Christine Nagel

The unconventional path of Christine Nagel

Born in 1959 in Geneva, Christine Nagel followed an unusual path. Many consider that she even learned perfumery against the grain, rising all the way to its highest level of excellence. Christine Nagel first studied organic chemistry. It was in this way that she joined the research laboratory of Firmenich, in the chromatography department, a technique used to separate the molecules of a material and analyze them. In other words, her original destiny was not exactly a creative one. Nevertheless, it was there that she met a man who transformed her life: the celebrated Alberto Morillas. A true star among perfumers, he had her smell some of his accords, and that was enough to make her want to become a perfumer. It was therefore at Création Aromatiques that she took her first steps. There she ran the chromatography department for 10 years alongside Michel Almairac, and created her first fragrances with him. Then, starting in 1997, she was appointed perfumer at Quest International. There she created her first major fragrances such as The One by Dolce & Gabbana, Eau de Cartier, For Her by Narcisso Rodriguez, and Miss Dior Chérie. Christine Nagel then joined Givaudan in 2000. Her talent was subsequently recognized with numerous awards, such as a Fifi Awards in 2005 and a Prix Coty in 2007. In 2008, she moved to the small company Fragrance Ressources, succeeding Pierre Bourdon. In 2011, she became creative director and head of the Mane perfumery school. Finally, as the culmination of her exemplary path, she joined Hermès in 2014 as exclusive creative perfumer. Likewise, since January 1, 2016, she has held the position of director of creation and olfactory heritage at Hermès.

The distinguished and unique style of Christine Nagel

Christine Nagel has always been fascinated by the “sillages with panache” of Michel Almairac. Following in this vein, she began by crafting chypre compositions with strong presence. It must be said that the Mediterranean character suits her fiery personality perfectly. Rational and instinctive, Christine Nagel is regarded as a nose in love with freedom. Her temperament stands out, and only perfumery seems to have the power to channel it. She says of her craft that it is for her a true fascination. She spent nearly 10 years in a technical bubble, she says, and as a result came late to fragrances. Even at her age, she still feels the wonder, the freshness of a young beginner. Moreover, her mastery of the fundamentals allows her to dose things with greater precision.
Thus, Christine Nagel seems to draw her strength from a skillful blend of daring and creativity combined with an exceptional technical expertise. What is more, her fiery spirit fits particularly well with her new position at the house of Hermès, a company that, it should be recalled, has always been passionate about the untamed world of equestrianism.