Emmanuelle Moeglin: Democratizing Perfumery Through Innovation

Emmanuelle Moeglin transformed her teenage fascination with perfume into a mission to make fragrance creation accessible to everyone. Born in France's Champagne region, she pursued chemistry before attending the prestigious ISIPCA in Versailles, where she honed her olfactory skills through internships at Givaudan and L'Oréal.

Her career path took her from Paris to New York, Barcelona, and finally London, where she worked as a fragrance evaluator and trend consultant for major houses including L'Oréal, Puig, and Symrise. This international experience shaped her understanding of global fragrance preferences and market gaps.

In 2015, Moeglin founded the Experimental Perfume Club in London, starting as an open-access perfume laboratory. Her vision was radical: strip away the mystery surrounding perfumery and teach consumers to understand their own scent preferences. This educational approach reflects her belief that fragrance knowledge shouldn't be exclusive to industry professionals.

Her signature style emphasizes minimalistic formulations with pure ingredients, drawing inspiration from masters like Jean-Claude Ellena. Moeglin frequently incorporates iris for its powdery, woody facets and ambroxan for smooth, amber-like qualities. Her fragrances like Velvet Incense showcase her ability to balance contrasts - sparkling bergamot with smoky frankincense and powdery iris.

Moeglin's Experimental Perfume Club "Layers" collection represents her innovative approach to fragrance. Each scent is designed for solo wear or blending, giving consumers creative control over their fragrance experience. Tonka Extraordinaire exemplifies this philosophy, combining nutty almond and tonka bean with resinous frankincense and myrrh for a comforting yet sophisticated gourmand.

Her woody compositions like Santal Nuit demonstrate her mastery of mineral-infused sandalwood paired with suede and vetiver, creating modern interpretations of classic themes. Black Nagarmotha showcases her skill with spices, blending cardamom, saffron, and cypriol roots for an earthy, campfire-like effect.

Moeglin's impact extends beyond fragrance creation. Her workshops consistently sell out months in advance, and her online academy provides foundational perfumery education to aspiring creators. She champions gender-neutral fragrances, encouraging wearers to choose scents based on personal preference rather than traditional categorizations.

The Experimental Perfume Club now operates a flagship store in Covent Garden and maintains partnerships with retailers like Harvey Nichols and Liberty. Moeglin's transparent approach and focus on consumer education represent a significant shift toward democratization in an industry traditionally shrouded in secrecy, establishing her as a pioneer in accessible luxury perfumery.