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Perfume expert Roja Dove and master perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud are to deliver much-awaited keynotes at the new Next in Fragrance conference at the Beautyworld Middle East trade show taking place in Dubai from October 27-29.
The inaugural Next in Fragrance is described as a first-of-its-kind conference dedicated to the future of scent.
Show organizers say that the presence of Roja Dove, a fragrance expert and Global Ambassador for the GREAT Britain campaign, and Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, who is widely celebrated as the “master tailor of scent”, underscores the weight of the programme and its ambition to redefine how fragrance is discussed, created and experienced.
Dove’s keynote on Day 1 will explore the future of fine fragrance and the role of craftsmanship in a digital-first world. On Day 3, Cavallier-Belletrud will take the stage for ‘A Master’s Journey: In Conversation with Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud’. In this keynote, he will reflect on his career, the evolution of luxury fragrance and the responsibilities of creating scents that resonate globally.
This is a conference made for the global fragrance community, and we cannot wait to see it come alive in Dubai
Ravi Ramchandni, Show Manager, Beautyworld Middle East
“Next in Fragrance is unlike anything seen before in the fragrance world. To have two icons – Jacques Cavallier and Roja Dove – lead this programme makes it truly unmissable. Beautyworld Middle East is proud to host a global-first initiative that celebrates creativity, innovation and the universal power of scent,” explains Ravi Ramchandni, Show Manager, Beautyworld Middle East. “This is a conference made for the global fragrance community, and we cannot wait to see it come alive in Dubai,” he adds.
70 speakers, 30 sessions
More than 70 international speakers will take part in 30 sessions over the three-day event to discuss a wide range of subjects, from ingredient innovation and sustainability, to olfactory branding, Gen AI-driven creation, and the rise of new consumer markets.
Speakers include: Alex Wiltschko (Osmo), Mohamed Hilal (Mohamed Hila Group), Veronique Gabai (Veronique Gabai Luxury Products), Ghassan Hajjaj, Fragrance Spokesperson, L’Oréal LUXE and Darine El Sabbagh, General Manager E-commerce & Omnichannel, Chalhoub Group. Together, they bring perspectives from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas, making Next in Fragrance a global meeting point for industry leaders.
The sessions are in the form of panels, masterclasses and unplugged conversations. Highlights include: ‘The Future Smells Different: Driving Innovation in Fragrance’, ‘Perfumers Talk: The Story Behind the Scent’, and ‘Fragrance Passports: Brazil and the USA’.
The programme also features a session called ‘From Lab to Launch: Creating and Marketing Disruptive Alcohol-Free Perfume Products’, spotlighting the fast-emerging shift toward alcohol-free fragrances. This issue is in line with growing consumer demand for gentle, skin-nourishing formulations.
This trend was underlined by Mintel’s “skinification of fragrance” insight, showing a 200% increase in launches suitable for sensitive skin between 2020 and 2025. Driven by growing ingredient awareness, this niche is expanding fast, led by brands such as Bella Hadid’s Orebella, which pioneers alcohol-free, dermatologically tested perfumes designed to hydrate and protect, while offering a refined sensory experience.
Next in Fragrance will be held from October 27-29 in Zabeel Hall 3 at the Dubai World Trade Centre during the Beautyworld Middle East trade show.