The training course at GIP develops trainee’s fundamental knowledge to create and evaluate fragrances by linking traditional and modern techniques through the following steps:
- Know the raw materials and how to use them correctly, in particular, natural materials for which Grasse has long been renowned for.
- Learn the language of perfumery and to know how to classify and recognise the major fragrance groups.
- Discover and know how to create accords, the essence of the art of composition.
- Train in the subtle art of blending.
- Other disciplines fundamental to the creative perfumers and evaluators job are also covered. Included in the curriculum are : international regulations of fragrances and cosmetic products, analysis techniques (gas chromatography and mass spectrometry) and toiletries applications (shampoos, shower gels, creams, etc).
Period
The course lasts for 18 months, from January to December in centre followed by 6 months of internship after the school period. The internship can take place anywhere in the world, in the fragrance industry.
The course
- General features: history of perfumery, chemistry of perfumery, sense of smell, vocabulary of perfume.
- Apprenticeship in raw materials and olfaction: natural and synthetic.
- Accords: olfactory recognition, creating accords, structure of a perfume, study of the main olfactive groups and subgroups and the leading perfumes (genealogy and evaluation)
- Creation: the creation process of present day perfumes, the creation by olfactory imitation, the tools used to analyse the constituents of perfume, creation.
- The application within functional perfumery:
You will have further courses and activities to build your knowledge and experience:
- Perfume and cosmetic legislation
- The marketing of perfume
- Site visits (companies, manufacturers (…) and one trip abroad in a year)
- Fragrance development project
IMPORTANT INFORMATION :
This course delivers a professional certificate validated by Prodarom, the French Fragrance Industry Trade Union (IFRA member). There are 1200 hours of training of which 600 are given by accredited creative perfumers or technical experts. The remaining 600 hours are spent doing supervised practical work and visiting factories, laboratories and growers (jasmine, roses, lavender, mimosas, etc). The working language is English.
The course issues a certificate of “International technical degree in fragrance creation and sensory evaluation” to people who successfully complete the exam. Limited to 12 students. Sponsored each year by a local or international company.
Enrollment fees
It costs 13 300 euros. There are 12 places in this course for students chosen for their creativity and olfactory talent.
Application Process
Application
The first step is to send us by email and written in English:
- A detailed curriculum
- A cover letter (min. 2 pages)
Be careful, only applications received between January 1st and July 1st 2025 will be taken into account for the course of the following year.
After receipt of your application by the admissions service, your application is assessed in order to ensure that your profile matches the requested program (*) and, if necessary, there is not a more suitable program.
At this stage, it takes about 4 weeks to receive a response by email.
Assessment
If your application is eligible, you will receive a folder to complete and return to us. Upon receipt, we will propose dates to attend a half-day of admission and interview tests. The cost of the test is 150 €, payable online or on site upon your arrival.
These tests may be conducted in your choice:
- in Grasse (France)
- in New Delhi (India)
- in Shanghai (China)
- in Seoul (Korea)
- in Taipei (Taiwan)
- in San Paulo (Brazil)
- in New York (USA)
- in Dubai (UAE)
The assessment includes:
- a test of calculation and logic (1 hour)
- a test of creativity (1 hour), around a fragrance
- 2 tests of olfactory recognition, 2 sets of 10 raw materials
- An interview with a perfumer and/or members of the teaching team.
- In the case where the test takes place out of Grasse, an additional interview by videoconference with the members of the teaching team.
Decision
After assessing your tests and the interview, you will receive a definite answer as to your eligibility at the end of October.
12 candidates will be selected
(*) You must know that we receive more than 200 applications from all over the world. So, it’s impossible to propose the test to everybody.
Our preselection is based on various criteria :
- The diploma, Master of Sciences or Marketing are the best, Bachelor the minimum required.
- The experience : many candidates have at min 6 months of first experience in the fragrance industry and some more than 2 years.
- The age : the optimum to become a perfumer is between 25 to 35.
If you need further information, please contact :
Fabienne MAILLOT
International Development Officer
gip@prodarom.fr
