Sophia Grojsman : Perfumer Interview

To say that Sophia Grojsman is responsible for a revolution in perfumery is an understatement. Her unique vision ushered in a new style of fragrances that broke with the traditional classical forms. Indeed, she is a Picasso of perfumery, with her fragrances unfolding into visions that were as progressive as they were breathtaking. Just like Cubism fragmented three-dimensional forms, intertwining the elements in such a way as to present multiple views of the same subject, Sophia Grojsman’s fragrances changed one’s perspective by allowing the base notes to be visible from the top.
sophia grojsmanAt the time, when fragrances were created using several hundred components, she started composing scents, the main accord of which weaved only four to seven ingredients. And in those few masterfully selected strokes she was able to conjure images and sensations that were previously rarely experienced. From Yves Saint Laurent Paris to S-Perfume 100% Love, Sophia Grojsman’s creations are marked by a sensual silkiness recalling flower petals and a luscious softness that does not compromise the strong and confident character of her fragrances. After all, they are created by a woman whose strength and dedication to her work are not in conflict with her warmth and generosity.

I meet Sophia Grojsman at the International Flavors & Fragrances offices in Manhattan. Passing through the quiet, elegantly minimalist hallways featuring niches with recent IFF releases—Michael Kors Island, Prada Eau de Parfum, Calvin Klein Euphoria, I wonder what my first impression might be of the woman whose Lancôme Trésor became an indelible part of my teenage years. At first, I can hardly believe that the vivacious woman with large green eyes is Sophia Grojsman, because even though she proudly mentioned that she recently turned 60 over the phone, she looks much younger in person. She speaks with confidence and ease and her charisma is almost palpable. Not to be won over by her warmth is simply impossible. Five minutes into our conversation, and we are already laughing heartily.

When writing about Sophia Grojsman, one is tempted to draw contrasts between her background as a Soviet émigré and her current status as one of the most influential perfumers of IFF, which is among the leading fragrance companies. Yet, if asked what defines her and what gives her a creative impetus, she points to a large collage board in her cabinet covered in photos of the children of all of her numerous friends and associates. “I am a mother, and that is my inspiration.” During our conversation, people walk in and out of her office, whether it might be one of the younger perfumers, or an assistant dropping off samples. “I feel like a mother to all of these kids here,” she says, her face lighting up in a warm smile.

It is often said that the olfactory memories formed in childhood are among the strongest. Sophia Grojsman grew up in a small Belarussian town. It was just after the war and the flowers from the surrounding fields took the place of toys. Her sense of smell was always very acute and as a child Ms. Grojsman would go to the market with her mother to shop for food. “Since we did not have refrigeration, my mother would ask me to taste the butter, milk, and cottage cheese in order to determine their freshness. If I would make a face, she knew that the food would spoil within a day and she would never buy it.”

At the age of fifteen, she and her family left for Poland, where she studied inorganic analytic chemistry. Her work in perfumery did not start right away, and Ms. Grojsman started her career at IFF as a lab technician. She remembers, “I came in for an interview at IFF and I talked to the perfumer who worked on the functional products, such as depilatories. She told me that I was overqualified for a job as a lab technician; however, since I had no other way to make ends meet, I was ready to do anything. I stayed with her for 4 years. At the same time, I had to adjust to learn about organic chemistry. Fragrance chemistry was a completely different subject from what I studied. However, I was always very curious, and this quality helped me learn quickly.”

Indeed, the learning and the dedication required were significant, because Ms. Grojsman’s path towards becoming a perfumer was not straightforward. She credits Josephine Catapano for encouraging her. Catapano was one of the first renowned American perfumers working for IFF. Hers is a stunning Guy Laroche Fidji (1965), an intricate melody of green flowers reminiscent of tropical breezes. “She was a model for me. She was a simple woman, born into a family of Italian immigrants, and she had only a high school education. I could see that she created instinctively, and I was fascinated by it.” Catapano was the person who suggested that after being with the company for 4 years, Ms. Grojsman should take the olfactory test, which was given to 60 people outside the company. “Who would think that I might pass this test? The test entailed identifying 10-12 different ingredients. I passed the test with flying colors, but it did not mean anything, because I was an immigrant from Russia. Moreover, I was not French. How could I be a perfumer in the first place! I did not fit the bill. So, I thought that I would go to medical school. I would work in the morning and take college courses in the evening. A year went by and nothing happened, at which point Josephine went to the top management and made sure that they gave me an opportunity and put me in training.”

