Stephen Nilsen
“I often come from a technical side, so it’s about finding the right balance.”
It wasn’t until Stephen Nilsen read an article about the fragrance industry in National Geographic that he realized what it even was. His intrigue was cemented when he synthesized different aroma molecules during a high school chemistry class. “That's when I realized chemistry is a gateway into this,” he says.
Stephen earned a PhD from Stanford in chemical engineering “because it is about taking pure science and bringing it to the people.” After graduating, he cold called all the fine fragrance companies, but they said he didn’t have the qualifications. “So, I set myself a 30-year goal to get into the fragrance industry,” he says. “I knew it'd be hard.” He eventually landed a position as a flavorist, received on-the-job training and patiently worked his way over to perfumery. “I always tell people, take any opportunity that comes your way,”
he says. “Curiosity is the best thing.”
