- Shoji Kumasaka Perfumer:
Company: IFF
Shoji Kumasaka is a highly respected and accomplished perfumer with an extensive and impressive career in the fragrance industry.
He has served as a senior VP perfumer in Asia for IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances), one of the world's leading companies in the creation and supply of flavors and fragrances. Under the tutelage of the legendary perfumer Ernest Shiftan, Kumasaka has amassed over five decades of experience in the field of perfumery. His long tenure and continuous dedication have allowed him to master the art and science of creating scents, making him a true authority in the industry.
In 2020, Shoji Kumasaka achieved a significant milestone when he was honored with the Master Perfumer title. This recognition, bestowed upon him as an Asian perfumer, was a testament to his outstanding contributions and far - reaching influence in the world of fragrance. His work has not only met the highest standards of quality but has also had a profound impact on the development and perception of perfumes in the industry.
Kumasaka has been involved in creating a wide range of remarkable fragrance products. For instance, he has collaborated with the Chinese brand Fuxiangtang on multiple occasions. Their joint works include scents like "Long'an", "Crested Ibis", "Moonrise", and "Splendid", each of which showcases his unique creative vision and technical expertise. In these collaborations, he has successfully blended different fragrance elements to evoke specific emotions and atmospheres, demonstrating his ability to translate cultural and aesthetic concepts into olfactory experiences.
In addition to his work in the luxury and artisanal perfume realm, Kumasaka has also made contributions to the fragrance design for commercial spaces. He is the mastermind behind the Zen tea - scented fragrance for the Chinese hotel brand Hanting's All Seasons Hotel. Given the brand's intention to convey an oriental aesthetic, choosing an oriental perfumer like Kumasaka was a strategic move. To capture the essence of Longjing green tea, he utilized IFF's advanced Living technology. By using head - space extraction, he was able to preserve the pure and fresh aroma that emerges the moment the tea is brewed, thus creating a distinct olfactory identity for the hotel. This project not only highlights his technical proficiency but also his understanding of how fragrance can enhance the overall experience in a non - traditional perfume context, such as a hotel environment.
Overall, Shoji Kumasaka's body of work and his long - standing presence in the fragrance industry have left an indelible mark, and his creations continue to be celebrated and appreciated by fragrance enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.