We speak about her early work. “You came with different experiences to perfumery…” I begin. She interrupts me, her eyes twinkling, “I had no experience! I smelled things in the lab, but I never knew how the perfume was made. My impression was that you collect the flowers, put them in alcohol and then you mix them. I learned in the midst of experimenting and studying.” She laughs as she dips a strip into a vial containing pale orange liquid. A cloud of roses touched by musky apricots rises forth, a vision of Trésor. “All of the skeleton of Trésor is in this accord. This is the soul of it. I would add other notes to this sketch and you would have Trésor, in full flesh.” However, as the scent blossoms, stronger and sharper than the finished composition, it is Trésor unmistakably. “When I started creating accords, I tended to simplify and simplify, which impressed Ernest Shiftan, my mentor.” The formulas at the time were built from several hundred ingredients, mostly because subcompounds were widely employed. For instance, the rose subcompound contained about 100 ingredients in it. A formula might contain several of such subcompounds representing various notes, rose, jasmine, orange blossom, etc. “However, I thought to myself, why should rose be that complicated? I started doing quick simplified rose pieces.”

“Do you see me and all of these of little accessories – that is me and my style,” Ms. Grojsman points at her brightly colored jewelry and ornamental pieces of her black top. “I usually create the main accord with only 4-7 ingredients, which give the character of this accord. This is the core and then I can take it in whatever direction I choose. It is like drawing a flower—at first, you draw a heart and then you start by painting petals.”

Flowers are not an incidental reference for Ms. Grojsman, whose floral accords are rightfully famous. Whether she creates the scintillating fantasy blue rose in Yvresse or the opulent pink rose of Paris, in her hands the familiar flower takes new forms, previously unexplored. “Rose is a flower of love; it is the first flower that a man gives to a woman. Petals of roses have this luxurious, rich smell that is familiar. My competitors would always say that everything I make is rosey. And even if I did not have any roses in the composition, they would still say that it is too rosey,” She makes a motion with her hand dismissing such criticism. “However, what is wrong with this? When I started, I realized that I need to have a focus. Every time I would start making a new accord, I would create a rose story, but it would be different from what I have done before.”

Each creator has a style that favors some ingredients and avoids others. “I do not like masculine ingredients in feminine fragrances,” she replies unequivocally to my question. “I am tired of lemons and ozonic notes. They are about cleanliness, rather than sensuality. This is good for laundry and room spray; however, in my fragrances they have no place, because my structures are very specific, therefore each ingredient means something. So, I am always trying to use ingredients that accommodate my thinking. If something is odd, it would bother me. Therefore, I avoid citrus and fresh notes in my fragrances. On the other hand, I do not like anything too sweet and sticky. I like to have an aura, a fantasy of dessert. We can easily do foody things; however, it is more interesting to create an impression.” Ms. Grojsman hands me a strip that emanates the most indescribably lovely smell, strange, haunting and very sensual. “I like to create fragrances that make a woman feel happy and beautiful,” she smiles, observing my reaction.

In contrast to the sequential forms of traditional perfumery, she gave rise to a style of monolithic compositions that retain their harmony from top to bottom. Apply Paris, a composition that was inspired by the violet accord of Guerlain Après l’Ondée, and enjoy the vibrancy of its plum suffused rose and violet softness. A few hours later, even though the composition has changed slightly, its essential character of lush rosey softness and warmth will be retained. “Through the top notes, you can see the base. It does not mean that the composition is static. After all, if the fragrance is the same from top to bottom, it will get boring. As it evaporates, it should bring other images and emotions. However, it cannot change dramatically. If the top note is very different from the body and if it is not connected well, then the experience is irritating. The art of perfumery is all in polishing and in structure.”

