Next in Fragrance - A New Era in Scent Begins

Debuting for the first time at Beautyworld Middle East, more than just a stage, this new conference and a dedicated space where fragrance comes alive through thought, dialogue, and discovery.
Over three days, industry pioneers, master perfumers, brand founders, and trend forecasters come together to spark conversation, share insights, and unveil what’s ahead for the fragrance world
Every idea shared at Next in Fragrance is a note in a new symphony, reshaping how we understand and experience scent.
Location: Za'abeel Hall 3
Session Sponsors


Introducing our 2025 Keynote Speaker, Roja Dove

Internationally acclaimed Roja Dove, often celebrated as the “master tailor of scent,” will deliver the keynote address, offering his unique perspective on the evolving world of fine fragrance. With decades of expertise and a reputation for redefining the art of perfumery, Dove will provide rare insights into the trends shaping the industry and the future of olfactory experiences.
He will also share behind-the-scenes stories from his career, revealing the artistry, creativity, and meticulous craftsmanship that go into creating iconic scents.
This insightful session will be moderated by Valérie Kaminov, Founder and Managing Director of the International Luxury Brand Consultancy.
Schedule
10:45 - 11:00 | Opening remarks: The Power of Fragrance: Driving Beauty’s Next Frontier
11:00 - 11:45 | The Future Smells Different: What drives industry leaders to continue innovating and pushing boundaries in fragrance
11:45 - 12:45 | The New Rules of Fragrance Retail
(Sponsored by American Society of Perfumers)
12:45 - 13:30 | In Conversation with Roja Dove
13:30 - 14:15 | Unlocking China & India’s Market Potential
14:15 - 15:15 | The TikTok Effect: How Fragrance Influencers Are Shaping Global Taste
(Sponsored by Fragrance Creators Association)
15:15 - 16:00 | The Future of Fragrance: How AI is Transforming Scent Creation for Brands
16:00 - 16:45 | The Power Players of Perfume Policy—an Unplugged Conversation on Shaping the Industry’s Next Era
16:45 - 17:45 | What Does Sustainability Mean for Naturals at Source?
10:45 - 11:00 | Opening remarks: Fragrance & GenAI – A New Era of Scent Innovation?
11:00 - 11:45 | Mass Market Scale vs. Niche Exclusivity: What Do Consumers Really Want?
11:45 - 12:45 | Next-gen fragrance, human intelligence & new technologies reshape design & packaging
12:45 - 13:30 | The Duty-Free Advantage: Powering Global Fragrance Sales
13:30 - 14:15 | Unspoken truth: Understanding the Facts Behind Fragrance Ingredients
14:15 - 15:00 | GenAI in Fragrance: Balancing Creativity and Technology
15:00 - 16:00 | Perfumers Talk: The Story Behind the Scent
16:00 - 17:00 | Power of Emotion: How Science and Scent Create Lasting Connections
17:00 - 17:45 | Fragrance passports: Fragrance trends in Brazil and the USA
11:00 - 11:45 | How to adapt a brand strategy without compromising its DNA in a highly competitive and fast-changing industry
11:45 - 12:30 | A passion for Perfumes From the Mediterranean Sea to the Dubai Shores - In Conversation with Veronique Gabai
12:30 - 13:15 | Manzili: Portraits of Belonging
13:15 - 14:00 | From Lab to Launch: Creating and Marketing Disruptive Alcohol-Free Perfume Products
14:00 - 14:45 | The Business of Home and Laundry Scent Innovation
14:45 - 15:45 | A Master’s Journey: In Conversation with Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud
15:45 - 16:30 | JOB YOUR LOVE: In Conversation with Mohamed Ali Hilal Zahir Alhazami
16:30 - 17:30 | What’s Next? Upcoming Olfactory Directions and Market Movements
Agenda
Day 1 - 27 October 2025
10:45 - 11:00 | Opening remarks: The Power of Fragrance: Driving Beauty’s Next Frontier The opening session will set the stage with key insights into today’s fast-evolving fragrance landscape. From shifting consumer behaviors to rising regional trends, discover the forces shaping innovation, branding, and growth across the global fragrance market. Speaker: |
11:00 - 11:45 | The Future Smells Different: What drives industry leaders to continue innovating and pushing boundaries in fragrance What keeps fragrance leaders pushing forward? In this dynamic session, top industry innovators reveal what inspires them to keep breaking boundaries—from creative risk-taking to blending tradition with new technology. Discover how they’re shaping the future of scent. Speakers: Moderator: |
11:45 - 12:45 | The New Rules of Fragrance Retail Fragrance brands are rethinking retail—combining pop-ups, luxury experiences, and digital touchpoints. Industry experts share how to stay relevant and successful in today’s changing market. Speakers: Moderator: |
12:45 - 13:30 | In Conversation with Roja Dove Join legendary perfumer Roja Dove as he shares rare insights into the art and science of fragrance, and how brands can evolve without losing their essence. In this candid conversation, Roja explores the intersection of creativity, innovation, and strategy in a fast-changing industry—offering stories, lessons, and inspiration for anyone passionate about the future of scent and design. Speaker: Moderator: |
