Natasha Côté
Natasha Côté-Mouzannar was born in Québec and raised in Toronto, immersed from childhood in a rich mosaic of cultures—Trinidad, Pakistan, India—through family connections that shaped her instinctive understanding of how scent functions across communities and traditions. Bilingual and educated at a French school, she describes herself as the only Canadian perfumer working at a major house, a distinction that speaks to both her rarity and her determination. Her career at IFF has been defined by steady advancement, culminating in her promotion to Senior Perfumer Catapano—a title that honors Josephine Catapano, one of the first American women perfumers of note. It's a meaningful designation: a woman from a multicultural background elevated to carry forward the legacy of another pioneering woman in the industry. Côté-Mouzannar describes herself as a Gemini, and those who know her work note a certain restless curiosity, a refusal to settle into familiar formulas. She has appeared in the fragrance community as a creator working across multiple fragrance families, from orientals to gourmands to contemporary woody-fruity compositions.
The hits
Notable creations
The signature
How Natasha composes
Her work shows an affinity for contrasts. Recent creations include Peachy Oudy, which pairs stone fruit with the traditional depth of oud in a way that feels both luxurious and playful. Fantasy Did It Again 2025 suggests a confident, perhaps slightly irreverent approach to floral-gourmand territory. Eternal Aura leans into ambery warmth with floral grace notes. The Catapano title at IFF implies training within a house tradition that prizes certain classic techniques, but her output suggests someone adding contemporary flourishes—fruity accents, modern amber constructions, woody materials used with surprising restraint. She appears comfortable working across multiple fragrance families, a versatile technician with a leaning toward warmth and emotional resonance.
Philosophy
What drives Natasha
Côté-Mouzannar approaches perfumery as an exercise in emotional storytelling. "Born perfumer" is a phrase that appears repeatedly in coverage of her work, suggesting someone who experiences fragrance as a language rather than a technical exercise. She has spoken about chasing sparks of inspiration, describing her creative process in terms that feel more like filmmaking than traditional chemistry—looking for moments that capture feeling rather than merely hitting olfactory notes. Her multicultural background seems to inform a creative philosophy built on bridges: connecting disparate ingredients, unexpected pairings, scent memories that cross cultural boundaries. She appears drawn to fragrance that feels personal rather than universal, work that asks the wearer to bring their own story to the composition.
The houses