- Arthur Burnham Perfumer:
Arthur Burnham was a remarkable and unique figure in the world of perfumery. Hailing from the UK, he was one of the last classically trained independent British perfumers.
Burnham's educational journey was as diverse as his career path. After studying English and French at Cornell and rowing with their heavyweights, coming close to making the 1964 Olympics team, he furthered his academic pursuits at Cambridge, collecting degrees in English and law while continuing his rowing success, including being part of the winning boat in the 1965 Boat Race.
Defying tradition, he then enrolled in the 10 - year apprenticeship and technical training program in Grasse, France. There, he underwent a rigorous training regime, spending six months in each department from essential oil distillation and extraction to mixing and manufacture. He learned entirely in French and was required to master every raw material by smell, memorize key accords, extraction techniques, evaporation tables, and historic formulae. His fellow student in Grasse was none other than Jacques Polge, who later became the director of creative perfumery at Chanel.
This training in Grasse led to a management role, where he was responsible for a major perfume company's commercial operations in South Africa, Australasia, and the UK. Eventually, he founded his own firm, creating fragrances for numerous major companies.
Burnham was known for his creativity and innovation. One of his most famous creations was the unisex fragrance "Inis - The Energy of the Sea" for Fragrances of Ireland in 1998. Inspired by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean on the west coast of Ireland, the name "Inis" is the Irish word for island. The fragrance features top notes of Sicilian lemon, bergamot, neroli, and marine notes; heart notes of lily of the valley and geranium; and base notes of clove, nutmeg, sandalwood, oakmoss, and musk.
He also created "Parfum VI" for Gianni Vivé Sulman. This perfume was not only a olfactory masterpiece but also a work of art in its packaging. Held in a 4 - inch bottle made with platinum, 24 - carat gold, rubies, and diamonds, and encased in a special box constructed by Rolls - Royce coach builders and locked with a gold and jewel - studded key, it was recognized as one of the most expensive perfumes in the world. With a price tag of £47,500 per bottle and only 173 bottles made, it attracted high - profile clients such as Michael Jackson, who ordered two, and Mike Tyson, who ordered three.
In addition, he was involved in creating the "V1" perfume, inspired by the Phantom V1 Rolls - Royce. Commissioned by Arfaq, it was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the "most expensive perfume in the world" from 2001 - 2006. The bottle, a work of art itself, was crafted by Atelier Dinand using 1 kg of pure platinum, 18 - carat gold, and ruby crystal, and was finished with a 2.6 - carat diamond - encrusted wreath.
Arthur Burnham passed away on Sunday, 29th April in the early evening, leaving behind a rich legacy in the world of perfumery. His fragrances continue to be remembered for their unique blend of creativity, technical expertise, and a touch of luxury that made him stand out as a master perfumer.
