Rafael Marano
Rafael Marano approaches fragrance creation with the same intensity a chef brings to a Michelin-starred kitchen. As a Senior Perfumer at IFF, Marano has built a portfolio that spans mass-market accessibility and artistic ambition, working across brands like Avon, Ésika, and Eudora that serve the Latin American market with particular skill. His work on Luiza by Luiza Brunet, a celebrity fragrance for the Brazilian model and presenter, demonstrated his ability to translate a public figure's identity into liquid form. Marano's brother, Francisco Marano, was recently elevated to Master Perfumer at IFF, placing the family among the most decorated talent pipelines in contemporary perfumery. Based in Brazil but operating globally through IFF's network, Marano brings an understanding of tropical raw materials and the Brazilian consumer's preference for vibrant, lasting scents. His philosophy treats each fragrance as a conversation between the wearer's skin and the perfumer's intent, a dialogue he crafts with meticulous attention to how ingredients evolve over time.
The hits
Notable creations
The signature
How Rafael composes
Marano gravitates toward woody and amber bases that provide lasting presence without heaviness. His compositions often feature tropical florals, particularly Brazilian jasmine and ylang-ylang, paired with clean synthetic musks that extend wear without cloying sweetness. He demonstrates particular skill in the citrus and fruity facets of his work, where he manages brightness without sacrificing depth. His approach to gender boundaries is fluid; Beauty Red for Ésika and Luiza by Luiza Brunet prove his ability to craft distinctly feminine signatures, while 300 Km/h Max Turbo and TRIP Itacaré reveal a more kinetic, assertive sensibility. His most recent work, Amyi, suggests a move toward more minimalist composition, favoring clarity and precision over layering.
Philosophy
What drives Rafael
Marano believes that great fragrance begins with restraint. He has spoken about the obsession he brings to ingredient selection, comparing his process to a chef sourcing the finest produce. Rather than overwhelming the wearer with complexity, he seeks to create scents that feel inevitable, where each element exists in service of the whole. His work reflects a deep respect for how Brazilian fragrance culture embraces both boldness and wearability, often favoring warmth and luminosity over the cool, abstract compositions that dominate European trends. For Marano, the measure of success is whether a fragrance feels like it has always existed, as though it predates its own creation.
The houses