Quite recently, Firmenich took our class on a very special olfactory experience and gave us a glimpse into the curious world of fragrances and flavors. Most people probably have never heard of Firmenich before, yet the products produced by companies that work hand-in-hand with Firmenich unknowingly surround us. From fragrances in perfumes, body care and house care, to flavors found in beverages and food, Firmenich is responsible for the everyday pleasures we find in life.
Our tour started with a presentation of the company by Dephine Krug, who is in charge of recruitment and relations with schools. She highlighted the main missions of Firmenich, which are creativity, intensive research, and responsible sourcing. Afterwards, we had a few special guest speakers that explained to us their main roles within the company and their day-to-day activities. We met Severine Cardot who is the Fragrance Development Manager, Amandine Vepierre who is the Associate Marketing Director in Fine Fragrances, and we also met Dominique Roques, who has the very special role of Head of Natural Purchasing. Monsieur Roques explained to us the difference between natural oils and synthetic molecules, and the challenges and opportunities that he faces in his role. We then embarked on an olfactory journey with the smell of vetiver and a beautiful video, which showed how this ingredient is sourced in Haiti, and the structure Firmenich has put in place to protect the local farmers and producers.
