Carine Certain Boin: French Perfumer Creating Magic Through Scent

Carine Certain Boin discovered her passion for fragrance at an early age, viewing perfume as something truly magical that could inspire fantasies and bring immense pleasure. This childhood fascination led her to pursue formal training at the prestigious Givaudan Perfumery School, where she graduated in 2012 and began her journey as a professional perfumer.

For over a decade, Certain Boin has been creating fragrances at Givaudan, currently based in New York City. She describes perfumers as "magicians of aromas," a philosophy that permeates her work and approach to scent creation. Her fragrances are characterized by unexpected contrasts between delicacy and strength, exploring diverse territories from the sensuality of woods to the warmth of spices and the nuanced beauty of florals.

Her creative process draws inspiration from nature, personal experiences, and the transformative power of fragrance. As a dancer and yoga practitioner, she brings positive energy to her work that colleagues say is reflected in her creations. Certain Boin believes that even seemingly simple compositions can develop remarkable complexity on the skin, revealing new facets over time.

The perfumer has collaborated with an impressive range of international brands, from Australian niche house Goldfield & Banks to established names like Adidas, Fragonard, and Desigual. Her versatility shines through her ability to interpret diverse creative briefs while maintaining her distinctive style that balances freshness with depth.

Among Certain Boin's most celebrated works is Bohemian Lime for Goldfield & Banks, where she masterfully contrasted the sparkling freshness of Australian finger lime with the sensual warmth of sandalwood. This fragrance exemplifies her talent for creating unexpected harmonies between bright citrus and grounding woods, resulting in a composition that feels both invigorating and sophisticated.

Her collaboration on Pacific Rock Moss showcases another facet of her artistry, where marine notes blend with aromatic essences to evoke the experience of coastal walks on perfect summer days. The fragrance demonstrates her skill in creating evocative, almost cinematic scent experiences that transport wearers to specific places and moments.

Certain Boin's work with The Merchant of Venice on Rosa Turchia reveals her approach to florals, aiming to capture the essence of a freshly picked rose from a May garden - delicate yet opulent, innocent yet bewitching. She has been involved in contemporary trends toward brighter, more luminous white florals that reduce traditional indolic elements to create garden-fresh impressions.

Her portfolio spans multiple fragrance families and markets, from the immortelle-focused Mon Immortelle for Fragonard to the sensual Peau de Bête for Liquides Imaginaires. This diversity demonstrates her ability to work across different olfactory territories while maintaining her signature style of contrasting elements that create memorable, emotionally resonant fragrances.