Christine Nagel

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, of an Italian mother, Christine Nagel combines her scientific skills, the rigour of her native land and a radiant Mediterranean generosity with harmony and passion.

Brought up far from Grasse and the world of perfumery, Christine Nagel’s encounter with perfume came about through her studies in organic chemistry at the University of Geneva. She joined the research department at Firmenich, where she learned to analyse aromatic raw materials down to molecular level using chromatography. This close collaboration with the world of perfumery inspired her vocation.

In the late 1980s, Christine was appointed to Créations Aromatiques in Geneva, where she developed the chromatography department. Here, she made the acquaintance of perfumer Michel Almairac and became his student. It was under his watchful and benevolent eye that she created her first fragrances. In 1997, Quest International invited her to Paris.

As her style became established, she attracted the attention of Givaudan. In 2000, she returned to her roots and joined the Swiss company. Guided by her love of beautiful raw materials, both natural and synthetic, and driven by a never-ending desire to discover new ingredients and unprecedented scents, her reputation spread internationally. She agreed to take over from Pierre Bourdon at Fragrance Ressources, knowing that she would be able to take risks, be daring, and create without constraints to progress further. Three years of serene creation confirmed her status as a trailblazing nose.

In 2011, Christine was offered the role of creative director at Mane, including responsibility for their perfumery school, which allowed her to show her full potential. It was a wonderful opportunity that brought together all her expertise in creation, training and research.

As time passed and her creations gained recognition, Christine Nagel was keen to become an in-house perfumer, but there was only one house that captured her imagination, and that was Hermès.

In 2014, she joined Hermès Parfums as exclusive Creator-Perfumer and in 2016 took over the reins of creation and olfactory heritage at Hermès.