Ms. Grojsman’s list of creations is impressive, including Yves Saint Laurent Paris, Yves Saint Laurent Yvresse, Calvin Klein Eternity for Women, Lancome Tresor, Perry Ellis 360, Laura Biagotti Sotto Voce, Sun Moon Stars Karl Lagerfeld, Elizabeth Taylor Black Pearls, Boucheron Jaipur, Prescriptives Calyx, Estee Lauder White Linen, Vanderbilt, Bill Blass Nude. She was also a part of numerous other projects, and I ask her if she has a favorite. “How can you ask mother which child she prefers?” She shakes her head, “It is not a fair question, but I would say that the one that you had the most fabulous experience with is always going to be a favorite. Moreover, you feel special attachments with those fragrances that you want to get on the market because you want to prove that there is a new way of making a fragrance.”

Ms. Grojsman’s latest fragrance, S-Perfume 100% Love, is such a composition. It is fascinating on many levels, a fragrance that showcases its creator’s great talent for weaving a delicate motif of sensual warmth and luscious richness while at the same time soaring like an ethereal vision. Its stunning veil of wet roses and dark chocolate touches the skin like a tender kiss. “I like to work with Nobi [Sacré Nobi, the sculptor and the founder of S-Perfume]. He is a deep thinker and he understands the relationship between art and perfume. Moreover, whenever you do something innovative and different, there are always people who do not understand it. Even in the industry, not everyone is open minded. However, my collaboration with S-Perfume was satisfying on this level. I am proud of 100% Love and I love to create unusual and crazy things with Nobi.” She adds, laughing, “I like to make life more entertaining for myself.”

If asked about the creative process, Ms. Grojsman would say that each creation is an experience. “There are times in your life when certain things happen and you want to find peace in what you do. Any creation is enjoyable if the dream is allowed to come to reality. When you have fantasy, you begin to dream about it, visualizing the desired object in the process. The same way, the creative perfumer is trying to reach an accord that he has in his mind. Perfume is like music, and when I begin to compose a scent, like musical composition, it already has a melody in my imagination. If the directions from the client prevent me from reaching it, the process of creation becomes very difficult. If I do not love it, nobody will love the fragrance. There are of course cases when I love it, but the fragrance is not understood, but that is another story. Competition is great and between the creator and the consumer, there are many people involved. By the time, the creator makes an experiment and the fragrance gets to the buyer, the item has changed very much. Sometimes the fragrances are done in a hurry, with short time horizons. Whenever I have spare moments, I return to my original idea that I feel should be explored further.”

With the number of releases increasing rapidly every year, it is difficult not to wonder what might happen to the industry. Can the current oversaturation of the market be sustained? Ms. Grojsman reflects, “Each little company is coming out with 2-3 fragrances a year, because they do not know which one is going to sell. This is why we have 680 fragrances per year. How can a client or a person in the street make up their mind as to what they want? Moreover, perfume does not seem like a luxury item anymore. When I was working on some of my most popular perfumes, it was the best time for the industry, and I was lucky that I was in it at the most productive time of perfumery.”

“Nevertheless, I believe that at the time of upheaval and economic and political troubles, perfume can function like a tranquilizer, without being a drug. It is at this time that gourmand fragrances, with notes of chocolate, vanilla and marzipan are becoming popular. These sweet notes remind us of pleasant times, warmth of home and childhood. Of course, once we say this, next thing—200 fragrances will be the same. Some change will have to take place in the industry, whether it might be that the number of fragrance companies will decrease, or through the introduction of patenting of some sort. Right now the situation is not ideal. Why should there be 50 fragrances that smell exactly the same?” Her kohl-rimmed eyes frown as she continues, “Another problematic issue has to do with the shortage of oil and the restrictions placed on the use of naturals through the incredible increase in their costs and the discoveries of their allergenic potential. In this light, it is going to be difficult for perfumery to be as elaborate as it was before.”

I ask Ms. Grojsman whose work in perfumery she admires. She thinks a little before replying. “Every perfumer is an artist and every perfumer who puts something on the shelf is a specialist. Whether I like the fragrance or not, it is a piece of art and I respect it, because it contains their blood, sweat and tears. It is a piece of art, especially if someone made something that did not exist before. I can still see an innovation, even if I do not care for the finished result. Sometimes one finds fragrances that are not great, but that have a beginning of something new and different. It is much easier to make the next step to improve upon the innovation. It is a difficult and competitive profession, which is why we have to be respectful of each other.”