13:30 - 14:15 | Unlocking China & India’s Market Potential China and India are emerging as powerful drivers of fragrance industry growth. This session explores what makes these markets unique, how consumer preferences are evolving, and what strategies brands need to succeed in two of the world’s most dynamic economies. Speaker: |
14:15 - 15:15 | The TikTok Effect: How Fragrance Influencers Are Shaping Global Taste Fragrance influencers are transforming how scents are discovered, talked about, and loved—shaping trends and tastes around the world. This session explores the power of digital voices and what it means for brands today. Speakers: |
15:15 - 16:00 | The Future of Fragrance: How AI is Transforming Scent Creation for Brands When carpenters gained power tools, they spent less time on manual toil, and more time on developing new creations, with added precision and speed. Olfactory Intelligence (OI) is poised to do the same in perfumery, and will help brand builders push boundaries, explore new ideas, and launch with more confidence. In this keynote, Alex Wiltschko, CEO and Founder of Generation by Osmo, will explore the advancements in OI, which allow brands to turn behavior and emotion into data and turn that data into fragrance. Alex will also share how OI unlocks deep consumer insights, accelerates fragrance creation without compromising quality or safety, and speeds up development cycles to compete in a world that is only becoming faster and more complex. The talk will share case studies from the Museum of Pop Culture and other creators,showcasing how brands can leverage OI to find new ways to engage with consumers. Speaker: |
16:00 - 16:45 | The Power Players of Perfume Policy—an Unplugged Conversation on Shaping the Industry’s Next Era Step behind the scenes of the fragrance world in this candid discussion with the industry’s key influencers. From regulatory shifts to sustainability initiatives, these power players share how decisions made today will shape the future of perfume. Insightful, unfiltered, and forward-looking, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into the forces driving the next era of the industry. Speakers: Moderator: |
16:45 - 17:45 | What Does Sustainability Mean for Naturals at Source? Join us for a dynamic conversation on how natural producers—responsible, forward-thinking entrepreneurs—are shaping the future of a significant part of the perfumer’s palette. Together, we’ll explore how the fragrance industry can stand alongside them to protect biodiversity and ensure that nature remains an endless source of inspiration. Moderator: |
Day 2 - 28 October 2025
10:45 - 11:00 | Opening remarks: Fragrance & GenAI – A New Era of Scent Innovation? Agentic AI-powered tools are revolutionizing how we design, predict and personalize fragrances. I’ll explore recent breakthroughs in Agentic AI scent modeling and what they mean for perfumers and brands. Speaker: |
11:00 - 11:45 | Mass Market Scale vs. Niche Exclusivity: What Do Consumers Really Want? Mass-market giants and niche innovators are competing for attention in an increasingly fragmented market. Join industry leaders as they decode shifting consumer behaviors and share strategies to stay relevant across diverse market segments. Speakers: Moderator: |
11:45 - 12:45 | Next-gen fragrance, human intelligence & new technologies reshape design & packaging Technological innovation is transforming the world of beauty and fragrance. Integrating new technologies has become a strategic lever to stand out, create value, and meet the expectations of a connected, demanding, and experience-driven audience. Yet behind every innovation lies what truly matters: the human touch. From the perfumer to the creative team, and ultimately the consumer who makes the scent its own, human sensitivity brings technology to life. Brands that succeed in creating this subtle alchemy are not only setting trends but pioneering a new era of fragrance. Speaker: Moderator: |
12:45 - 13:30 | The Duty-Free Advantage: Powering Global Fragrance Sales Duty-free has become a key growth engine for fragrance brands. This session explores how travel retail is evolving—and why it’s more important than ever for global visibility and sales. |
13:30 - 14:15 | Unspoken truth: Understanding the Facts Behind Fragrance Ingredients A look at the rise of unique, locally sourced ingredients from new regions and their impact on the global fragrance industry. Speakers: Moderator: |
14:15 - 15:00 | GenAI in Fragrance: Balancing Creativity and Technology A candid discussion on how AI is reshaping R&D, sustainability, and consumer engagement in perfumery and position the human after few years using AI in the industry. Speaker: Moderator: |
15:00 - 16:00 | Perfumers Talk: The Story Behind the Scent From the roots of nature — or the lab—to the soul of a fragrance, we’ll go behind the scenes of how perfumers craft their creations. In this intimate talk, they’ll share the stories behind their inspiration: the raw ingredients that sparked emotion, the olfactive paths they followed, and the ethical choices that shaped each scent’s signature. Speakers: Moderator: |
16:00 - 17:00 | Power of Emotion: How Science and Scent Create Lasting Connections Discover the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and perfumery—how scents evoke feelings that stay with us long after we smell them. Speakers: Moderator: |
