Perfumer
Gabriela Chelariu
Gabriela Chelariu is a well-known perfumer currently associated with Firmenich, one of the leading companies in fragrances and flavours in the world. She was born and grew up in a small town in Romania, where the changing seasons and the scents of nature inspired her to pursue a career in perfumery. As she recalls: “Spring was a mix of the freshness of persistent snow, with new shoots of vegetation and damp earth. In June, the lime blossom was in bloom; I knew summer was coming. And in winter, I remember my mother’s scent when she came back from the cold: musky and fresh”.
After studying to become a pharmacist, Gabriela’s introduction to the fragrance industry came during her final year of studies, when she worked in a research laboratory for aromatic chemical products and then visited Grasse. It was there that she truly understood the role of a perfumer and knew it would be the job of her life. Gabriela’s connection to nature remains constant and her childhood memories continue to influence her creativity. As she says: “My education still informs the way I create. My first olfactory memories remain powerful”.
Gabriela has worked with numerous well-known brands over the years, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Allsaints, Avon, Bath & Body Works, Calvin Klein, Escada, Guess, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Kors, Nest, Ralph Lauren, Rituals and Victoria's Secret, among many others. She feels very proud of her work and considers it a privilege to have the opportunity to create fragrances that touch people’s lives. “Connecting my past with my present and using these memories to touch people’s lives with my creations is a supreme privilege,” she states.
With her talent, experience and dedication to her craft, Gabriela Chelariu has become a highly respected perfumer and a leading figure in the fragrance industry. Her ability to translate her childhood memories into fragrances that evoke emotions and memories in others has made her an invaluable asset to the companies she works with and a highly sought-after talent in the world of perfumery.
