Olaf Larsen
Olaf Larsen commands the scent lab at Eurofragance from a sun‑baked office in Dubai. Sources indicate he entered the fragrance trade in the early 2000s, first cutting his teeth at a boutique European house before the brand invited him to its Middle‑East hub. The move in 2015 sparked a deep fascination with the region’s aromatic heritage, and he quickly earned a reputation for translating oud, amber, and spice into modern compositions. In 2023 the Beautyworld Middle East Awards named him Perfumer of the Year, a nod to his influence on contemporary oriental perfumery. Today he balances client briefs with personal experiments, always aiming to capture the spirit of a place in a single bottle.
The hits
Notable creations
The signature
How Olaf composes
Olaf’s signature technique blends rich, resinous bases with bright, aromatic top notes. He favors natural oud, frankincense, and ambergris, pairing them with cardamom, nutmeg, and licorice to create depth and contrast. In the lab he often builds a foundation of warm woods, then layers spice‑laden accords that dissolve slowly on the skin. His compositions tend to evolve over hours, revealing hidden facets that reward patient wearers. The result is a scent that feels opulent without shouting, elegant without restraint.
Philosophy
What drives Olaf
Larsen believes a fragrance should read like a cultural snapshot, not a vague impression. He approaches each brief by first immersing himself in the history, architecture, and cuisine of the target market, then extracts a single memory to anchor the scent. He trusts his nose to honor tradition while daring to insert unexpected accents, a practice that keeps his work fresh yet unmistakably rooted. For him, the act of blending is a dialogue between past and present, and the final spray should feel both familiar and surprising.
The houses