The Artisan
The Story of David Apel
David Apel was born in 1959 in Ringwood, New Jersey, an outdoorsy boy whose passion for exploring forests and coastlines led him to study environmental chemistry. An unexpected job offer from Givaudan brought him to perfumery in 1980, where he started in the gas chromatography lab analyzing products already on the market. This analytical grounding gave him a deep knowledge of raw materials complexity and shaped his philosophy: every perfume is a work in progress, art is seldom finished. He joined the American Society of Perfumers apprenticeship programme in 1990 and received the Young Perfumer Award in 1991. As a junior perfumer he began landing senior assignments and was sent to work alongside the leading European perfumers in Paris from 1993 to 1997. There, he drew strength from the uninhibited freedom of being an outsider, with the landscapes of his native New England always in mind. He returned to the US to open Fragrance Resources' Fine Fragrance Creation center in New York, then rejoined Givaudan as Executive Perfumer of Fine Fragrance in 2001. He joined Symrise as Vice President and Senior Perfumer in 2007, where he works today. He is married to perfumer Caroline Sabas and they have five children together.
Philosophy
Apel approaches fragrance creation with a philosophy rooted in patience and continuous refinement. He believes every perfume can be considered a work in progress, embracing the idea that art is rarely ever truly finished. He welcomes the unexpected as a gift, finding creative surprise in the unpredictable moments of life. His work reflects a balance between rigorous technical understanding and emotional intuition, a duality born from his early days in analytical chemistry and his later immersion in artistic perfumery. The landscapes of his New England upbringing remain a quiet influence, grounding his creations in both memory and sensation.
Creative Approach
Apel's style draws from over four decades of experience across the industry's most respected houses. His background in chromatography gave him an exceptional understanding of raw materials and their behavior in formulation. He gravitates toward bold contrasts and unexpected combinations, whether creating sensual, dark-oriental compositions or bright, crisp fragrance profiles. His work spans from mass market accessibility to luxury niche, demonstrating versatility and consistency in quality. Signature moves include layering luminous florals against deep, resinous bases and balancing airy freshness with warm, enveloping sensuality.
At a Glance
1980
46+ years of craft
1
Total career creations
1
Single house focus
4.2
Community sentiment
Signature Style
“Apel's style draws from over four decades of experience across the industry's most respected houses.”
Notable Creations
Escape for Men
Black Orchid
White Jasmine & Mint
Hugo
Hei