H.ISIPCA group palettes

Scent School

Enter the World of Fragrance

Discover A Range of Exciting Careers

IFF has partnered with ISIPCA to launch a breakthrough graduate program as an entry point for careers in the field of scent.

Combining IFF’s 135-year creative legacy and pioneering spirit and ISIPCA’s proven academic excellence, we have created this unique program to prepare the next generation of talent.

This Masters level program immerses students in the foundations and pioneering advances of fragrance creation. Classes are held at ISIPCA’s state-of-the-art campus in Versailles, France, the historic heart of perfumery culture.

  • ISIPCA
    the world’s premier fragrance school
  • IFF
    135 years of legacy creating fragrances
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Scent Design and Creation

Learn the fundamentals of fragrance creation to prepare for a range of roles in the world of scent. Taught by a vibrant and passionate faculty of industry experts, courses include extensive study of raw materials, history of perfume and markets, consumer insights, creativity workshops, personal development, and experiential visits and harvests.

Olivia and Celine

Prepare for Careers in Scent

Students explore a range of specializations including fine, consumer, technical and R&D perfumery, evaluators/scent design managers, marketing, sales, consumer insights and more.
IFF Insight sessions feature global experts who share personal perspectives and inspiration.

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About ISIPCA

ISIPCA (Institut supérieur international du parfum, de la cosmétique et de l’aromatique alimentaire) was founded by Jean- Jacques Guerlain in 1970 and is located in Versailles, France, close to Paris. ISIPCA is the leading institution for careers in perfume, cosmetics and food flavors.

ISIPCA students

A Unique Program

This comprehensive program is unique to the industry. In addition to intensive and extensive study of raw materials, history of perfume, market overviews and trends plus consumer insights, creative workshops and personal development, the program is enriched with marketing safaris, pedagogical visits to Grasse to experience mimosa in bloom and other harvests, and our Atelier de Parfum at IFF’s LMR naturals division, with its 100% pure extracts and commitment to sustainability. The program includes an internship at an IFF creative center where each student is mentored by a senior perfumer and an lFF leader for on-the-job experience and career readiness.

ISIPCA students

Who Should Apply

The Scent Design and Creation student has the heart of an artist, is inherently curious, and is driven by a fire within to push boundaries. They are also grounded in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, and proficient or fluent in English. They share the dream of perfume creation and to be part of this exciting industry.

Education: Bachelor or minimum 2-3 year degree in Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Biochemistry or Mathematics.

              Science degree preferred; degrees in the arts, humanities or related fields may be considered.

This program is taught in English, and fluency is required.

Application Process

Application Process

  • Application available on ISIPCA site
  • Application Review Call – FEBRUARY – APRIL
  • Olfactive Intelligence Test®, Creative Presentation, Jury Interview – MARCH – JUNE
  • Student Selection and Notification JUNE – JULY

Tuition and Fees

  • Application Fee: €200, payable to ISIPCA online
  • Tuition: €12.000 per year

Admissions

The Scent Design and Creation student has the heart of an artist, is inherently curious, and is driven by a fire within to push boundaries. They are also grounded in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, and proficient or fluent in English. They share the dream to make perfume and be part of this exciting industry.

The program is highly selective with a specific admission process.

 

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Hear from Our Graduates

Eleonor

“My favorite author, Colette, said ‘Perfume is a poem to be breathed in, I am breathing this every day in this program”
– Eléonore Oyane-Yang, Apprentice Perfumer IFF, France

Andrew Everett

”Attending ISIPCA meant dropping everything to move to France and committing three years to a subject I knew very little about. Yet somehow – at the same time – it was the most obvious choice. That’s how it was for me, and that’s how it was for my entire class, which felt more like a family than anything else.”
– Andrew Everett, Junior Perfumer, IFF New York

Hyunmin Shin

”The world of perfumery has always been a haze of illusion for me. The ISIPCA Scent Design and Creation program opened the gate and lead me into that world, and the experience has been the light that illuminated my path to become a perfumer”
– Hyunmin Shin, Junior Perfumer, IFF Singapore

Sumukha Kashyap

“My experience in the Scent Design and Creation program was one of my most valuable experiences. I loved learning from my multicultural classmates, teachers and mentors at IFF. The program has helped me take important steps to achieve my goals.” – Sumukha Kashyap, Scent Design Manager, IFF Singapore

Shinichiro Oba

“My two internship mentors from the Netherlands came to my graduation in France and they kindly shared their advice on the importance of believing in myself. I also learned from my experience at ISIPCA that understanding and accepting the differences in one of the keys to success in an international environment and this insight will help me to work all over the world in the future.” – Shinichiro Oba, Junior Perfumer, Dubai

Andressa Professional Headshot

“Never in a million years would I have dreamed of a better job. At ISIPCA I trained my nose to identify ingredients and their combinations, I was exposed to different cultures, I met some of my best friends in life and had the opportunity to work on something that I truly love. If you are curious, passionate about perfume, consumers, ingredients and want to dive into this magical world of fragrances, you should join the Scent Design & Creation Program – it’s a life changing experience”. – Andressa Santana West Barbosa, Scent Design Manager based in Holmdal, NJ.

Questions?

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¹ Completed or about to complete undergraduate, university degree (bachelor degree or equivalent)

² Completed or about to complete secondary school (high school, pre-university)

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