Julie Dunkley
Julie Dunkley left school in 1988 and walked straight into a lab apprenticeship at FD&O. She trained, qualified, and climbed to become one of Britain's most respected working noses. She holds a senior perfumer position at Sozio UK, and in 2023-2024 the British Society of Perfumers elected her President. An industry veteran of more than three decades, Dunkley has built that career the hard way, starting from the bench up. She is also the sister of Thomas Dunkley, the award-winning fragrance writer better known as The Candy Perfume Boy, who has contributed to The Scented Letter magazine.
The hits
Notable creations
The signature
How Julie composes
Jouissance La Bague d'O, one of the handful of commercially confirmed creations tied to her name, offers a window into her range. The fragrance pairs metallic notes with orange and pink pepper in the opening, anchored by a floral heart of rose, geranium, and jasmine. That blend of modern synthetics with classical florals suggests a perfumer equally comfortable working across traditional and contemporary registers.
Philosophy
What drives Julie
Dunkley's approach reflects the methodical discipline of someone classically trained in the industry. Her daily work involves constant smelling and evaluation across a wide range of materials and compounds. She has spoken openly about the varied nature of her workload, which moves from creation and formulation to evaluation and quality assessment. That breadth defines her practice.
The houses
Maisons Julie composes for
In the same league