Profiles in American Perfumery: Sean Colbert of Buchart Colbert + Expression Gift Set Giveaway

Sean Colbert Of Colbert Buchart

Perfumer Sean Colbert of Buchart Colbert

Profile: Born in Folsom, California, and raised in Sonoma County, my childhood was a tapestry of vivid sensory experiences. Each night, I fell asleep to the melodic beauty of Chopin’s Études, while the sweet scent of jasmine on cool spring evenings and the earthy aroma of the grape harvest in autumn filled the air. At just five years old, I vividly recall the frustration of not yet mastering Chopin’s first E-flat Major waltz—a reflection of my deep and early bond with music, which became a constant rhythm of my upbringing.

5 years old Sean Colbert of Buchart Colbert

Meanwhile, my earliest memories of perfume were my mother’s two favorites, Poison by Dior and Cinnabar by Estée Lauder . My deeper appreciation of perfume entered the scene when I was eight years old. A family friend gave me a bottle of Eau d’orange verte by Hèrmes. The moment I smelled it, I was captivated. Though I’d never been to Europe, the fragrance instantly transported me to an imagined South of France. I immediately understood the intention of its composition, recognizing it as far too sophisticated for an eight-year-old. Nevertheless, my passion for fragrance was ignited.

In high school, I played viola for the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, a path that led me to pursue undergraduate studies in music at The University of Arizona. The viola, often considered the alto voice of the string family, serves as the connective tissue between soaring violins and the grounding foundation of the cellos and basses. I found a deep sense of purpose in this role, much like a heart note in fragrance acts as the bridge bringing harmony and balance to the whole.

Sean Colbert of Buchart Colbert

Sean Colbert of Buchart Colbert playing the viola

Despite earning a master’s degree in viola performance later, my connection to playing music professionally narrowed. I cherished the skill and precision required to perform in a string quartet or orchestra, yet I found myself longing for a more personal creative outlet. While my love for music remained profound, I wanted to do more than serve as an interpreter—it was time to create something entirely my own. But I had no idea fragrance would become that medium.

Crafting fragrance is very similar to playing and composing music. Just as music notes flow in and around one another to create a transportive harmony, melody, or symphony, a complex fragrance dances in a rich, layered tapestry of story, emotion, and memory. As a classically trained musician, I am always amazed how both music and fragrance transport me to different times and places in the flash of an instant.

Unfortunately, Covid entered the scene, reminding me that I might need a more consistent career than music performance. I moved back to Tucson to pursue a third degree at the University of Arizona, and I landed my first job as an aerospace engineer in early 2023.

I put my engineering skills to good use as I created the first Buchart Colbert fragrance, L’Hantise, or The Haunting, in the winter of 2023 on the kitchen counter. L’Hantise is a soft reminder of a music career left behind, while the next fragrance, Knife Thrower, is about boldly forging ahead. It turned out that my years of music study and performance, combined with a new lens of engineering, had helped me interpret the world of fragrance through a combined language of pattern, layer, and story. Rooted in my deep love of music, it was all coming together.

Sean Cavenaugh and Sean Colbert (Colbert is the perfumer) “The Seans”

After years of connecting the dots between music, storytelling, artistry, and self-expression, Buchart Colbert launched its debut collection of six fragrances in October 2024. Developing a fragrance brand has been a deeply transformative experience, combining creative passion with the challenges of building a business from scratch. This venture allows me to craft scents that celebrate individuality while navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the modern fragrance industry.

Sean Colbert of Buchart Colbert perfumer

Sean Colbert of Buchart Colbert at his perfume work space

American Perfumery: American perfumery has given me a canvas to create something unique and new. It has flourished into a bold, innovative art form that defies convention and celebrates individuality. Regardless of geographic or educational opportunities, inspiration finds its way into creating something uniquely expressive and full of heart. I credit this environment for supporting my own voice as a self-taught perfumer. From indie artisans crafting fragrances by hand, to niche houses redefining luxury, American perfumery is forging its own path on the global stage.

Buchart Colbert perfumes

Buchart Colbert Eaux de Parfum

Drawing from diverse influences across eras and dimensions, American perfumery also embraces themes of inclusivity and self-expression. Like Buchart Colbert, unisex fragrances that prioritize scent over gender invite wearers into immersive olfactory worlds, transforming perfume into a medium for exploring and defining personal narratives. I am excited to be part of this vibrant art as it continues to evolve and transcend expectations and traditions, while still honoring a timeless artform.

