Carlos Viñals
Carlos Viñals stands apart from most perfumers because he is American, born to Cuban parents, and he never left. He began his career in 1985 as a perfume trainee at IFF, where Carlos Benaim took him under his wing. A decade later, Viñals moved to Givaudan as a perfumer, serving from 1994 to 2004. After a stint at Fragrance Resources, he joined Symrise in 2009, where he has remained as VP Senior Perfumer, building a body of work that spans nearly four decades. His portfolio spans mass-market classics and niche compositions, reflecting a career built on discipline and genuine curiosity.
The hits
Notable creations
The signature
How Carlos composes
Viñals works across a wide range, from approachable mass-market scents to intricate fine fragrances. His compositions tend toward clarity and balance, with carefully considered construction. He favors warm woods, resins, and rich florals that feel both grounded and modern. His work for Victoria's Secret and Calvin Klein demonstrates an understanding of how to craft scents with broad appeal without sacrificing sophistication. Batucada, his collaboration with Elisabeth Maier for L'Artisan Parfumeur, showcased his ability to layer rhythmic, vibrant notes into something cohesive and memorable.
Philosophy
What drives Carlos
Viñals describes himself as a methodological adrenaline junkie, and that tension shapes his work. He brings joy, precision, and a certain rock-and-roll sensibility to every project. For Viñals, perfumery is not merely a technical exercise but a lived practice driven by genuine enthusiasm. He approaches each brief with curiosity, seeking what makes a fragrance click rather than relying on formulas. The joy he speaks of is not casual but hard-won, the result of years spent understanding how materials behave, interact, and evolve on skin.
The houses
Maisons Carlos composes for
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