Max Gavarry
A genuine breeding ground for perfumers, the city of Grasse does not carry its title of “world capital of perfumery” for nothing. Indeed, the city employs the majority of its population in the perfume industry. What is more, this Provençal city helps train the greatest creators on the planet. Thus, it is largely thanks to Grasse that we owe our renown in the field of fine perfumery. Now, Max Gavarry is himself a “child of the land”. A closer look at his incredible career and his current renown.
The beginnings of Max Gavarry
Max Gavarry was born in Grasse, in 1937. In other words, he has always been immersed in the world of perfumery. This world is fully part of his life, and this path therefore opened up to him quite naturally. Unlike most of today's great perfumers, who began their training at a prestigious university and then within a world-renowned group, Max Gavarry made his name gradually, by joining a Provençal family company. Moreover, he began his career by joining the Lautier Fils company, in 1959. A company more than two centuries old, it has always managed to remain human in scale, preserving the authenticity of its heritage. At the time Max Gavarry joined it, Lautier Fils had around 220 employees. Max Gavarry stayed there for seven years, until 1966. Having acquired solid knowledge in perfumery, he moved on to a company of much larger scale. He joined IFF, within which he then spent his entire career.
Max Gavarry at IFF
International Flavors & Fragrances, better known as IFF, is an international company manufacturing fragrances for the perfume industry, as well as flavors for the food industry. Currently, IFF is among the largest companies in this field. It is the third-largest company in its sector in terms of revenue, just behind Givaudan. While its headquarters is based in New York, Max Gavarry remained attached to the European branch of the company. Moreover, he began by holding a position, in Paris, as director of European perfumers in the fine perfumery category. Then, Max Gavarry was entrusted with a prestigious department bringing together several famous perfumers such as Guy Robert, Ernest Shiftan, and Bernard Chant. Together, they developed several prestigious creations. Thus, Max Gavarry kept climbing the ranks within IFF, until becoming vice-president of the European division. Yet, this ascent to the highest spheres of perfumery did not manage to quell his ambitions. Eventually, Max Gavarry launched his own company, in 2002. He currently works as an independent perfumery consultant.
Over the course of his career, Max Gavarry can boast having worked with the greatest creation houses such as Prada, Paloma Picasso, Lalique, Guy Laroche, Grès, Emmanuel Ungaro, Dolce & Gabbana, and Dior.