A Perfume Experience describes a fully immersive perfume event, for when you want a rounded olfactory experience that teams your love of perfume with a physical and emotional adventure. Don’t forget the added bonus of meeting like-minded perfume enthusiasts along the way! From studios to labs. museums, meet ups and walking tours, as a perfume lover, you will never walk alone.
Our virtual visit today is The Olfactory Art Studio. It’s well established that scent can trigger neurological reactions and can have positive effects on both mood and memory, as well as the other four senses: touch, taste, sight and hearing. I wanted to dig deeper, so I spoke to Gabriel de Carvalho, founder and perfumer at The Olfactory Art Studio. Gabriel took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few of my nosy questions (pun intended).
Gabriel, What inspired you to establish The Olfactory Art Studio?
I’m a strong believer that fragrance is not merely a personal accent to your outfit or occasion but an immersive medium capable of evoking emotions, provoking thought, and transforming sensory experiences. The Olfactory Art Studio is a 360-degree embrace of that concept.
What’s your background?
Beyond my role as a perfumer, I am also an olfactory artist. My journey through fragrance has been enriched by a diverse tapestry of global cultures, the arts, and the profound influence of family. With a foundation in aromatherapy and aromachology, complemented by extensive formal study and self-teaching in perfumery, I possess a unique perspective on the power of scent. This journey is showcased in all my fine products and exhibitions.
As an educator, I lead workshops that delve into the emotional, memory, and identity facets of scent. I hope you enjoy my aromas and scents as much as I do, and I look forward to creating new memories and scents with fragrance enthusiasts.
What exhibitions have you created in the past?
Most recently, La Femme NUAGE was a collaboration between me, and renowned artist Yuliya Martynova. It was inspired by both the beauty of clouds—nuage in French—and the influential woman who shaped Martynova’s artistic vision. Prior to that I created other immersive exhibitions, namely The Scent of Colour – A Social Exploration Exhibition, The Invisible Dress, The Perfumer’s Garden: Seasons and Sensations — A Reinterpretation of Renaissance Art and Fragrant Words: The Art of Scent in English Literature. I’m curious to see what sparks my inspiration next.
What was your proudest moment on this journey so far?
I think seeing the visitors to my exhibitions truly immerse themselves. You can see them reading the information boards and closing their eyes when trying scents. It’s very rewarding to think I played a part in a few moments of escapism and maybe demonstrated a different perspective on the senses along the way.
What if a brand wants to create a fragrance- are you the sole perfumer?
I am the perfumer, but of course, I always work closely to match the client’s vision. I’m not happy until they are happy.
If a perfume lover wanted to book a workshop to create something bespoke, what can they expect from the experience?
I’ll first listen carefully to help them achieve the perfume they want. I’ll introduce them to the vast number of ingredients, a mixture of both safe, compliant synthetics and naturals. After that, I’m there to guide and advise. The journey is their own. I enjoy the pleasure of seeing them leave with their own unique creation, bottled. It’s popular with brides, too.
And finally, a personal question I often ask- what fragrances do you wear yourself?
One of the downsides of being a perfumer is that I can’t really wear fragrance on a normal day – I need a clear nose so it doesn’t interfere with my work or perception. Outside the lab, I might test something I’m developing to see how people react. But for very special occasions, I wear a fragrance I created for myself many years ago.
Thank you for taking the time to talk to me today, Gabriel.
It was my pleasure, Samantha.
Further Information
You can find The Olfactory Art Studio website here. Get in touch for multimedia collaboration, team events, workshops, bespoke home or personal fragrance, and future events. This post is sponsored.
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