The guy: Simon Constantine
The gig: Head perfumer at Lush

Prep School: “I actually went to art college first and then joined Lush in the manufacturing department for fragrances. Once there, I followed a remote learning course in perfumery at Plymouth Business School [in the] U.K. That, combined with practical experience and travel to suppliers of essential oils, formed the best part of my education.”

Pretty Perks: “I work with our creative buying team learning about ethical ingredients, so I can see a direct impact of using certain materials in my creative work. I also enjoy when we get an emotional response to a fragrance, if it reminds a person of a lost parent or particular event. It's quite common that people will cry when you show them a perfume; it's a privilege to have that emotional connection.”

Secret to Success: “Don't get put off by the need for complex qualifications — the industry needs more creative and avant-garde thinking. You will need time, patience, and a little bit of capital to get ahold of enough oils, aroma chemicals, and books [to learn how to make a fragrance], but I'd love to see more independent perfumers really pushing the boundaries and trying new things, so give it a go!”