We chat about interests outside perfumery, and Ms. Grojsman tells me about her love for singing and music, her poetry and her favorite dances. “Just like in my work, I am always looking for something new and unusual, I love to add special touches to the clothes I wear and the dishes I make.”

In conclusion, we return to the question of origins. Ms. Grojsman left at fifteen; however, she firmly believes that her upbringing in Russia gave her memories that will last her a lifetime. “I learned the decency and love for a fellow human being, but the freedom I got in the States gave me new opportunities. In my heart, I am Russian. Despite all of the changes in my life, the roots will remain and one cannot forget the soil upon which one grew up. You can take me out of Russia, but you cannot take Russia out of me.”

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56 Comments

  • Octavian: This interview is amazing ! Congratulations for this wonderful oportunity to have interviewed this great perfumer, Sophia Grojsman. It is said that big companies do not promote their perfumers and on their sites there is almost nothing about them. I was surprised that on IFF site there is nothing about the work of their predecessors Shiftan and Catapano….Again reading your blog made a good and happy start for this day. March 6, 2006 at 1:14am Reply

  • marchlion: Fascinating interview! I liked her discussion of fragrances as art, something she can admire even if she doesn’t care for them. I am going to put on some 100% love as well. March 6, 2006 at 10:26am Reply

  • Rafael: What a beutiful interview! While reading it, I had the feeling of having known this person before. Maybe because I am a big fan of Ms. Sophia Grojsman’s work and, as she says, perfume contains the perfumer’s blood, sweat and tears.
    Thanks V for such a great piece!
    Regards, R. March 6, 2006 at 10:29am Reply

  • Robin: Standing ovation, V — a wonderful interview and a beautiful portrait of one of the all time great perfumers. March 6, 2006 at 11:09am Reply

  • Marina: Wonderful interview, thank you so much, it was such a pleasure to read. (Especially the last paragraph :-)) March 6, 2006 at 8:27am Reply

  • Linda: Thank you for this excellent interview! I never knew that Paris was inspired by Apres L’Ondee. I will wear it today in your and Sophia Grojsman’s honor. March 6, 2006 at 1:37pm Reply

  • Laura: This is a superlative interview, V. I don’t know Sophia Grojsman personally, but I have such a vivid sense of her vitality, warmth, passion and beauty after having read your profile of her. Women’s stories interest me greatly—and hers is exciting and inspiring! I have put on 100% Love this morning, in her honor and your honor. Thanks for a lovely experience. March 6, 2006 at 9:12am Reply

  • RR: Fab interview!!! Thank you, thank you.

    PS: Isn’t it Prescriptives (rather than Clinique) Calyx? March 6, 2006 at 2:23pm Reply

  • Donna: Thanks for such a great article! I am wearing YSL Champagne (it is now called Yvresse, I believe). If you speak with Sophia Grojsman again, please tell her how much I love her work. How wonderful that you had an opportunity to speak with this great perfumer in person. March 6, 2006 at 4:56pm Reply

  • Marcello: Simply wonderful! Many thanks for all your hard work to make this interview happen in the first place, and for executing it so brilliantly. Deeply appreciated!

    Among several things, the following part got my attention: “In this light [shortage of oil and the restrictions placed on the use of naturals] it is going to be difficult for perfumery to be as elaborate as it was before”. Food for thought, I believe. March 6, 2006 at 2:14pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Octavian, thank you. I was always curious in the work by Catapano and Shiftan as well, ans it was interesting to hear about them from Sophia Grojsman. Catapano’s Norell and Fidji are unforgettable. Like you, I always wish to know more about perfumers and what influences them. Of course, it is a great honour to be able to speak with Ms. Grojsman directly. I am glad I could share this experience with you and others. March 6, 2006 at 2:44pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: M, I knew that it might catch your attention. Ms. Grojsman is very clear about remembering her roots, and it is wonderful and refreshing. March 6, 2006 at 2:45pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: L, I cannot agree more! I also find her story very inspiring. As someone who has been through a lot in order to achieve her current position, she is a role model. And yet she is warm, kind and generous. A rare combination indeed. March 6, 2006 at 2:46pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: March, I think that it is true in many ways. Her attitude is very respectful, although she seems like a woman who speaks her mind. March 6, 2006 at 2:55pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Rafael, she is very passionate about her work, and it is very clear from the first encounter. I think that it is rare to have a chance to hear someone speak candidly on many of these topics, and of course, it is a pleasure to write about it. March 6, 2006 at 2:59pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: R, thank you! My goal has been to capture Sophia Grojsman as best as I could. She is a genius perfumer and an amazing person! March 6, 2006 at 3:01pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: L, thank you! I could see the connection, because Paris seems like a rose made up of violets. It is quite stunning. March 6, 2006 at 3:01pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Marcello, I confess that I have had this interview in the works for a while, but the perfectionist in me kept working out details. I still think that so many things got left out for the space considerations. It was a conversation to remember.

