Céline Barel: French Perfumer Crafting Emotional Stories

Born in Grasse, the historic heart of French perfumery, Céline Barel grew up surrounded by the changing aromas of seasonal distillations. Her childhood in this fragrant city, combined with time spent in Morocco, shaped her adventurous approach to scent creation. What began as collecting perfume bottles as a child evolved into a passion that would redirect her entire career path.

After earning a Master's degree in Marketing and International Management, Barel discovered her true calling during an internship at Mane. This glimpse behind the scenes of fragrance creation led her to IFF, where she spent evenings studying raw materials while working in marketing by day. Her dedication paid off when she passed an internal competition to enter IFF's prestigious perfumery school program.

Barel's training took her across continents, from the Netherlands to New York, Paris, and back to Grasse. Under the mentorship of Pierre Wargny, creator of iconic fragrances like Drakkar Noir, she learned to create 'echo' in fragrances - making raw materials resonate harmoniously throughout a scent's development. This five-year journey transformed her from marketing professional to accomplished perfumer.

Her visual approach to perfumery sets her apart. Barel often sees fragrances in terms of colors, textures, and shapes before translating them into formulas. She draws 'olfactive systems' that define hero ingredients and surrounding notes, believing perfume should trigger synaesthesia and connect multiple senses.

Barel's portfolio spans prestigious brands from Aesop and Jo Malone London to Coach and Loewe. Her work demonstrates remarkable versatility, from fresh woody-citrus compositions to decadent oriental fragrances. She gravitates toward complex, opulent scents in the amber family and big white florals, yet challenges herself with unconventional materials and approaches.

Her recent creation Spice D'Arno for Electimuss exemplifies her storytelling approach. This pure parfum captures the rhythm of the Arno river through comforting spices, opening with smooth cardamom and balmy elemi before revealing creamy vanilla enveloped in warm myrrh and subtle oud. The fragrance demonstrates her ability to balance sweetness with complexity, creating what wearers describe as "a warm hug" that feels both safe and sophisticated.

Barel views herself as a novelist of scent, crafting fragrances that evoke deep emotions and memories. She embraces Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's philosophy that perfection comes from having nothing left to remove, not from endless additions. This minimalist yet refined approach results in compositions that feel effortless despite their complexity.

Her interdisciplinary collaborations reflect her innovative spirit. From olfactive operas with DJ Kid Koala to exhibitions with MoMA, Barel pushes perfumery beyond traditional boundaries. She's particularly drawn to working with "difficult" materials, taming their character to create unexpected beauty. Her use of magnolia leaf instead of flower in Aesop's Aurner, inspired by Nina Simone's music and Chinese poetry, showcases this fearless creativity.