- Christine Nagel the in-house perfumer of Hermès:
Company:Hermès
Also worked with: Firmenich, Créations Aromatiques, Quest, Givaudan, Fragrance Resources, Mane
Web:hermes.com
Christine Nagel, a celebrated Swiss perfumer, currently serves as the Director of Olfactive Creation at Hermès Parfums. Born on October 7, 1959, in Geneva, Switzerland, she developed an early fascination with perfumery. Initially studying medicine to become a midwife, Nagel shifted her focus to organic chemistry, a pivot that would steer her toward the olfactory arts.
After completing her chemistry studies, Nagel joined Firmenich's research department, where she was captivated by the profound emotional responses elicited by her colleague Alberto Morillas' work—one of the perfume industry's legendary figures. When she requested a transfer to the perfumery division, her lack of traditional training led to rejection. Undeterred, she turned to chromatography, mastering the molecular analysis of fragrances and becoming one of the world's few experts able to identify ingredients solely by scent.
In Italy, Nagel launched her own business, quickly securing 60% of the country's perfume contracts, including collaborations with Fendi and Versace. Moving to Paris in 1997, she crafted iconic designer fragrances such asNarciso Rodriguez for Her(2003, with Francis Kurkdjian) andMiss Dior Chérie(2005). For Jo Malone, she created 46 scents, including the renownedWood Sage & Sea Salt.
In 2014, Nagel joined Hermès as Director of Olfactive Creation, working alongside Jean-Claude Ellena. Following Ellena's retirement in 2016, she became the brand's sole in-house perfumer, developing signature fragrances likeGalop(2016) andTwilly(2017). Awarded by the Fragrance Foundation France, François Coty Foundation, and Marie Claire International Fragrance Awards, she champions a philosophy of simplicity in composition.
Married to perfumer Benoît Lapouza (with three children), Nagel challenges gender norms in fragrance, advocating that scents know no "masculine" or "feminine" boundaries. Influenced by contemporaries like Morillas and Dominique Ropion, she particularly admires trailblazing female perfumer Germaine Cellier, creator ofFracasandBandit. Her career embodies a relentless pursuit of olfactory artistry, blending scientific rigor with emotional storytelling.