    The quote presents food for thought indeed. Speaking with perfumers, one definitely gets range of opinions about the future of perfumery, and at some point, one decides that the topic is up for debate. However, one thing is true, the innovations would be needed in order for the perfumery to progress and evolve. It is much like any other creative field, although there are so many parameters by which the perfumers have to abide, from creative to health-related concerns. March 6, 2006 at 3:06pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: RR, thank you! And yes, Calyx is by Prescriptives. I thought that I changed it last night, but apparently not. Thanks for pointing it out. March 6, 2006 at 3:07pm Reply

  • paru: Wow, this is a wonderful interview. It gives the impression that Sophia’s personality is bursting off the page! It really must have been a wonderful experience. March 6, 2006 at 9:09pm Reply

  • Helena R.: Your beautiful writing about Sophia Grossman inspired me to take out my bottle of Paris. I loved learning that it was inspired by Apres L’Ondee, which is one of my favorite perfumes. I bet it was a conversation to remember! Visiting your blog makes my day, as always. March 6, 2006 at 10:45pm Reply

  • Helena R.: Oops! I meant to spell Grojsman. March 6, 2006 at 10:47pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Donna, I also love Champagne/Yvresse. It has the most fascinating balance between the floral, fruity and mossy accords. I also love the original name and bottle. Too bad that it had to be renamed. March 6, 2006 at 9:02pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: P, I am glad. She is such an interesting person, and I only hope that the article does justice to her. It was a great experience! March 6, 2006 at 10:57pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Helena, interesting, isn’t it? It made perfect sense to me upon reflection. Paris is one of my favourite roses, but ironically it is more violet than rose. No wonder my other rose favourites are rather abstract. Thank you for your nice compliments. March 6, 2006 at 10:58pm Reply

  • Judith: I just wanted to thank you for the absolutely fascinating interview. Wonderful and so informative! (No need for a reply.) March 7, 2006 at 9:30am Reply

  • Håkan Nellmar: Thanks for a wonderful interview with a perfumer I admire very much, even though I don’t always agree with her opinions (for example she don’t think men should wear women’s perfumes). Very well done.

    My favourite of hers is Paris. I had no idea she was inspired by Aprés l’Ondée. March 7, 2006 at 9:32am Reply

  • Anya: What a wonderful interview, V. You have given us a great insight into her he(art) and mind. It’s a winding path she took on the road to becoming a perfumer, and it seems she had her eyes wide open to all possibilities, even if she did not understand them at the time – the true sign of a genius. Now, if only I liked *one* of her perfumes! They do not appeal to me at all, yet I study them for their structure, and your interview has helped me with some insight as I “deconstruct” them. Her mass appeal and success cannot be denied, and her work will remain an art to be experienced, examined, and enjoyed for generations. March 7, 2006 at 9:12am Reply

  • mireille: What a gracious woman your interview captures, V. I admire her gracious attitude toward other artists … her humility underscores her own great talent. thank you for this. xoxo March 7, 2006 at 4:16pm Reply

