team made of both young people in training and master perfumers with decades of experience under their belts. We also have the chance to rely on a very wide range of resources that really support research and continuous learning.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I clearly see myself as a perfumer. However, it will be interesting to see how my job will evolve until then. Over the past years, there has been so much progress in the sector. First in terms of raw materials. Our palette is constantly changing due to new launches or new regulations. Also, there has been significant progress in technology. Companies are now even using with artificial intelligence to create perfumes, something that would have been inconceivable only a couple of years ago. I think this could lead to new complementary opportunities in the creation process.
Do you change perfumes frequently? Is there one that you would consider a must-have?
I believe perfume is closely linked to someone’s personality. We use it to define ourselves. Each scent evokes different things we cherish. That’s why, even when I like a certain note and consider myself faithful to it, in the end, it might change all of a sudden depending on what’s going on in my life.
However, one that’s always in my repertoire and that I often go back to is Gucci Bloom. I love its floral notes and I’ve been using it since its launch and it reminds me of really good times.
