Za'abeel Hall 3
A New Era in Scent Begins
Fragrance has found its home. Next in Fragrance brings together master perfumers, brand founders and trend forecasters for three days of the industry's most important scent conversations.
As Beautyworld Dubai celebrates its 30th edition, the conference sits at the heart of a community that is no longer just following global fragrance trends. It is defining them. Every session is designed to leave you better informed, more inspired, and genuinely ahead of the curve.
Keynote Speakers
Two influential voices take the stage at Next in Fragrance Conference, bringing fresh perspectives on artistry, entrepreneurship, inclusivity and the trends shaping the future of the global beauty industry.
Day 1 | 12:30 - 13:15 - In Conversation with Aurélien Guichard
Get ready for an inspiring keynote conversation with Aurélien Guichard, Master Perfumer at TAKASAGO and Founder of MATIERE PREMIERE, as he takes the stage at Next in Fragrance at Beautyworld Dubai 2026.
One of the most respected names in modern perfumery, Aurélien will share his creative journey, approach to fragrance creation and insights into the evolving world of fine fragrance. From the art of perfumery and the power of ingredients to craftsmanship and innovation, discover the ideas shaping the future of fragrance. The session will be moderated by Sonia Leretz, Co-Founder & CEO, Revalue.
Day 2 | 12:15 –13:00 – In Conversation with Jacques Cavallier Belletrud
Discover the creative world of Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, Master Perfumer at Louis Vuitton, renowned for his distinctive approach to fragrance creation, Jacques will share insights into his creative journey, the art of perfumery and the role of craftsmanship, ingredients and innovation in shaping the future of fine fragrance. The session will be moderated by Elie Papiernik, CEO & Chief Design Officer, Centdegres.
Day 3 | 16:00 –16:40 – The Nishane Story: How a Cult Niche Brand Went Global Without Losing Its Identity
Alexandre Helwani and Ines Guendouz of Nishane join the stage to unpack the thinking behind the brand’s international growth. From building a strong niche positioning to entering new markets and reaching a global audience, the conversation will explore what it takes to grow at scale while keeping a clear and recognisable brand identity. The session will be moderated by Fragrance Enthusiast Rami Rabia.
2026 Headline Sponsor
Session Sponsors
2026 Schedule
10:30 - 11:00 | A Shared Accord: The U.S., the UAE, and the Business of Growth powered by Fragrance Creators Association
11:00 - 11:45 | Building a Fragrance Brand: From Concept to Scale
11:45 - 12:30 | Scent of Place: Celebrating the World’s Most Distinctive Regional Ingredients
12:30 - 13:15 | In Conversation with Aurelien Guichard
13:15 - 13:45 | Oud Perfumery Reimagined powered by Dullberg Konzentra GmbH & Co KG
13:45 - 14:30 | Selling Scent Differently: Experiencing New Ways of Fragrance Retail
14:30 - 15:15 | AI Across Fragrance: Ingredient Discovery, Consumer Insights & Virtual Try-Ons
15:15 - 16:00 | Insights and Overview on A Global Powerhouses in Fragrance
16:00 - 16:45 | Craving Scent, Chasing Emotion: What Today's Consumer Wants
16:45 - 17:30 | The New Fragrance Consumer: Trends, Channels & Storytelling That Sells
10:30 - 10:45 | Top 5 Fragrance Trends Every Brand Needs to Win the Future
10:45 - 11:30 | Gen Z & Alpha Decoded: The Fragrance Consumer of Today & Tomorrow
11:30 - 12:15 | The Rules of Responsible Fragrance: Regulations, Ethics & the Planet
12:15 - 13:00 | In Conversation with Jacques Cavallier Belletrud
13:00 - 13:30 |The rise of Neo-Gourmand powered by Dullberg Konzentra GmbH & Co KG
13:30 - 14:15 | The First Impression: Packaging That Speaks Before You Spray
14:15 - 15:00 | Global Scent: How Perfumery Is Going Multicultural
15:00 - 15:45 | The Great Fragrance Debate: Exclusivity vs. Accessibility
15:45 - 16:30 | Redefining Prestige: How Luxury Retail is Shaping the Future of Fragrance
16:30 - 17:15 | The Natural Advantage: How brands can partner with natural ingredients producers to drive value
17:15 - 18:00 | The Creator Collab: How Influencers, UGC & Community Drive Fragrance Success
10:45 - 11:00 | The New Language of Scent: Exploring Emerging Fragrance Categories
11:00 - 11:25 | Lost in Translation: Why Fragrance Brands Are Losing Their Narrative Identity
11:25 - 11:45 | Reinventing French Haute Parfumerie
11:45 - 12:30 | New Formats, New Rituals: Exploring Layering, Solids, Water, Oils & Hybrids
12:30 - 13:15 | The Evolution of Scent: Alcohol-free Fragrance and the Skinification Movement
13:15 - 13:45 | Scents of Arabia powered by Dullberg Konzentra GmbH & Co KG
13:45 - 14:30 | Perfumers’ Playbook Workshop powered by AARAV
14:30 - 15:15 | The New Luxury: Is It Still About Price, Prestige or Something Else?
