Karine Dubreuil

To become a perfumer, several prerequisites are quickly required. On one hand, a certain creative sense is necessary. At the same time, solid scientific knowledge, particularly in chemistry, is strongly recommended. Furthermore, it should be noted that most perfumers come from the Grasse region. Flower fields are very numerous there. The Mediterranean climate is a favorable factor for flower cultivation, and Grasse has above all been the capital of perfume since the 16th century. It is in this very place that Karine Dubreuil grew up. This path therefore naturally imposed itself on her.

The professional career of Karine Dubreuil

Although not from a family of perfumers, Karine Dubreuil grew up in Grasse. As such, she was quickly exposed to the world of perfumery. Moreover, she had no need to leave her hometown to join a school in this field. Indeed, she studied at the Roure school, in Grasse. This prestigious school trains the greatest perfumers on the planet by putting them in contact with already seasoned master perfumers. Once she had her diploma in hand and after acquiring solid knowledge there, Karine Dubreuil made her debut within the Symrise company, which at that time was still called Florasynth. A German company, it is among the leaders in the fragrance and flavor market. Then, Karine Dubreuil left this company and went to work at Drom Fragrances, a German family-owned company present in more than 42 countries and with five creative centers around the world. Finally, from 2002 to 2013, Karine Dubreuil took a position as a perfumer at Mane. It was there that she created her greatest perfumes. Furthermore, Karine Dubreuil created the famous Eclat d’Arpège for Lanvin, L’Eau Belle for Azzaro, two Aqua Allegoria for Guerlain, Envy Me for Gucci, and Womanity for Thierry Mugler. Then, while still working at Mane, she was approached by the company L’Occitane, the company for which she currently works.

Karine Dubreuil at L'Occitane

Working for the L’Occitane brand very quickly became an obvious choice for Karine Dubreuil. Indeed, being herself originally from the south of France, she immediately felt very close to the house. It is somewhat as if the creator had to, in each of her compositions, deliver to us a part of her personal heritage. She recalls that, as a child, she used to play in her grandmother’s garden. The scents of that place considerably influenced her current creativity. Karine Dubreuil even confides, somewhat amused, that when she received L’Occitane’s very first briefing, she thought to herself: this is great, they are asking me to tell the story of my childhood. Working this way, for her, amounts to falling back into distant memories, and coming as close as possible to scents she was already attuned to. She never seems to have taken as much pleasure in her profession. Yet happiness at work is essential when it comes to a creative profession. Karine Dubreuil says she practices this profession above all to enjoy herself. Unlike many creators, she does not play the competition card. She far prefers to take pleasure in each of her creations, and this comes through perfectly in her new fragrances.