  • Bela: That’s a great interview and she sounds like an interesting woman. I wish I could say I liked her creations. I’m fond of White Linen in body lotion form, but that’s it. March 7, 2006 at 5:33pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Anya, thank you. I believe that Ms. Grojsman’s contribution lies as much in her genius as in her ability to bring something new and unexpected into the world of perfumery. Her experiences, her worldview, her memories–all of it must have contributed to a new and refreshing vision. I have always loved Tresor, although Paris, Yvresse, Calyx, White Linen are among my favourites too. Oh, also Sotto Voce (unfortunately, it is now discontinued) and 100% Love. March 7, 2006 at 10:50pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Judith, it was truly my pleasure! I cannot imagine what more could I have wanted from a meeting like this! March 7, 2006 at 10:51pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Håkan, she is really not that doctrinaire on that topic (at least, based on our conversation), but I can see how she can be considered a person who does not mince her words. It is very refreshing. Paris is also among my favourites. March 7, 2006 at 10:59pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: M, she is wonderfully gracious. As I was writing about our meeting, I remembered more and more details. It was impossible to decide what to include and what to leave out. I only hope that my article captures some of her personality. March 7, 2006 at 11:11pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: J, I love White Linen (the ancillary range is great too), and it is one of the fragrances I reach for whenever I do not know what to wear. Its velvety aldehydic veil is perfect on those days. Glad you enjoyed the interview. March 7, 2006 at 11:13pm Reply

  • Diane: What a brilliant article on a remarkable woman! I enjoyed reading that so much. It was fascinating on so many levels — from her Russian roots to her education to her adamant refusal to incorporate anything masculine, citrus, and ozonic. She sounds like she has so much spunk. I bet she was terrific fun to interview.

    Like a lot of girls, I went through a Tresor phase. Wore it silly. Smelled good, too. Got lots of compliments back then. I also loved Sotto Voce, wore Sun, Moon, and Stars, as well as Yvresse. My mother wore White Linen (she also used the body powder, which was lovely on her).

    I am so glad to have returned to the online living so that I may read your amazing article. It has jumpstarted my morning in a way that I thought only 100% caffeine could (says she as she pines for her 100% Love). 🙂 Bravo, darling, as well as a big hug!

    (P.S. Did you get it?) 🙂 March 8, 2006 at 11:15am Reply

  • songscent: I’m so glad to have tuned in to read all about the great Sophia Grojsman. I’ve worn many of her creations including YSL Paris.

    It was very interesting reading about how many people are involved with the creation of a scent from the original inspiration to its finish, changing the scent along the way. I can only imagine how many people would want to put in their two cents when designing a perfume for a huge account. One day, I hope to smell some of Ms. Grosjman’s original creations, the scents she always goes back to.

    I also think her dedication to structure which leaves out the androgynous or angular is true to her own style and shows she’s not afraid to go against the grain. I can understand what she means by oddity in a blend not sitting well with her. I’m just now getting into odd elements in feminine scents whereas I never did before…I wonder if Ms. Grosjman might also change her view one day and surprise us. Whether she will or won’t doesn’t matter to me; I think she is an artist to be revered and I respect her tastes and vision. We shouldn’t all have to make the same things–consumers are hip and want variety in life!

    Perfumespeak aside, I feel the emotions behind this interview so much. Ms. Grosjman sounds like a woman who lives and loves fully no matter what the circumstance and that’s inspiring. Thank you, Victoria, for making this interview happen.

    Sali Oguri
    http://pinkmanhattan.blogspot.com March 8, 2006 at 10:19pm Reply

  • N: Wonderful article dear V! I cannot wear most of her creations except White Linen (wore this many many years ago but not any longer), then went through a couple of bottles of Tresor (now I cannot) and the 100% love that you sent me. She seems to be a very fascinating person who loves life and I truly admire her for all that she has achieved.

    Hope you are well.

    Hugs! March 9, 2006 at 2:53am Reply

  • annE: Thank you so much for a riveting article! Ms. Grosjman’s personality came shining through and I was entranced while reading about her – she does sound like a truly exceptional person and great role model.

    I sometimes am leery of finding out too much about the personalities of artists whose work I love – I fear that I will be disappointed in the person and lose the appreciation of the art. In this case, my appreciation was only enhanced.