15:15 - 16:00 | Two Continents, One Strategy: Launching Middle Eastern Fragrance Brands in the US, Europe & China - and Bringing Global Brands to the GCC
16:00 - 16:40 | The Nishane Story: How a Cult Niche Brand Went Global Without Losing Its Identity
16:40 - 17:30 | What to Follow Next Year: A Look Ahead at Fragrance's Future
2026 Agenda
Day 1 - 6 October 2026
10:30 - 11:00 | A Shared Accord: The U.S., the UAE, and the Business of Growth powered by Fragrance Creators Association Exploring where fragrance growth is accelerating globally, which categories are outperforming expectations, and how regional demand is reshaping the industry’s commercial landscape. |
11:00 - 11:45 | Building a Fragrance Brand: From Concept to Scale This session covers how to start your fragrance brand, the hidden challenges, and proven ways to overcome them. Plus: realistic scaling strategies, from DTC to wholesale to acquisition. Perfect for founders at any stage. Moderator: |
11:45 - 12:30 | Scent of Place: Celebrating the World’s Most Distinctive Regional Ingredients This session explores the raw materials that define perfumery today, from timeless classics to emerging new sources shaping the industry's future. Discover how sourcing, sustainability, and authentic storytelling are turning ingredients into powerful brand differentiators. Moderator: |
12:30 - 13:15 | In Conversation with Aurelien Guichard From the origins of Matière Première to building one of niche perfumery’s distinctive modern brands, Aurélien Guichard shares the story behind his creative philosophy and signature style. Discover the challenges and milestones of the brand’s journey, the stories behind its creations and recent launches, and his perspective on the future of niche fragrance — including the growing influence of the Middle East. The conversation will close with practical advice for the next generation of beauty and fragrance entrepreneurs. Speaker: Moderator: |
13:15 - 13:45 | Oud Perfumery Reimagined powered by Dullberg Konzentra GmbH & Co KG Where heritage meets modern olfactive artistry. Experience the rich, captivating world of oud through a fresh and contemporary lens, as Dullberg reimagines this iconic ingredient and its place in the future of perfumery. |
13:45 - 14:30 | Selling Scent Differently: Experiencing New Ways of Fragrance Retail Pop-ups, travel retail, wellness retail, and immersive tools – how fragrance brands are selling scent differently across every channel. Moderator: |
14:30 - 15:15 | AI Across Fragrance: Ingredient Discovery, Consumer Insights & Virtual Try-Ons AI is reshaping fragrance – from ingredient discovery and scent creation to consumer insights and virtual try-on tools. |
15:15 - 16:00 | Insights and Overview on A Global Powerhouses in Fragrance This session offers a strategic look at the world's leading fragrance powerhouses—who they are, what drives their success, and the trends reshaping the global perfume market. Gain key insights on innovation, consumer shifts, and the future of scent. Karen Marin, Content Director & Consultant, Essencional |
16:00 - 16:45 | Craving Scent, Chasing Emotion: What Today's Consumer Wants This session unpacks the emotional drivers behind modern fragrance purchasing, from stress relief and comfort to confidence and joy. Learn how consumers are using scent as a tool for self-expression and well-being, and how brands can authentically connect through emotion-driven storytelling. Moderator: |
16:45 - 17:30 | The New Fragrance Consumer: Trends, Channels & Storytelling That Sells How the modern fragrance consumer discovers, researches, and buys – and the storytelling that wins them over. Moderator: |
Day 2 - 7 October 2026
10:30 - 10:45 | Top 5 Fragrance Trends Every Brand Needs to Win the Future This session sets the stage for Day 2, spotlighting the five key fragrance trends set to shape the industry’s next chapter. From evolving consumer preferences to emerging innovations, these trends offer a glimpse into what’s ahead and where brands can find their next opportunity for growth. Speaker: |
10:45 - 11:30 | Gen Z & Alpha Decoded: The Fragrance Consumer of Today & Tomorrow This session goes beyond stereotypes to uncover what Gen Z and Alpha actually want from fragrance: gender-neutral options, sustainability, authenticity, and social media discovery. Learn how to reach these consumers where they are, speak their language, and build loyalty that lasts beyond the next trend. Moderator: |
11:30 - 12:15 | The Rules of Responsible Fragrance: Regulations, Ethics & the Planet The fragrance industry is navigating a new era of responsibility, where evolving regulations, ethical sourcing and environmental impact are shaping how brands create, innovate and operate. Moderator: |
12:15 - 13:00 | In Conversation with Jacques Cavallier Belletrud Fragrance has found its home, and so has its storyteller. Louis Vuitton's Master Perfumer joins us to talk creation, collaboration, and the artistry behind building a House's entire scent identity from scratch. Moderator: |
13:00 - 13:30 | The rise of Neo-Gourmand powered by Dullberg Konzentra GmbH & Co KG A new generation of gourmand fragrances is pushing beyond sweetness, blending unexpected ingredients and sophisticated accords to create indulgent, modern olfactive experiences. |
