- Tomoo Inaba Perfumer:
Tomoo Inaba is a remarkable figure in the world of perfumery, wearing multiple hats as a perfumer, fragrance journalist, and educator.
His journey into the captivating realm of perfumes began in his early life. Growing up in a family with a garden teeming with fragrant flowers and vegetables lovingly tended by his mom and grandma, he was naturally exposed to a rich palette of scents. His mother's passion for world plants and her travels to botanical gardens around the globe further deepened his interest in different plants and their aromas. This early immersion laid a solid foundation for his future career.
Inaba's career took a significant turn when he established a fragrance - distribution company ten years ago. Realizing the importance of understanding the materials and ingredients in fragrances to effectively describe them to customers, he delved into the world of perfumery. Since then, he has become a prolific fragrance reviewer, publishing over 6,500 reviews on his website "Profice", covering both new releases and some vintage perfumes. Writing these reviews has been an invaluable learning experience, teaching him about perfumery materials and enhancing his skills as a perfumer. He believes that the more he smells and critiques other perfumers' works, the more discerning he becomes of his own creations.
As a perfumer, Inaba has crafted several notable fragrances. His debut perfume, Nightingale for Zoologist Perfumes, was created in 2013. This unisex floral fragrance is a chypre masterpiece that captures the essence of the Japanese spring. It opens with the rich scents of saffron and the rosy, powdery, tart aroma of Japanese plum blossoms, like a luxurious silk kimono wrapping around the core of the perfume. The base notes of oud, patchouli, moss, incense, and ambergris add depth and complexity, seeping from the ruddy petals. Another of his creations is Moth, also for Zoologist Perfumes. It belongs to the woody/amber (oriental) family, further demonstrating his versatility in creating different olfactory experiences. He has also worked on perfumes like Tube Rai and Matcha Nono, each with its own unique character.
Inaba's approach to perfumery is deeply rooted in learning and exploration. He has no formal training but has self - taught himself through continuous study of books on perfumery, vintage perfumes, and the various plants and materials used. To gain a more profound understanding of natural materials, he grows a wide variety of fragrant plants in his garden, including frankincense, jasminum officinale, ylang - ylang, rosa damascena, and many others. He also travels extensively, visiting distilleries and farms in about 25 countries such as Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and the Réunion Island. These travels allow him to directly experience the sourcing and production of raw materials, such as ylang - ylang and herbs in Madagascar, tuberose and jasmine sambac in India, and vanilla and vetiver in the Réunion Island.
In addition to his creative work, Inaba also shares his knowledge with others. He holds classes that range from 90 to 120 minutes long. In these classes, students can learn about the history of perfumes and materials or even try their hand at creating their own perfumes, recreating notable vintage perfumes, or his original creations. These are hobby classes, and his students typically have no intention of becoming professional perfumers but are simply enthusiasts eager to learn more about the world of perfumes.
In his daily life, Inaba's beauty and scent routine is closely tied to his work. During the day, he tests samples as part of his review - writing process. At night, he indulges in wearing the perfumes he loves. He has a deep appreciation for different scents, and his favorite flower in terms of fragrance is the tuberose. After visiting farmers in Grasse and India, he reaffirmed its magnetic allure for him. So much so that he grows both single and double - petal tuberoses in his garden every year, believing that growing the flowers, smelling them, and understanding their nuances enhance his love for the resulting fragrance.
Tomoo Inaba's contributions to the world of perfumery, through his creations, writings, and teachings, have made him a respected figure in the industry. His unique perspective, which combines a love for nature, a passion for learning, and a dedication to the art of perfumery, continues to inspire both fellow perfumers and fragrance enthusiasts alike.
