Parfex: Lucie Lopez Joins Parfex Dubai Office
She explores adaptation to the regional market, innovation and fragrance creation in the Middle East
Lucie Lopez, Creative Director and perfumer at Parfex, recently joined the Dubai team to strengthen client proximity and support the company’s development in the region.
Awarded at in-cosmetics Global 2026 with the very first Scent Bar Award for her creation Matcha Delight, she shares her vision of the market and fragrance creation.
You have been based in Dubai for several months. What does your presence bring to Parfex?
Although Parfex already had an established office in Dubai, being on the ground significantly enhances our way of working. It allows me to engage directly with regional and international clients, better understand their expectations and refine our creations in real time. This proximity accelerates development cycles and strengthens collaboration, which is essential in such a demanding market.
How do you adapt your compositions to the expectations of the regional market?
The Middle East is far from homogeneous: each country presents distinct olfactive preferences, even if certain shared codes exist, such as a preference for intensity, lasting and high-quality raw materials. While I have been working with oud and ambery accords for many years, being closer to consumers enables me to refine my interpretation of local expectations. This immersion fosters my creative process while ensuring that each composition remains aligned with Parfex’s olfactive identity.
Do climate and environmental conditions influence your creations?
Absolutely. Heat and humidity have a direct impact on fragrance performance, particularly in terms of lasting and sillage. Each composition must therefore be carefully crafted to perform under these specific conditions. It is a stimulating technical challenge that ultimately strengthens both our formulation expertise and our creative approach.
Does your presence on site foster innovation at Parfex?
Undoubtedly. Being based in Dubai allows for a more agile and responsive way of working. I can collaborate closely with clients and rapidly test new creative directions with our lab on site, whether niche or commercial fragrance developments. This level of responsiveness is a key differentiator for Parfex in the region.
Do sustainability and regulatory considerations influence your formulation choices?
Yes, increasingly so. There is a growing awareness around responsible fragrance creation, and regulatory frameworks also play a significant role in shaping formulation strategies. My role is to ensure that each creation balances innovation, performance and sustainability, in line with Parfex’s commitments.
Where do you find inspiration in Dubai?
What inspires me most is the richness and diversity of influences that converge here. By observing the local perfume scene, the fragrance rituals, and the way people wear perfume in their everyday lives, I gather insights that expand my creative palette. These contrasts and uses encourage me to explore new balances, experiment with different intensities, and embrace bolder combinations, which I then translate into compositions.
What are your key priorities for the coming months?
My primary objective is to further reinforce Parfex’s ability to support both regional and international clients. This involves anticipating emerging trends, delivering fast and relevant creative responses, and developing bespoke compositions tailored to this dynamic market.
If you had to translate Dubai into a fragrance, what would it be?
I would envision it as a composition built around contrasts: a luminous opening, like the red sun reflecting off the skyline at dawn, followed by a generous heart of resinous woods and a warm ambery accord. A signature that captures both Dubai’s creative momentum and its deep cultural roots.