John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent Self Portrait common use

Favorite American Artist: Although my artistic interests and tastes vary, during a recent visit to The Metropolitan Art Museum in New York City I found myself captivated by the portraits of John Singer Sargent. An American artist with international roots, his ability to capture not just the physical likeness but the very essence of his subjects struck me deeply. Each brushstroke seems to breathe life into the canvas, revealing a world of subtle emotions and untold stories. Sargent’s mastery of light and texture creates an almost cinematic quality, drawing the viewer into the intimacy of each moment. Like my devotion to timeless elegance with a modern twist, his work reminds me of the power of art to transcend time, connecting us to people and emotions in a very immediate, visceral way.

–Sean Colbert, perfumer, and co-founder of Buchart Colbert

Buchart Colbert Expressions Set

Buchart Colbert Expressions Kit: L’Hantise, Le Bain de Lulu, Knife Thrower, Mischa, Faisan d’Or, Lutin Errant

Thanks to Sean Colbert of Buchart Colbert, we have a draw for a Buchart Colbert Expressions Set registered user in the US only. To enter the draw, you must be a registered reader. Please leave a comment with what you found fascinating about Sean Colbert of Buchart Colbert and his path to perfumery. Draw closes 11/25/2024

Sean Colbert of Buchart Colbert is the 178th in our American perfumer series, which officially began in 2011 with Dawn Spencer Hurwitz of DSH Perfumes.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR AMERICAN PERFUMERS AND BUY DIRECTLY FROM THEIR SITE

All photos belong to Sean Colbert of Buchart Colbert, unless otherwise noted.

Please read Hernando’s Sniffapalooza fall Ball 2024 report where Sean was a guest speaker here.

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22 comments

  • Bradley Woolslayer says:

    I thought it was interesting how at the early age of 8, Sean was already able to find joy in fragrances and allow it to transport him to an imagined area of France. I live in Maryland USA.

  • That the average layperson can craft and create fragrances without formal training has always amazed me. That
    he combined his passion of music and scent to create Buchart Colbert from the ground up with no formal training in perfumery or running a business is inspiring– From a child experiencing the nuances of a well-made fragrance that sparked his interest in the craftsmanship of perfume, he took his love of music and fragrance, combining them— perfumery was similar to playing and composing music for him: “music notes flow in and around one another to create a transportive harmony, melody, or symphony, a complex fragrance dances in a rich, layered tapestry of story, emotion, and memory”. As an indie brand, his story is compelling.
    USA

  • American indie perfumery and discover set, my two favorite things!!
    Interesting to hear about how your experance with music affects how you create fragrence. The “ability to capture not just the physical likeness but the very essence..” is how I judge good art, musical, painting and fragreence.

    Wishing you luck on your newest endeavor!
    Seth
    NY
    Facebook was liked

  • Hi from NYC! I LOVE the inspiration and as a classical pianist, I’m excited to see fragrance and classical music come together. I know there’s a lot of Italian ones based on Puccini’s works but it’s so thrilling to see the link between the art of fragrance and like…Rossignol and Lulu! Can’t wait to find something I love here and be able to wear it in concert!

  • Eris.can.swatch.kaos says:

    What an amazing introduction to this new house. I love how Sean’s background in music and engineering really assists him in perfumery. An appreciation for art of all kinds is a must in creating new and profound perfume, I’m more than interested in learning more. I would love to get my hands on this collection. I live in Oregon.

  • Sean Colbert stands out to me for his unique journey into perfumery, blending artistic sensibility with a strong connection to nature and design.
    USA

  • I love this story. As a musician and music lover myself I totally get how music & perfume can transport you to different times and places in a flash. I would love to get my nose on this gift set and be transported.

    Los Angeles Ca. USA

  • Sandy Davidson says:

    Through following Buchart Colbert, I have learned perfumery is an art form to which I respond, “who knew”. Reading the article was a joyful experience. Watching the artistry of Sean Colbert develop through his life was very pleasing and made so much sense. I compared it to finding the missing puzzle piece. The evolution made perfect sense. I am so pleased to see him on the CaFleureBon Profiles. I wanted to “like” this profile on that site, but it was unavailable at the moment. Kudos to the Seans whom I admire and appreciate.

  • I find it interesting that many perfumers have additional talents in the arts. Sean’s experience with the viola and performing as a member of the SF youth orchestra is impressive. I can imagine the creation of perfume has analogies to learning and playing, particularly symphonic music. His collection of scent Expressions sounds amazing! I appreciate that they are genderless and each tells a story. MD, USA.

