Agustí Vidal — Master Perfumer, Scientist & Musician
A chemist by training, a musician at heart, and a perfumer by vocation — Agustí Vidal’s journey is one of rare integration. Born in Spain and based in Barcelona, Vidal’s life weaves together laboratory precision and choral emotion into fragrances that tell stories and stir memories.
Early Life & Education
Agustí Vidal earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Sciences, grounding his career in the rigors of chemistry. In 1979, he began his formal training as a perfumer, launching a decades-long dedication to the art and science of scent creation.
Simultaneously, Vidal pursued artistic studies—classical piano, musical composition, and choral conducting. These dual streams of education set the stage for his unique creative voice: a perfumer who composes with notes instead of chords.
Career Overview
In-House Perfumery & Technical Leadership
Early in his career, Vidal joined elite perfumery teams—including Symrise—providing the foundation for his technical and creative development. During this time, he also became an academic member of the Academia del Perfume (Sillón Magnolia), a mark of peer recognition within Spain’s fragrance industry.
Independent Studio & Recent Projects
In 2008, Vidal transitioned to independence, establishing his own creative perfume studio in Bigues i Riells, near Barcelona. This move allowed him to collaborate closely with brands and execute bespoke fragrance commissions, including a celebrated series inspired by desserts from chef Joan Roca, launched in February 2025.
Teaching, Lectures & Pedagogy
Agustí Vidal has also carved a significant path in fragrance education:
- Directed Lucta S.A.’s perfumery school (1984–1989)
- Lectured in the Master in Aromas and Fragrances at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (2008–2009)
- Designed workshops for schoolchildren at Perfumeria Júlia, and led internal training there (from 2011) and at Coty Spain (2012)
- Presented at international fragrance and cosmetic chemistry forums, including the opening of the XXV International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists in Barcelona (2008), and seminars across Europe and South America
Moreover, he authored El perfume. Los secretos de la elaboración del perfume (2017), a detailed and passionately written guide to the art and process of fragrance creation.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1979 | Starts formal perfumery apprenticeship. |
| 2002 | First credited fragrance, Eau de Verino for Roberto Verino . |
| 2011 | Creates Nuvol de Llimona for Roca Perfums—an early citrus-aquatic that showed his knack for light, airy accords . |
| 2019–2025 | Becomes go-to perfumer for Pepe Jeans London, releasing four feminine fragrances in six years . |
The Musical Perfumer
Since 1984, Vidal has served as the conductor of the Coral Polifònica de Granollers, a role that continues to inform his perfumery practice.
He often draws on musical analogies to describe his fragrance compositions. In his words, perfume and music are both invisible arts that rely on notes, chords, tempo, and emotional storytelling—a fragrance unfolds like a melody over time.
This deeply musical framing does more than describe—it is Vidal’s creative method and teaching method, enriching both his design process and his ability to explain fragrance creation to others.
Notable Works & Collaborations
While comprehensive fragrance credits appear in industry directories such as Fragrantica or FragancesWiki, a few standout works include:
- Eau de Verino for Roberto Verino
- Nuvol de Llimona for Roca Perfums
- Agua de Tarifa
- The desserts-inspired project with Joan Roca (2025)
These works highlight Vidal’s ability to enhance brand storytelling through olfaction, blending craft, emotion, and cultural context.
Philosophy & Creative Approach
At the core of Vidal’s philosophy is a fusion of technical knowledge and emotional resonance. His chemistry background gives him fluency in raw materials and composition, while music provides narrative, structure, and soul.
He describes fragrance creation using musical vocabulary—not just metaphorically but as a real structural approach: arranging accords like harmonies, shaping temporal development like musical phrasing.
When teaching, Vidal emphasizes transparency in the perfumery process—from extraction techniques and working with synthetics and aldehydes, to vegan considerations and balance in briefs. His seminar “Los secretos de la elaboración del perfume” unpacks these technical pathways with clarity and precision.
Publications & Media Presence
- Book (2017): El perfume. Los secretos de la elaboración del perfume—a comprehensive and richly illustrated guide for aspiring perfumers.
- Recent Features: Articles like “Las dos pasiones de Agustí Vidal” explore his dual vocations in music and perfumery, while webinars and “píldoras” from the Academia del Perfume invite audiences into his creative philosophy.
Why It Matters to U.S. Audiences
- Interdisciplinary artistry: Vidal’s seamless blend of chemistry, music, and perfumery offers a fresh and emotionally resonant perspective for fragrance enthusiasts and professionals.
- Accessible emotional language: His musical metaphors make perfumery more approachable and engaging—a plus for general readers.
- Active educator: His global seminars and publications make Vidal’s wisdom available beyond Spain, appealing to American audiences interested in fragrance design, storytelling, and creativity.
Agustí Vidal stands as a living bridge between precision and poetry, science and symphony. His longevity in the field, pedagogical reach, and ability to articulate fragrance through music make him a uniquely compelling figure in perfumery. Whether you’re researching perfumer biographies, seeking creative inspiration, or looking to understand how science and art can coalesce in fragrance, Vidal’s life and work offer invaluable insight.