17:00 - 17:45 | Fragrance passports: Fragrance trends in Brazil and the USA Fragrance is more than a beauty product—it’s also an expression of culture and identity. In Brazil, scents are bold, playful, and deeply tied to daily rituals, while in the USA, consumers lean toward clean, minimalist, skin-scents, gender-inclusive storytelling, niche, and wellness-driven fragrances. This one-hour panel uncovers the latest trends shaping how people wear, buy, and connect with fragrance across these two giant and vibrant fragrance markets. We’ll explore cultural drivers, generational shifts, social media influence, and emerging preferences that are reshaping the fragrance landscape. Speaker: Moderator: |
Day 3 - 29 October 2025
11:00 - 11:45 | How to adapt a brand strategy without compromising its DNA in a highly competitive and fast-changing industry In today’s highly competitive and fast-changing beauty industry, a brand must be agile and flexible to thrive. To remain competitive, it’s essential for a brand, to adapt its strategy, positioning, and messaging to different markets, audiences, and contexts without compromising its vision and its DNA. To respond to new market evolution is now, brands grow opportunities and brand’s long-term desirability. Through the brand’s agility, the market evolution becomes an opportunity. Brand’s versatility and responsiveness, ensures the balance between consistency & innovation. Moderator: |
11:45 - 12:30 | A passion for Perfumes From the Mediterranean Sea to the Dubai Shores - In Conversation with Veronique Gabai Join us for a conversation with fragrance visionary Veronique Gabai, as she shares her journey of blending the soul of the Mediterranean with the glamour of Dubai. Discover how her passion for scent, nature, and culture has shaped a brand that celebrates beauty, sensuality, and storytelling through fragrance. Speakers: Moderator: |
12:30 - 13:15 | Manzili: Portraits of Belonging Manzili is an intimate journey into what it means to call Dubai home. At its heart are six individuals, each with their own path, memories, and heritage. Their stories are told not only through image but through scent painting a full portrait of their story in the region. The fragrances evoke nostalgia, capture emotion, and showcase the invisible threads of belonging. Together, these portraits form a sensory tapestry of identity, resilience, and the deep human desire to find home. Speakers: |
13:15 - 14:00 | From Lab to Launch: Creating and Marketing Disruptive Alcohol-Free Perfume Products Examine the end-to-end process of bringing a disruptive fine fragrance product to market, using Kajal’s Lamar Caviar as a real-world example. The panel discussion covers R&D challenges in formulating for new delivery systems together with Microcaps, the role of fragrance houses like LUZ in adapting perfume formulations for new fragrance delivery systems, and marketing strategies for educating consumers and retailers about ethanol-free perfume and new delivery systems such as encapsulated fine fragrances. At the end of the discussion the panel emphasizes the future potential and consumer demand for innovative, sustainable fragrance delivery systems without alcohol. Speakers: Moderator: |
14:00 - 14:45 | The Business of Home and Laundry Scent Innovation A look into the booming business of home and laundry scents—where creativity meets function to redefine everyday fragrance experiences. Speaker: Moderator: |
14:45 - 15:45 | A Master’s Journey: In Conversation with Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud Join Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, Master Perfumer at Louis Vuitton, for an intimate conversation about the experiences, inspirations, and creative spirit that have defined his extraordinary career. From his roots in Grasse to the artistry of shaping scents that resonate worldwide, Cavallier-Belletrud reflects on fragrance not only as craft, but as a deeply human journey of memory, emotion, and imagination. Speaker: Moderator: |
15:45 - 16:30 | JOB YOUR LOVE: In Conversation with Mohamed Ali Hilal Zahir Alhazami Join us for an exclusive session with Mohamed Ali Hilal Zahir Alhazami, a distinguished voice in the world of fragrance. In this engaging conversation, he will share insights on fragrance innovation, cultural influences, and the artistry of scent, offering a unique perspective that bridges tradition and modernity. Speaker: |
16:30 - 17:30 | What’s Next? Upcoming Olfactory Directions and Market Movements Brands and perfumers are adapting to new olfactory directions and market movements—combining creativity and data to meet emerging consumer desires. See what’s coming next in fragrance. Speakers: Moderator: |
Speakers

Arnaud Guggenbuhl
Head of Global Marketing, Insight & Image Fine Fragrances, Givaudan

Frederick Besson
CEO, BIG DATA SOLUTIONS

Gaëlle Doré
General Manager, Middle East & India, Centdegrés

Loretta Grey
Fragrance Influencer

Olimpia Mascolo
Co-Founder, Anfasic Dokhoon

Rami Rabia
Fragrance Enthusiast

Sameh Megrhi
GenAI expert and entrepreneur, Aimee

Sebastien Tissot
Founder, NISSABA

Sophie Labbe
Principal Perfumer, dsm-firmenich

Tarek Anbar
Vice President Sales Fine fragrances, AMET, Symrise