    I also like Profiles in American Perfumery on FB

  • Regis Monkton says:

    I like it that Sean likes Dior “Poison”, and that he preferred to be a perfumer over being a professional musician. I’m fond of a lot of unisex fragrances, so I appreciate it when Sean describes his fragrances as “unisex fragrances that prioritize scent over gender”. I’d love to try their discovery set. I live in MD, USA.

  • Wow, an amazingly artistic person in so many fields! I love that he recognized the Hermes as too old for him at that age; that’s a rare thing in people. Also the sense of interconnectivity in all the arts enhancing the chosen form of creation is awesome! Very intrigued by this perfumer!

  • What a great Profile in American Perfumery! Occasionally, a Worldwide lockdown can plunge us into our actual paths. I loved how Sean connected fragrance and music to portals that can transport. I wish you much success.

  • When reading these profiles of American perfumers, I always like noting the childhood scents that they remember; Colbert’s memory of the grape harvest in autumn stands out. The connections he draws between musical composition and perfumery are a highlight of his profile. I was interested to read how he thinks of his experience with music performance as interpretation, but perfumery as an act of personal creation. Also, I love the distinctive and evocative naming of his fragrances, each implying a story in miniature (“The Haunting”, “Knife Thrower”). Colbert’s comments about music, engineering and John Singer Sargent’s portraiture is a reminder that skilled perfumers are often consider art and design across multiple media. This essay was a terrific read.

    I’m in the USA. I like CaFleurebonProfiles: American Perfumery on Facebook. Thanks!

  • I wish someone would have gifted me such a fine fragrance at that age. Maybe I’d have discovered this amazing world of niche fragrances sooner (I was wearing Avon back at that age). That darn covid had too much of a negative impact on a lot of people. What an interesting career change. American perfume needs to continue forward!! Sadly most of my collection is French and Italian. Thanks for the chance. USA.

  • Sean Colbert seems like a real Renaissance man with his background in music and his degree in aerospace engineering. I like his approach to creating perfume. I agree perfume should be a mechanism for personal exploration and I like the philosophy of transforming perfume into a medium for exploring and defining personal narratives. The discovery set sounds fascinating. I liked the facebook page, CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery. USA.

  • I like how he equated music with perfume and talked about patterns, layering, story, melody, harmony etc. I think the names are quite unique and I’m super curious about the fragrances! Great to see a musician making perfume. I am in the U.S.

  • foreverscents says:

    This was definitely one of the best Profiles in American Perfume that I have read. I was fascinated by what Sean Colbert wrote about the intersection between the artistry of perfume and the artistry of music. What a rich tapestry this creates! I also enjoyed reading the descriptions of the perfumes on the Buchart Colbert website. I loved the narratives that have been suggested by these fine fragrances.
    I live in the USA.

  • I feel that most of us started admiring the “fragrant lifestyle” at an early age. Whether it’s from studying the grooming routines of the adults around us or we became infatuated with scents after becoming adults ourselves, career minded, goal oriented, and now armed with expendable cash to delve deep into this hobby that oftentimes can come off as an obsession. When Sean expressed his interest from an early age i think most of us can relate. Maybe too early to wear for a child to fully appreciate but still understandably eager to begin the fragrant journey. I’ll never forget in fourth grade I would douse myself in Jovan musk. Classmates would tease me saying I stunk and was always musty. It wasn’t until my teacher said that I smelled like a French whore in front of everyone I realized you can’t win over everyone. Now skip forward 30 years and I have the opposite problem, strangers following in store, some get close trying to sniff my neck, and many inquire about my scents even if they don’t give a flat out compliment. To the children all over the globe…wear it, own it, love it and always enjoy. Might seem insignificant but fragrances set us apart from the pack and show our uniqueness and creative spirit. Thank you for letting me share this with the fragrant family. From Jacksonville, NC

  • I’ve seen this new house on social media, so this is exciting to learn more about the founder/perfumer. As a huge music lover, I am always in awe of musicians and creatives. Sean Colbert is inspiring as someone who is driven to create through all life’s changes. I would love to try these scents! They look as though you’ll be able to feel the love through the scents. in US

  • Oh darn, I missed the deadline, but I still enjoyed the review ands finalize out more about these perfumes. I will look into these scents
    Thank you for a wonderful review

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thanks for the lovely writeup! I really enjoyed about reading Sean’s path into perfumery – from a child who enjoyed fragrances, to a classically trained musician, an engineer and then a perfumer.

    I would love to try this brand.

    Cheers from WI, USA