Between the brand presentations, exhibitions, and conversations with creators, four days went by quickly. And while we returned with plenty of new names on our radar, we were also curious to hear what had stood out to someone discovering Notes Shanghai for the first time.

Q&A with Professor Perfume

You travelled from the US to China as the winner of our Notes Shanghai giveaway. What surprised you most about the fragrance scene once you arrived?
I had no expectations, honestly! I hadn’t tried many Chinese fragrance brands before attending Notes Shanghai, so I wasn’t sure what I was walking into. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of citrus! Nearly every Chinese line I tried had a gorgeous citrus offering, notably Eclat de Bergamote from Narratus and Hibiscus from Mat Kuro.

When you entered our giveaway, did you ever imagine you would actually end up in Shanghai? What has the experience meant to you?
I didn’t expect to win at all, but I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to attend with Le Parfum Magazine! Shanghai is the farthest I’ve ever been from home, and as someone who has always loved to travel, it was a dream come true to experience a new place. It was pure magic!

You described some of the booths as almost like art exhibitions themselves. What felt different about the way fragrances were presented?
I noticed a much greater emphasis on the visual presentation of fragrances compared with other conventions I’ve attended. My wonderful translator, Cindy, explained that in China, the bottle and packaging are very important to the experience of a scent. People take pride in displaying beautiful things in their homes, and they see fragrance as an extension of that. As someone who loves a custom bottle and cap combination, it was fun to see so much of it!

Did you notice anything distinctive about the way Chinese brands approach fragrance?
Overall, I found Chinese perfumery to take a much lighter approach than what we see in Western fragrance trends. While the US and Europe are all about powerful scents and incredible longevity, the Chinese perfumes I experienced were much less intense and overpowering. Even the gourmands, ambers, and deep patchoulis somehow felt airy and light, which I really appreciated!

Beyond the brand booths, which exhibition left the biggest impression on you?
Rewriting Rose was probably my favourite! Exploring iconic rose fragrances from the past alongside modern interpretations gave me a renewed appreciation for the art and science of perfumery.
When you’re a fragrance fanatic, you eventually reach a point where you think, “Oh, another rose fragrance. Meh.” But this exhibition challenged that idea. Even after decades of perfumery and countless rose fragrances, there are still so many ways to reinvent a scent.

What’s one small detail from Notes Shanghai that you’ll never forget?
The incredibly warm welcome from the Notes Shanghai team! From day one, they made sure we were comfortable and took a real interest in helping us discover what we wanted to experience. My translator, Cindy, was a highlight of the trip. It was wonderful getting to know her and making a new friend amid all the perfume.

Beyond the event itself, was there a smell in Shanghai that has stayed with you?
Osmanthus! When I visited Yu Garden, I stopped beneath an osmanthus tree with my guide, who was explaining its history. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew hundreds of tiny flowers all over us. I kept finding little yellow osmanthus flowers in my hair and clothes for the rest of the day. It was such a beautiful scent memory.

Finally, if you could bottle your four days at Notes Shanghai into a fragrance, what would it smell like?
Jet lag, coffee, osmanthus, and joy!