Fragrance and flavor company IFF paid homage to master perfumer Carlos Benaïm and marked the launch of his book Un Parcours en Parfums (A Journey in Fragrance), at an event in Paris last night.
IFF highlighted Benaïm’s contribution to the perfume industry over the past 50 years and his impressive fragrance legacy of more than 300 scents, including Polo by Ralph Lauren and Libre by Yves Saint Laurent (which he created with Anne Flipo).
IFF also highlighted the impact of Benaïm on the company, where the perfumer spent his entire career, his commitment to mentoring new fragrance talents and the importance he places on working with other perfumers.
“This evening is not just about the launch of a book. It’s the celebration of a journey, of a legacy and of a man who has marked perfumery for decades. Carlos, you are undoubtedly the master perfumer. There is your exceptional career, there are the masterpieces, but there is also your mentorship – you have accompanied so many perfumers with a rare generosity, ” commented Sabrya Meflah, IFF Fine Fragrance President.
She continued: “Your story at IFF is also ours. A story of creation, of course, but also a story of collaboration, transmission, and openness. You were the first to believe in collective perfumery, promoting teamwork across generations and cultures […] This book is much more than a personal story, it’s a mirror of what IFF has always embodied: Creative audacity, innovation, and a deep conviction that beauty is born from collaboration. Through this journey, you also recount that of IFF, a house that, thanks to pioneers like you, has been able to bring science and emotion into dialogue. For you, perfumery must be an open perfumery, where mentoring is a strength and where every voice counts.”
Talking about his past, Benaïm recounted the impression Tangier, Morocco, where he was born, left on him, how he fell into the world of perfumery almost by chance, and the influence of his pharmacist father, who created fragrant plant-based concoctions in his basement.
Benaïm also thanked the perfumers he has worked with over the years, the master perfumers who trained him and his employer IFF.
“I don’t want to talk to you about what I’ve done, but about what others have done for me. And I thank the fragrance brands that gave me the opportunity to reach so many people around the world,” Benaïm said.
Un Parcours en Parfums (A Journey in Fragrance) was written by Carlos Benaïm in collaboration with writer and journalist Denyse Beaulieu and was published by Nez.
The book tells the story of how Benaïm became a perfumer and his experiences in the US, and describes his creative processes and how he worked with major groups in the industry, including L’Oréal, Estée Lauder Companies and Puig. It also focuses on the importance he places on mentorship, and ends with advice for young perfumers.
