What is a Perfume Expert, really?
In a world where anyone can add “perfume expert” to their bio, the true meaning of expertise is getting lost behind algorithms and confident hot takes.
From perfumers who’ve smelled thousands of raw materials to historians who have smelled Shalimar with civet, to critics who contextualize 2,000+ launches a year - real expertise is slow, layered, rigorous, and deeply human.
It’s chemistry and culture.
It’s history and intuition.
It’s communication and curiosity.
It’s experience.
It’s knowing what you don’t know.
The more we learn, the more the word “expert” regains its weight.
Until then, let’s celebrate the people who treat perfumery not as a trend… but as an art.
What does “expert” mean top insiders in the fragrance world? Contributing editor Ermano Picco tackles the question.