Yaroslav Simonov
Yaroslav Simonov grew up in Moscow with a curiosity for chemistry and a love of music. After earning his first degree in chemical sciences, he enrolled at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery, where he completed the intensive program in 2020. The institute invited him to teach, and he spent the next two years guiding new students while refining his own scent palette. In 2021 he co‑founded the niche house Fakoshima, taking charge of its creative direction and formulation lab. As lead perfumer, he translates laboratory precision into aromatic narratives that echo his scientific roots. His work earned him a PhD candidacy slated for 2025, and his reputation now reaches collectors across Europe and Asia.
The hits
Notable creations
The signature
How Yaroslav composes
In the studio, Simonov favors a minimalist palette anchored by high‑impact woody ambers and mineral‑derived notes. He often starts with a base of cedrol‑derived compounds, then adds a precise dash of synthetic ambergris to sharpen the dry down. Transparent citrus or light florals appear only as fleeting accents, never as dominant themes. His compositions reveal themselves gradually, rewarding patience with a clean, almost clinical elegance. The signature lies in the balance between synthetic precision and natural warmth.
Philosophy
What drives Yaroslav
Simonov treats each formula as a laboratory experiment with a story to tell. He believes that a fragrance should reveal a single, unmistakable idea before unfolding into subtle layers. Science provides the tools; intuition supplies the direction. He asks himself what memory or emotion a molecule can evoke, then builds around that core with disciplined restraint. The result feels like a well‑crafted experiment that invites the wearer to pause and reflect, rather than overwhelm the senses.
The houses