Portrait of perfumer Dora Baghriche

Dora Baghriche was born in Algiers, Algeria, in 1979, into a family of pastry chefs. Her two grandmothers passed on to her their love of flavours and smells, which she learned to recognise and appreciate from an early age. She still remembers the scent of oriental cakes, orange blossom, honey and almonds wafting through her home. She also remembers the smell of the sea, warm sand, spices from the market and aromatic herbs from the garden. She loved to breathe deeply and smell all the nuances that were part of her identity.

When she was eight, her family moved from Algeria to the south of France. She discovered a new world of flowers, fields of lavender, roses, jasmine and mimosa. She was fascinated by the distilleries, workshops, museums and shops that reflected the richness and diversity of this ancient art. She began collecting bottles, samples, books and magazines on the subject. She dreamed of becoming a perfumer, but she also had other passions, such as journalism, literature, music and cinema. She was curious about everything, eager to discover the world and its cultures. 

She studied foreign languages in Paris, where she learned English, Spanish, Italian and Arabic. She has travelled in Europe, Asia, Africa and America, in search of new sensations and inspiration. She has written articles, poems, short stories and screenplays, some of which she has published or entered into competitions. She also sang in a rock band, acted in a play and made a short film. She was creative, daring and eclectic, but she hadn't yet found her calling.

It was in 2002 that something clicked for her, when she first smelled the fragrance Hiris d'Hermès, created by Olivia Giacobetti. She was overwhelmed by this iris-based fragrance, which reminded her of her childhood, her country and her grandmother, but which also opened up new horizons for her, with its freshness, modernity, elegance and depth. She knew then that she wanted to become a perfumer, and that she wanted to work with the iris, that mysterious, refined flower that symbolised beauty, femininity, nobility and poetry for her.

She applied to ISIPCA, the Institut supérieur international du parfum, de la cosmétique et de l'aromatique alimentaire, where she was admitted after passing an olfactory test and an interview. She took a two-year course, learning the basics of chemistry, botany, legislation, perfume creation and evaluation. She met master perfumers, raw material suppliers, marketing managers, journalists and critics. She carried out projects, exercises, internships and competitions. She honed her nose, her memory, her imagination and her style.

She was spotted by Firmenich, one of the world's leading fragrance houses, who offered her a position as a junior perfumer in Geneva, Switzerland. She accepted enthusiastically, and moved to this cosmopolitan and dynamic city, where she worked under Michel Almairac, one of the most renowned and talented perfumers of his generation. Working alongside him, she learned the secrets of the trade, techniques, tricks, trends and codes. She has taken part in briefs, presentations, tests and launches. She has created fragrances for prestigious brands such as Gucci, Burberry, Chloé and Montblanc. Her first success was Caligna for L'Artisan Parfumeur, a fragrance that pays homage to Provence, with its notes of fig, pine, jasmine and sage.

In 2010, she was promoted to senior perfumer and transferred to New York, USA, where she joined the Firmenich team led by Harry Fremont, another big name in perfumery. She discovered a vibrant, creative and multicultural city, which offered her new opportunities and challenges. She has worked with innovative brands such as Glossier, Aerin, Chopard and Yves Saint Laurent. She has explored a variety of worlds, from floral to woody, fruity to gourmand, fresh to oriental. She has expressed her personality, her sensitivity and her creativity, using noble materials, both natural and synthetic, which she has combined with boldness and harmony. She has created a wide range of original fragrances, including Mon Paris by Yves Saint Laurent, a modern, romantic chypre, You by Glossier, an addictive, customisable musk, Iris Meadow by Aerin, a luminous, floral green, and Iris Malika by Chopard, a warm, suave oriental.

Dora Baghriche is now one of the most recognised and appreciated perfumers of her generation. She is sought after by many brands, who appreciate her talent, professionalism and charisma. She is respected by her peers, who recognise her expertise, originality and elegance. She is admired by the public, who love her creations, her career and her smile. She is happy to do the job she loves, which allows her to travel, meet people, share and dream. She is proud of her heritage, her culture, her family and her friends. She is passionate about scents, which for her are sources of emotion, inspiration and life.

We invite you to discover some of the fragrances created by Dora Baghriche, including those for OLFACTIVE STUDIO, inspired by art photographs. SCENTISSIME offers free shipping throughout the European Union, as well as returns. Don't hesitate to ask us for advice.