Celebrating Independent American Perfumers Image by Michelyn

There’s so many exciting olfactive artists in our country. That’s why I started the CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery series, just one year after we launched ÇaFleureBon on July 11, 2011 with Dawn Spencer Hurwitz as our first. As of July 4. 2026 there are 183. Today is Independence Day, America’s 250th Anniversary. Let’s celebrate the independent American perfumers, who continue to innovate and revolutionize the fragrance industry, not bound by corporate restraints.-Michelyn Camen, Editor-In-Chief

A small selection of memorable quotes, in the perfumers’ own words:

“American perfumery is free to be independent and to invent itself! I love the emphasis on artists creating perfumes with an independent spirit and their work representing their own aesthetic rather than an impersonal corporate entity. I have found a wonderful articulation of my own unstated aesthetic.” –Mandy Aftel, of Aftelier Perfumes October 9, 2011 @AftelierPerfumes

“I feel being an American Indie perfumer allows me so much freedom to express myself! I am so grateful for that. I get to aromatically recreate experiences I’ve had and places I’ve been – or would like to go – by making elixirs that express my feelings for those experiences and places”–Neil Morris of Neil Morris Fragrances, February 9, 2012 Facebook

“First and foremost, American perfumery is a democracy. American Perfumers have shared so much knowledge and good will with me and I am sure they put this same love into their work. There is love in our juices, not just variations on a set of patented molecules, and there is eagerness on the part of the consumer to experience new realms and scent profiles. –David Falsberg of Phoenicia Perfumes–April 7, 2013 (RIP). Please read Hez Binkowitz of Hez Parfums moving tribute to his friend and mentor who passed December 13, 2025 @phoenicia_perfumes @hezparfums

“I’m constantly learning, growing and connecting with other indie perfumers – sharing insights, challenges and successes with complete support American independent perfumers possess a uniqueness to be celebrated in true American fashion.”- Chavalia Dunlap-Mwamba of Pink MahogHany, January 27, 2017 @pink_mahogHany

Daniel Gallagher with his wife Mindy Ruiz photo from 2022

“I think the one thing to remember is that a lot of artisan/indie perfumers are also avid collectors themselves. My collection is for my own pleasure, sure, but it is also a metaphorical library from which I learn. Clearly, the perfumers behind the fragrances in my collection created something that appealed to me, which led to me purchasing them. My goal is not to recreate something that I already own, but to create something that nobody owns, because it hasn’t been done before. To me, this is what is means to be an American Perfumer; to be a pioneer.” –Daniel Gallagher of Gallagher Fragrances May 21, 2017 @gallagherfragrances

“Unlike much of Europe, this country does not have a historic relationship to the creation and wearing of perfume. This puts us at a disadvantage in terms of access to perfumery schools, master perfumers and the long traditions of perfume creation. This lack of tradition, however, provides more freedom to defy accepted assumptions of who is a perfumer and what she or he can create. It is this lack of convention which has opened the door to a new kind of independent perfumer, with a new kind of vision for the role of perfume.”– Diane St. Clair of St. Clair Scents February 11, 2018 @stclairscents

mhainey.studio photo

“To me, being an American Perfumer is synonymous with the freedom to explore what inspires your craft without the need for buy-in from big fragrances houses. We are artists and craftspeople, with materials easily accessible from every reach of the world.  As some have echoed here in the past, American Perfumers don’t feel so restrained by the traditional notions of what perfume “has” to be, and can to explore new and innovative ways that perfume can help us.“-Mason Hainey of M. Hainey November 12, 2020 (formerly Mizu) mhainey.studio

“Saskia Wilson-Brown, founder of The Institute Art and Olfaction said something that moved and emboldened me. There are no rules, she said. Make your own. This liberation is what has made me, someone from a small-town India, dream of sharing my perfumes with you. And the fragrance community! So joyful, so full of celebration of all things perfume. What an incredible gift. I do not feel that this is a secretive or difficult industry to enter.”-Anjali Vandemark of Anjali Perfumes Jan 30, 2021@anjali_vandemark

“To me, perfume is more than a fad and more than simply smelling good. It is about creating a personal story and attaching us to history, culture and the natural world around us. The focus of Wit & West is on artisan natural perfumery as a genre or artistic choice, a style of perfumery that was largely abandoned and viewed as outdated until more recently. –Whitney Swales of Wit & West Perfumes February 23, 2022 @witandwest

“The most powerful “story of America” imagery for me as a New Yorker was that of the melting pot of immigrants from all over the world looking for a better life, how each person brought something different of themselves to a community.  American perfumery is at its best when a perfumer finds their unique voice and shares their secrets with us, saying, “this is how I see the world.”-Benjamin Esposito, House of Mammoth June 18, 2022 @house.of.mammoth

“America is the world’s melting pot and what makes us unique is the fact many of us come from legacies and families that dealt with industrialization, migration, capitalism, and diversification. To be an American perfumer feels empowering to me. I’m fully aware there are eyes on us, some hoping we fail, others following in awe, and because we are viewed as underdogs, I’m always rooting for us. We’re more influential and impactful than we think we are.”-Matthew J. Sanchez of Matteo Perfumes October 22, 2022@matteoparfums

“It really feels like American perfumery is in an exciting place right now, because of the diversity of perspectives on the scene.  It is becoming a reflection of this rich tapestry of traditions and influences that we have here in the states.  Culturally speaking, we have this melting pot, and it is resulting in some really beautiful, bold perfumery”. –Michael Paul of Day Three Fragrances, May 24, 2023  @daythreefragrances

“My thoughts on American Perfumery echo my thoughts on America in general. It is a place of great opportunity where everyone can pursue their passions and with hard work, can shape their own destiny. As an independent perfumer, I feel lucky to be living in the USA and pursuing my perfumery here”–Darren Alan of Darren Alan Perfumes January 9, 2024 @darren_alan_perfumes 

“To me, being an American perfumer means creating something from nothing. It’s not about chasing the traditional idea of the “American Dream,” but about having the freedom to chase your own dream.” Michael Salazar of Aromas de Salazar September26, 2025 @aromasdesalazar

 

“Being an American perfumer holds a special significance for me as it entails translating my life experiences and memories in the United States into olfactory artwork for sharing. My goal is to weave the ingredients I encounter, ones that resonate with me, into abstract compositions that transcend the boundaries of conventional perfumery.”–Will Southard of Third Eye Fragrance Co. April 3, 2026 @thirdeyefragranceco

“We opened Perfumology out of opportunity mixed with necessity, needing jobs and found a business partner at the right time for us. Being the creative director for my own perfumes allowed me to turn my international scent memories into invisible works of art that people choose to wear”-Nir Guy of Perfumology. March 5. 2017 @perfumology

 photo courtesy of Perfumology

Michelyn’s note: Perfumology launches The Pursuit of Happiness a limited-edition fragrance collection inspired by the Declaration of Independence and created in celebration of America 250, a collaboration between Nir Guy and perfumer Chris Undi. You can buy or Sample here

Please like CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery

Happy 250th Birthday America, from all of the team at CaFleureBon  no matter where we  live. Look for a Part Two,

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