Perfumer
Jérôme Epinette
Jérôme Epinette is a renowned French perfumer, known for his work with several high-profile fragrance houses such as Byredo, Atelier Cologne, Frapin and Olfactive Studio, among others. He was born and grew up in Burgundy, a famous wine-growing region of France, and developed a passion for the complexities of winemaking from an early age. However, he also had a strong interest in perfumery, which led him to pursue a career in this field.
After obtaining a Master’s degree in Biochemistry at the University of Burgundy in Dijon, France, Epinette attended the Grasse Institute of Perfumery in Grasse, where he honed his skills in the art of creating fragrances. In 2003, he joined the Paris office of Robertet, a leading company in fragrances and flavours, and was part of the team that launched the New York Creative Center in 2006. He currently lives and works in New York City.
Epinette has gained recognition for his use of natural ingredients of exceptional quality, which he blends elegantly with the finest synthetics to create unique and captivating fragrances. He has designed numerous bestselling perfumes acclaimed by critics for brands ranging from commercial giants such as Victoria’s Secret and L’Occitane en Provence to niche references such as Atelier Cologne and the Decennial line of Luckyscent. However, he is perhaps best known for his collaboration with Olivia Giacobetti and Ben Gorham in the creation of the successful Byredo line, where he personally designed most of the fragrances.
Epinette’s talent has earned him a reputation as one of the most sought-after noses in the industry, and several fragrance houses have approached him to create their signature scents. Recently, he dedicated his talent to the fragrance house Floral Street, which describes itself as "emerging", where he created the fragrance Electric Rhubarb in collaboration with the Chelsea Flower Show.
Epinette’s approach to fragrance creation is characterised by his attention to detail, his use of mood boards, and the importance he places on monitoring the perfume’s development on the skin. He has a distinctive style marked by the use of patchouli and sandalwood, which he mixes in different ways to create a unique olfactory experience.
