Fredrik Dalman: Swedish Perfumer Bridging Nordic Heritage & Niche Artistry

Fredrik Dalman's path to perfumery began in the historic Swedish city of Uppsala, where childhood memories of sage sausage and steam engine trains first awakened his fascination with scent. This early olfactory curiosity led him through journalism studies and sommelier training before finding his true calling in fragrance creation.

His professional journey took him from the perfume counters of Harrods in London to the prestigious Grasse Institute of Perfumery in southern France. There, surrounded by students from around the world, Dalman discovered how different cultures perceive scent and began developing his unique approach to fragrance storytelling.

The turning point came during his apprenticeship under master perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour, who taught him to truly "see" a scent and capture its soul. This mentorship led to his role as Junior Perfumer at Accords et Parfums in Cabris, founded by the legendary Edmond Roudnitska. It was in Roudnitska's gardens that Dalman met Jeroen Oude Sogtoen, setting the stage for his most significant career move.

Following Mona di Orio's passing in 2011, Dalman was chosen to continue the house's olfactory legacy as their in-house perfumer. Rather than copying di Orio's style, he respects her values while introducing his own Nordic-influenced aesthetic, creating fragrances that challenge conventional expectations and tell compelling stories through scent.

Dalman's approach to perfumery centers on translating sensorial concepts like texture, color, temperature, and light into fragrance. His background as a sommelier deeply influences his appreciation for raw materials and nature's offerings, while his Scandinavian roots add subtle Nordic touches to his compositions.

For Maison Mona di Orio, Dalman has created notable fragrances including Myrrh Casati, Bohea Bohème, Dõjima, and Santal Nabataea. Each composition reflects his ability to weave stories through scent, such as Santal Nabataea's inspiration from the ancient city of Petra and sunlight on sandstone.

His collaboration with Thomas De Monaco resulted in Raw Gold, a three-year project that captures the spirit of the late 1960s and early 1970s. This bold, leathery amber fragrance opens with davana and unfolds through cedarwood, orris, and patchouli before settling into a base of vanilla, saffron, and benzoin. The result is a vintage-modern scent that oscillates between innocence and temptation.

In 2023, Dalman and Oude Sogtoen launched Pantomime Parfum, exploring a new olfactory language aimed at expressing emotions without words. This venture represents his continued commitment to innovation and his belief in challenging the conventional while maintaining the highest quality standards in raw materials and craftsmanship.