    Thanks again for sharing your experience with us. I hope you’re saving all your material for a future book. 🙂 March 9, 2006 at 11:33am Reply

  • Prisca: Great interview – thank you so much for this sensible article! What a great artiste and what a amazing personality. Champagne and then Yvresse were and are indispensable “basics” in my perfume world and of course I do admire the entire oeuvre of S.G. – and YOUR masterly skill in writing! March 9, 2006 at 12:03pm Reply

  • Constance: V, Thank you so much for this wonderful interview! Very insightful. March 9, 2006 at 1:04pm Reply

  • Artisankey: Lovely to know that such a genius can also be such a warm and genuine individual. Thanks for bringing us all a little closer to a remarkable perfumer and woman. March 10, 2006 at 1:07am Reply

  • Ayala: Victoria, thank you for such a lovely intenrnview – it was a wonderful read! I am now deeply in love with Bvlgari pour Femme and enjoying it a lot. This is definitley my favourite of all of Grojsman perfumes that I have tried so far. I am now inspired to explore more of her scents. But I think what I found most intriguing about the article is how her personality came through. She sounds like such a warm, caring and passionate lady! And yet bold and strong at the same time – a quality which I can feel in her perfumes as well. By the way, I heard that she is a smoker. Is that true? It’s hard for me to imagine being a perfumer and a smoker. But I heard it is quite common in the field… March 10, 2006 at 12:20am Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: She was absolutely the best interviewing partner imaginable! She has a lot of spunk and warmth. I loved Tresor, and I still think about it with fondness. I will always have a bottle of it in my collection.

    How I adored Sotto Voce! I remember that I found a bottle of it in a cosmetic store in Bologna, and I bought it immediately. I still miss it. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued. Thank you so much lovely compliments! Hugs, D. March 10, 2006 at 11:45am Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Sali, the fragrances I have listed are the ones Ms. Grojsman worked on by herself. She was a part of numerous other projects, but when I gave her the list of fragrances, she asked me to remove a few, because as she put it, “my fingers touched them, but it was not my idea/project.” Of course, she is very happy with 100% Love, and if you have not tried it, I would highly recommend it.

    “Ms. Grosjman sounds like a woman who lives and loves fully no matter what the circumstance and that’s inspiring.” This is very true. I am glad to hear you say this, because this was the goal of my article! Thank you for your nice words. I am glad that I could make it happen. March 10, 2006 at 11:56am Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Dear N, I am glad that you enjoyed it! I also have some fragrances that mark periods of my life so much that I cannot imagine being able to wear them again. I still reach for my Tresor though, however now Paris, Yvresse, White Linen and 100% Love are my favourites. March 10, 2006 at 11:57am Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Ann, thank you very much! In this case, knowing about the creator made me appreciate her fragrances even more. Therefore, I am only too happy to share my experiences with you. March 10, 2006 at 12:53pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Prisca, I am wearing Yvresse today, and it is simply stunning–from the fizzy top accord to the warm luxurious drydown. Cannot imagine being without it. Glad that you enjoyed the article! It makes me happy hearing this. March 10, 2006 at 12:57pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Constance, my pleasure! Glad that you enjoyed it. March 10, 2006 at 1:00pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Ayala, Bvlgari pour Femme is beautiful. I recall that Ms. Grojsman worked on the 1993 reformulation. She is definitely everything you mention–warm, caring, passionate and bold. I am glad that you could get a glimpse of it through my article. March 10, 2006 at 1:04pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Artisankey, this was exactly my impression too. I was smitten by her from the first encounter. Of course, the same thing happened when I first tried Tresor. 🙂 You can definitely tell that there is a part of Ms. Grojsman’s personality in her fragrances. March 10, 2006 at 1:06pm Reply

  • Juliette: Does anybody know in wich city in Belarus Sofia Grojsman was born??? June 11, 2006 at 11:00am Reply

  • mahmood akhtar: hi i am very happy to readand seethis useful perfumersite as SOPHIA GROJMAN has told realy she is a great perfumer artist thanks mahmood August 1, 2006 at 3:08pm Reply

  • Christine: I love Sun Moon Stars by Lagerfeld. Unfortunately it is discontinued. I think it is a captivating fragrance and the bottle is beautiful. August 4, 2006 at 11:10am Reply

  • vasanthy jayakrishnan: i understand your feelings about a perfumer.since i am a student perfumer just i heard about your name in my class in india after that i have gone through your interview,it is very useful for me.I kindly request you to give only one fine fragrance formula for my demonstration.

    thanking you, October 26, 2006 at 3:43am Reply

  • Gloria: Sophia Grojsman was my neighbor and friend when I lived in Fl
    What a wonderful and such a talented lady….. Her parents whom I loved came from my neighborhood in Brooklyn I would love to hear from them I just want to know that they are happy & well
    Gloria January 22, 2007 at 9:28am Reply

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