Michael Carby
Michael Carby arrived in perfumery through an unexpected door. Born in the UK to Jamaican parents, he studied biology and chemistry in college with medical school as his goal. A job in the fragrance industry was meant to fund that ambition. Instead, Carby found his calling. He began as an analytical scientist, developing what he describes as an insatiable curiosity and enthusiasm for creativity. That scientific rigor never left him. Today, as a senior perfumer at Givaudan's New York studio, Carby brings a chemist's precision to his craft alongside an intuitive understanding of how scent shapes mood. His work with Bath & Body Works reaches millions globally, and his collaboration with Drake's Better World Fragrance House introduced his sensibilities to a new generation of fragrance lovers. Carby's trajectory from analytical scientist to sought-after perfumer reflects a man who followed his instincts where they led him.
The hits
Notable creations
The signature
How Michael composes
Carby's background in analytical science gives his work a structured foundation, but his finishes carry warmth and generosity. He demonstrates particular strength in air care and home fragrance, categories where Bath & Body Works has trusted him to deliver consistent, appealing scents at scale. His fine fragrance work, including the Better World Fragrance House collaboration, shows an ability to translate his approachable sensibility into more concentrated forms. Carby seems comfortable working across categories, from candles to skin, suggesting a perfumer who understands how scent behaves differently across mediums. His ingredient choices skew toward familiar, comforting materials rather than esoteric rarities, creating work that welcomes rather than challenges.
Philosophy
What drives Michael
Carby believes fragrance holds the power to shift emotional states in an instant. He has spoken about how scents can place you in a relaxing, happy, and peaceful state all at once, suggesting a perfumer deeply attuned to the psychological weight of what he creates. Rather than chasing trend, he appears drawn to scents that feel universally resonant, work that speaks across backgrounds. His Jamaican heritage and transatlantic upbringing inform a perspective that values warmth, accessibility, and emotional honesty in fragrance. For Carby, the goal seems less about complexity for its own sake and more about creating an immediate, positive emotional connection.
The houses
Maisons Michael composes for
In the same league
