Just after the announcement of the new board of the American Society of Perfumers (‘ASP’), I had the honor to be able to interview its main actor, his newly elected president, Roger Howell. He reveals a magnetic preview of the story, a unique new chapter in perfumery. One can only be curious about the upcoming performance of an American craftsman in fragrance.

A unique new chapter in the American Society of Perfumers.

When one interviews a key opinion leader, the starting point is usually an official bio. In the case of Roger Howell [RH], I [LAK] wanted to start with a personal question before engaging with his corporate work and then focusing on his new function of President of the ASP. Like an early-mid-current life description, or a top-mid-base notes for a perfume composition. A short snap-summary of his life in perfumery.

The Life of an American craftsman in fragrance.

LAK: Where are you from in the US? What triggered your passion for perfumes?

RH: I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. When I got started in the fragrance industry, I thought fragrances were only in perfumes. Once I learned how vast the industry is, that triggered my passion to become a perfumer. I decided to go for it when an opportunity was presented to me allowing me to work in California.

LAK: Can you sum up your growth path from junior to chief perfumer?

RH: As a junior perfumer, the projects are fairly simple, allowing you to learn the basics and build profiles. During the transition to becoming a chief perfumer, I had to know how to create more complex fragrances, allowing me to not only flex my creativity in my formulations but also rely upon my foundational knowledge from training.

LAK: What do you think is the most challenging aspect of the job?

RH: The most challenging aspect to being a perfumer, which I’m sure is becoming more of a common answer than ever before, is the evolving regulatory landscape – and time. In terms of the evolving regulatory landscape, perfumers must constantly evaluate their palette of materials to ensure they are up to current regulation protocols – which can vary by region, state and country. These changes can impact what a perfumer can use and even the amount of material within the formulation. When it comes to time – perfumers have tight deadlines, which means little time for reformulating if an ingredient is no longer regulatory-approved or the brief changes.

LAK: As a chief perfumer, what are your main formulations and favorite ingredients?

RH: My primary formulations were fine fragrances. One of my favourite ingredients is polycyclic musk – it’s versatile across fragrance categories, offers long-lasting diffusion and is known for offering a clean, soft, sweet muskiness.

LAK: From your perspective, how does innovation happen? What fosters it?

RH: Innovation is a dynamic process shaped by creative thinking, experimentation, and problem-solving. In my opinion,

Elected President of the ASP. Leading and Shaping a New Direction.

In May 2025, the American Society of Perfumers announced the election of a new president, Roger Howell, as well as all the board members* for a new mandate of two years for the period 2025-2026.

Let me pause here in order to explain the foundation of the ASP, its mission, current composition and new mission.

The ASP is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 that counts around two hundred members today. To become a member, one must be a perfumer based in the US. There are five types of membership varying from full - apprentice - guest - honorary - and life members. The organization is active in the US but also represents its members internationally by hosting and sponsoring major international events such as the World Perfumery Congress, a bi-annual networking event that connects the global fragrance community. This is one of the three pillars of the ASP, to promote its members through important and visible events. The organization also educates its members by offering perfumery courses, on a variety of topics in particular ingredients but also functional categories such as fine fragrance, personal care, air care, and household. Education is indeed the second pillar of the ASP. The third pillar is about promoting its members through apprenticeships and mentorship, in order to keep the standards of perfumery excellence high.

*Co-Vice Presidents, Paula Kundu (Senior Perfumer, International Aromatics), Delphine Perdon Rupnow (Perfumer, Bell Flavors and Fragrances); Chairman, James Krivda (Senior Perfumer, Robertet); Secretary, Lionel Nesbitt (Senior Perfumer, Berjé); Treasurer, John Gamba (Senior Perfumer, Givaudan).

LAK: As newly elected president can you tell us how does the election function and how well do you know the other board members?

RH: All members of the American Society of Perfumers receive a ballot, allowing them to either nominate a member in good standing or vote for one of the candidates listed on the ballot. Over the years, I have been involved one way or another with most of the board members.

LAK: Given how important being a member is, how many members are they in the ASP? How does the ASP differ from other perfume societies?

RH: There are currently 174 active members. What sets us apart is that membership is exclusive to perfumers—we don’t extend membership to other professionals in the fragrance industry.

LAK: So now that you embark on your mission, how do you envision your presidential term?

RH: I’m excited to encourage greater member engagement and involvement. I see the American Society of Perfumers continuing to grow and thrive as a dynamic, successful community of professionals.

LAK: How are you going to lead the organization in this new direction?

RH: Our vision is to revolve around the three pillars: Educate, Promote, and Support. We want to provide valuable resources, such as mentorship and training opportunities to apprentice perfumers.

The ASP is deeply committed to education, as we recognize that knowledge and skill are crucial to nurturing and mentoring the next generation of perfumers. We will achieve the pillar of education through workshops, scholarships, and mentorship. We collaborate with educational institutions like Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) to integrate perfumery.

Promoting the craft of perfumery is the second essential pillar to ASP's mission. It consists of having perfumers receive the visibility and recognition they deserve for the work accomplished. This is done by having industry events for awards and recognitions and we also network with other industry organizations.

Support, the last pillar of our organization, represents our commitment to fostering a strong sense of community and camaraderie within the fragrance industry. Through networking events and social gatherings, we create meaningful connections—especially by pairing, emerging perfumers with experienced mentors who can guide and inspire their professional journey.

LAK: What are your upcoming initiatives for the ASP?

RH: The current focus is on the return of the World Perfumery Congress. We want the 2026 edition to be the most successful version of the event to date. As a nonprofit organization, we want the core message to be about uniting the global fragrance industry and fostering community through education.

LAK: What can be expected at the WPC 2026 edition, specifically regarding the location?

RH: The World Perfumery Congress will take place in Monterey, California, from June 23–26, 2026. Monterey provides an inspiring setting for the global fragrance community to gather and envision the future of our industry. With its breathtaking landscapes and walkable city setting, the location offers an accessible exploration and simple networking for attendees and exhibitors alike. There is a beautiful outdoor opening reception scheduled to kick off the event, and an interactive, soon-to-be announced location for the closing reception…

LAK: I noticed there is a brand-new logo for the WPC, can you tell us about the reason for the change?

RH: As part of our initiative to revamp the World Perfumery Congress’ look and feel, we knew that we had to incorporate a refreshed logo. We are working with Noted Communications LLC to assist our efforts in marketing and communications for the upcoming event. The logo exemplifies the vision for the future of the World Perfumery Congress while staying true to its legacy within the industry. We are also planning to launch a new World Perfumery Congress website that will showcase the 2026 edition's theme, registration information and much more.

LAK: More specifically, during the WPC what kind of conferences will be held and how many?

RH: Attendees can look forward to a thoughtfully curated program featuring 12 dynamic conference sessions. These will showcase innovative brands and perfumers at every stage of their careers, sharing insights into the latest trends, technologies, and their own inspiring journeys in fragrance. The expo hall will display a rich array of raw materials, cutting-edge fragrance technologies, and interactive activations. The focus is on innovation as we want to provide attendees with new tools for their next fragrance breakthrough. We aim to spark creativity, to push it even further.

My take on the ASP: Perfumer Membership. In the name of the Finest Craftsmanship.

The American Society of Perfumers is truly special. It is a community full of energy, with this unique American spirit of a new frontier, of wide-open spaces. It does not compromise on excellence, with a high ambition on the ‘fragrance performance’s front. Under the direction of the talented president Roger Howell, there is a high level of anticipation for future innovation, perfumer education, and human connection.