The exclusive ranks of Master Perfumers have expanded with the appointments of Marie Salamagne and Frank Voelkl.
The distinction is reserved for “a select group of fragrance creators whose careers, perseverance, character and impact have profoundly shaped contemporary perfumery,” said dsm-firmenich. The company had not named a new Master Perfumer in its Fine Fragrance division since 2016, making Salamagne and Voelkl the first to receive the title in nearly a decade.
According to dsm-firmenich, a Master Perfumer plays a pivotal role within a fragrance house: serving as a guardian of olfactive excellence, a master of the ingredient palette that they continuously explore, enrich and reinvent, a key driver of innovation at the intersection of science and creativity, and a mentor committed to nurturing and inspiring future generations of perfumers.
“Being named a Master Perfumer at dsm-firmenich is a rare distinction that recognizes exceptional talents whose creations combine artistic excellence with commercial success, generating some of the industry’s most significant fragrance achievements for brands around the world,” said Emmanuel Butstraen, President Perfumery & Beauty, dsm- firmenich.
“Marie and Frank truly embody what it means to be a Master Perfumer today: exceptional creativity, a deep mastery of our ingredient palette and a rare ability to advance the art of perfumery through a vision that is both bold and innovative,” added Jonathan Simon, President Global Fine Fragrance, dsm-firmenich.
In addition to Marie Salamagne and Frank Voelkl, the list of Master Perfumers at dsm-firmenich’s Fine Fragrance includes: Alberto Morillas, Olivier Cresp, Honorine Blanc and Nathalie Lorson.
Among Marie Salamagne’s most iconic creations let’s mention Aqua Allegory Mandarine Basilic (Guerlain), Beach Walk and By the Fireplace (Maison Margiela), History of Orange Trees (The Artisan Perfumer), Black Opium and Muse (Yves Saint Laurent), Malaquais silk (Dries Van Noten), Fame (Rabanne), Orange Marmalade (Jo Malone London), I Want Choo Le Parfum (Jimmy Choo), Flora Gorgeous Orchid (Gucci), Polo 67 (Ralph Lauren), and the recent blockbuster Paradigm (Prada).
As far as Frank Voelkl is concerned, his most celebrated creations are Gucci Bamboo (Gucci), Tuscan Leather Intense (Tom Ford), You, You Dream and You Doux (Glossier), Velvet Amber Sun (Dolce&Gabbana), Eternity Aromatic Essence for Men (Calvin Klein), Zephirine (Liberty LBTY), Mood Ring and Father Figure (Phlur), and White House (House of BŌ), for leading American niche fragrance brands. His celebrity fragrance portfolio has further expanded his reach, with creations for Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber and, more recently, Dwayne Johnson (“The Rock”) for his Papatui brand. His long-standing collaboration with Le Labo has resulted in nearly twenty fragrances, including the cult classic Santal 33alongside Black Tea 29, Matcha tea 26, Very 19 and Violette 30.
These appointments will be celebrated during a ceremony taking place on September 2026, in Paris, bringing together the perfumery community and dsm-firmenich.
