How do you describe your job when you meet people at a party?
I make smells – Flavours & fragrances really…but it starts the conversation with some humour!
What is ‘cutting-edge’ about your work?
Constant new development and innovation – how do smells/aromas work on the mind?
What are the biggest implications your work will/could have in the future?
Mood influencing approach of fragrances and satiety impact of flavours for treatment of obesity
Describe some of the highlights of your average day.
Meeting people and working on new and exciting projects
Describe briefly how your career has progressed to date.
Randomly…and not how I expected when at school!
How is your job cross-disciplinary?
I do everything from making the tea to working with the BBC on TV and Radio programs. Developing new extracts and other materials, managing people and processes, selling to customers, dealing with the banks…as well as understanding the chemistry, writing articles and lecturing at schools, universities and research centres. I have to be part Chemist/biochemist, chemical engineer, lawyer, fork lift operator, factory worker, office worker, manager, salesman, marketeer and creative consultant…all at once!
How well is your job compensated? What is the starting salary for your field, and how much can this be expected to rise?
Basic salary for a trainee flavourist or perfumer would be at least £20K p/a – Top salaries for Senior Flavourists and perfumers could easily be packages of at least £100 K p/a
How do you see your field developing over the next 5-10 years?
More restrictions/changes in legislation…and return to cheaper synthetic ingredients in flavour
What’s the most unexpected thing about your job?
The difficulties in employing people…it is rare to find someone who really wants to work and do a good job!
What’s the biggest achievement of your career so far?
Building three business’s so far and giving employment and opportunity to may young people.