13:30 - 14:15 | The First Impression: Packaging That Speaks Before You Spray Packaging sets the tone before the first spray, shaping perception, desire and brand identity. This session looks at how design, materials and visual storytelling can turn fragrance packaging into an experience of its own. Moderator: |
14:15 - 15:00 | Global Scent: How Perfumery Is Going Multicultural Cultural influences are reshaping modern perfumery, blending traditions, ingredients and olfactive stories from around the world to create fragrances that resonate across borders. Moderator: |
15:00 - 15:45 | The Great Fragrance Debate: Exclusivity vs. Accessibility A thought-provoking conversation on the balance between exclusivity and accessibility, and how brands can create desirability while reaching a new generation of fragrance consumers. |
15:45 - 16:30 | Redefining Prestige: How Luxury Retail is Shaping the Future of Fragrance Luxury retail is redefining the fragrance experience through elevated storytelling, personalised service and new ways of engaging today’s discerning consumers. |
16:30 - 17:15 | The Natural Advantage: How brands can partner with natural ingredients producers to drive value Explore how collaboration with natural ingredients producers can fuel innovation, strengthen brand value and respond to the evolving needs of today’s beauty consumers. Speakers: Moderator: |
17:15 - 18:00 | The Creator Collab: How Influencers, UGC & Community Drive Fragrance Success This session explores how fragrance brands are collaborating with creators at every level, from micro-influencers to mega-stars, and leveraging UGC to build trust and drive discovery. Moderator: |
Day 3 - 8 October 2026
10:45 - 11:00 | The New Language of Scent: Exploring Emerging Fragrance Categories This session explores the fastest-growing and most innovative fragrance categories emerging today, from body mists and hair fragrances to scent boosters for laundry, home fragrances, and functional wellness blends. |
11:00 - 11:25 | Lost in Translation: Why Fragrance Brands Are Losing Their Narrative Identity In a crowded fragrance landscape, a strong narrative can make all the difference. This session examines why brands are losing their storytelling edge and what it takes to build a distinctive identity that truly resonates. |
11:25 - 11:45 | Reinventing French Haute Parfumerie Speaker: |
11:45 - 12:30 | New Formats, New Rituals: Exploring Layering, Solids, Water, Oils & Hybrids Fragrance is moving beyond the traditional spray, with new formats and rituals reshaping how scent is worn and experienced. A look at the innovations redefining the way consumers personalise and enjoy fragrance. Moderator: |
12:30 - 13:15 | The Evolution of Scent: Alcohol-free Fragrance and the Skinification Movement As fragrance and skincare continue to converge, alcohol-free formulas and skin-focused benefits are creating new possibilities for scent. This session examines the rise of skinification and its impact on the future of fragrance. Speakers: Moderator: |
13:15 - 13:45 | Scents of Arabia powered by Dullberg Konzentra GmbH & Co KG A sensory journey through the rich olfactive heritage of Arabia, bringing together iconic ingredients, cultural influences and contemporary interpretations of the region’s distinctive fragrance identity. |
13:45 - 14:30 | Perfumers’ Playbook Workshop powered by AARAV A hands-on session offering a closer look at the creative thinking, techniques and ingredients behind the art of perfumery, with practical insights into how perfumers bring an olfactive vision to life. |
14:30 - 15:15 | The New Luxury: Is It Still About Price, Prestige or Something Else? Luxury fragrance is being redefined by more than price and prestige. This session examines the evolving meaning of luxury and the new values shaping desirability, exclusivity and consumer choice. Moderator: |
15:15 - 16:00 | Two Continents, One Strategy: Launching Middle Eastern Fragrance Brands in the US, Europe & China - and Bringing Global Brands to the GCC Taking fragrance across borders requires more than a great scent. This session looks at the strategies, cultural nuances and market dynamics shaping successful expansion between the GCC and key global fragrance markets. Moderator: |
16:00 - 16:40 | The Nishane Story: How a Cult Niche Brand Went Global Without Losing Its Identity
Speakers: Moderator: |
16:40 - 17:30 | What to Follow Next Year: A Look Ahead at Fragrance's Future Expert predictions on the trends, innovations, and challenges shaping fragrance's future. Moderator:
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2026 Speakers
Abdulla Ajmal
Abdulla Ajmal, CEO, Ajmal Group
Alexander Mohr
President, IFRA
Anoushka Michelle Antony
Marketing Director- ME, Eurofragance
Elie Papiernik
CEO & Chief Design Officer , Centdegres
Frederick Besson
CEO, Big Data Solutions
Marie Hugentobler
CEO & Founder, marie-posa
Michael Hagander
Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer, Microcaps AG
Miche Whitehouse
Head of Brand & Digital, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics
Olimpia Mascolo
Co-Founder, Anfasic Dokhoon
Sarah Gharbia
Content Creator
Sebastien Dauchez
Director Fragrance, IBG
