Pascal Gaurin's fascination with scent began in childhood, when he would smell everything from foods and plants to furniture and earth. Growing up near the dark forests of Creuse in France, he developed a deep appreciation for dense natural essences, resins, and deep woods. A pivotal article on the perfume industry in Vogue magazine sparked his ambition, leading him to study at the prestigious ISIPCA perfumery school in Versailles.
Recruited by International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) shortly after graduation, Gaurin's career quickly took on a global dimension. His early posting in Hong Kong exposed him to Asian olfactory traditions, teaching him humility and a nuanced understanding of diverse cultural tastes. In 1997, he moved to New York, where he would rise to Vice President Senior Perfumer at IFF, creating fragrances for houses including Tom Ford, Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and By Kilian.
Gaurin's creative process is deeply influenced by music and film. He often conceptualizes a fragrance in musical terms before translating it into olfactory compositions, drawing energy from artists ranging from Radiohead to the Rolling Stones. This cinematic approach produces fragrances that tell stories through layered, emotionally resonant accords.
For Zoologist Perfumes, Gaurin composed
Seahorse, a delicate aquatic floral inspired by the gentle grace of these mythical-seeming creatures, weaving
cardamom,
tuberose, and
ambergris into a composition of oceanic elegance. He also created
Squid, an award-winning aromatic aquatic fragrance that captures the mysterious depths of the ocean with notes of
ink,
seaweed, and dark marine accords, winning The Fragrance Foundation Award for Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year in 2020.
