Caroline Sabas: From Grasse Gardens to Global Fragrance Fame

Caroline Sabas embodies the perfect fusion of traditional French perfumery heritage and contemporary global vision. Born in Cannes and raised in Grasse, the historic heart of French fragrance, she literally grew up breathing the intoxicating aromas of jasmine, rose, mimosa, and honeysuckle that define the region. Her father's career as a perfumer meant she was "born into" this aromatic universe, developing her olfactory sensitivity from childhood.

Her formal education at ISIPCA in Versailles, followed by an apprenticeship at Chanel in Paris, provided the technical foundation for what would become a remarkable career. In 1997, she crossed the Atlantic to join Fragrance Resources in New York, before finding her creative home at Givaudan in 2003, where she now serves as Senior Perfumer.

Sabas describes herself as an emotional and passionate creator who crafts from pure feeling rather than formula. This approach has made her one of the industry's most versatile talents, working across mass market, prestige, celebrity, designer, and niche segments with equal skill. She deliberately resists being categorized, preferring to reinvent herself with each project, moving fluidly from classical to trendy, gentle to dramatic compositions.

Her creative process draws inspiration from music, food, nature, colors, and emotions. Like a chef or painter, she takes beautiful raw materials and crafts her own unique recipes. This emotional authenticity resonates in fragrances that transport wearers and evoke powerful memories.

Among Sabas's most celebrated works is You or Someone Like You for Etat Libre d'Orange, a collaboration with Chandler Burr that captures the essence of Los Angeles through fresh mint, green notes, and garden roses. This contemporary creation built around timeless materials showcases her ability to translate abstract concepts into compelling scent narratives.

Her work with luxury house Fragrance Du Bois demonstrates her mastery of oriental compositions, particularly in Oud Orange Intense, where she skillfully balances tropical fruits and coconut with precious oud and vanilla bourbon. This gourmand creation exemplifies her talent for making sophisticated ingredients accessible and wearable.

Sabas has achieved remarkable commercial success in the celebrity fragrance market, creating bestsellers for Britney Spears, Rihanna, and Jennifer Lopez. Her Nest New York Golden Nectar earned Fragrance of the Year honors at The Fragrance Foundation Awards in 2023, proving her continued relevance in contemporary perfumery.

Her preferred palette includes vetiver, ambrettolide musk, salicylates, and amber, which she describes as mysterious, resinous, and sensual. These materials appear throughout her diverse portfolio, creating subtle signature threads that connect her work across different brands and price points. Today, she continues pushing creative boundaries at Givaudan while traveling between New York, Paris, and São Paulo offices, staying connected to global fragrance trends and inspiring the next generation of perfumers.