- Ashley Balavoine Perfumer:
Ashley Balavoine, also known as Ashley Wilberding Balavoine, is a highly accomplished and globally recognized perfumer.
Balavoine's journey into the world of perfumery has been a rich and diverse one. Her childhood was spent abroad in places like Japan, London, and Saudi Arabia due to her father's international job. This early exposure to different cultures and their unique scents laid the foundation for her future career, and she humorously refers to herself as an "olfactive anthropologist" as she discovered countries through her nose.
During her college years, a visit to the International Museum of Perfume in Grasse, France, was a pivotal moment. It was then that she realized she could turn her olfactory prowess and passion into a profession. Before fully committing to perfumery, she had a few detours. She worked for Merrill Lynch and even spent six months in Sweden playing professional women's ice hockey, with a potential shot at trying out for the U.S. women's Olympic team. However, in 1996, she began her formal career as an apprentice perfumer for V. Mane Fils in Le Bar - sur - Loup, France.
In her nearly three - decade - long career, Balavoine has left an indelible mark on the fragrance industry. She has worked on a wide range of products, from shampoos, soaps, and candles to high - end perfumes. Some of her notable clients include Mary Kay, Henri Bendel, Ralph Lauren, L'Oréal, and Crabtree & Evelyn. For Bath & Body Works, she has developed fall scents, carefully selecting the perfect formula of florals, citrus, greens, and fruits.
Balavoine has had the opportunity to work in various locations around the world. From 1998 - 2001, she was in Beijing, where she opened new offices for V. Mane Fils. She also worked in their Mexico City office before returning to the United States in 2005. Eventually, she joined Firmenich, one of the leading fragrance companies in the world. As a senior perfumer at Firmenich's New Jersey office, she devotes her days to developing scents predominantly for body and home care products.
She is known for her ability to capture the essence of different cultures in her scents. For example, her creation "Tao Hua Yun" for Scent Library is a floral/amber (oriental) fragrance. Inspired by the traditional Chinese symbol of the peach blossom, which represents love and good luck, this perfume is a unique blend that combines elements like peach, vanilla, and lemon. Another remarkable creation is "White Rabbit", a floral/gourmand fragrance.
One of her most talked - about works is the perfume "Zhaoye Bai" (照夜白). The inspiration for this scent came from her experiences in China. The fragrance captures the complex and unique "Chinese scent" in her mind. She was inspired by Tibetan white tea with its subtle freshness and a white Chinese lacquer box, which gave her the idea of a woody note. She named the complex combination "Chinese Lacquered Wood", which forms the core of this perfume that reflects the beauty of Chinese "blank space" in a fragrant form.
In addition to her commercial work, Balavoine has also contributed to the personal care category. She once remarked that it was an exciting time to create fragrances in this area, highlighting the dynamism and growth potential of personal care products. Her work in this field shows her versatility as a perfumer, as she adapts her skills to meet the needs of different product types and consumer preferences.
Overall, Ashley Balavoine's career is a testament to her passion for fragrance, her cultural sensitivity, and her dedication to her craft. Through her work, she has not only created scents that are pleasing to the nose but also those that evoke emotions, memories, and cultural connections.
