Discover the Unique Profession of a Nose
The profession of a Nose is fairly easy to imagine: it’s the person who smells and evaluates fragrances in order to identify and analyze the scents they contain.
Often linked to the role of a perfumer, those who have turned their sense of smell into a working tool possess a rare talent that must be trained and refined daily.
Here’s everything you need to know about this fascinating and uncommon profession.
Job Description – Nose
While the roles of Nose and Perfumer are often confused, they differ in some key aspects.
The perfumer creates fragrances, while the Nose is primarily responsible for analyzing the scent compositions of products. Their goal is to assess quality and, if needed, suggest improvements.
The Nose is mostly involved during the creation and testing phases, while the perfumer is present throughout the entire process — from conception to the launch of the perfume or scented product (e.g., laundry detergent, soap, shower gel, household cleaner, etc.).
A skilled Nose must be able to recognize thousands of different smells (up to 5,000). Just by opening a bottle of perfume, they must identify each note it contains in order to evaluate the product’s quality and help refine it if necessary.
In addition to their heightened sense of smell, the Nose must have a strong knowledge of chemistry, as they understand how to combine scents to achieve a desired effect. Since even a single drop can alter the outcome, fragrance blending is a highly precise craft—a task only a true Nose can master.
Note: Today, more and more perfumers are also expected to be trained Noses—or work closely with one—to combine creativity with technical precision.
Salary of a Nose
Given the rarity of this profession (only a few hundred professional Noses exist worldwide), it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact salary. Becoming a Nose generally requires around ten years of experience. Very few people start directly in this role without a gifted sense of smell and consistent, long-term training.
That said, data suggests that a Nose can earn anywhere from €2,000 to over €10,000 gross per month, depending on their experience and bonuses.
Key Qualities of a Professional Nose
Above all, a Nose must train their sense of smell daily and avoid anything that might damage it permanently, such as smoking. They must take great care of their most important tool: their nose.
Along with a healthy lifestyle, a Nose needs an excellent memory to quickly recognize and differentiate between combined scents. Like the sense of smell itself, this memory is maintained through regular practice and training.
In addition to technical skills, a Nose must be creative and able to contribute ideas during fragrance development. Their role goes beyond evaluation—they are expected to make recommendations and innovate. That’s why they must be curious and well-versed in industry trends.
Finally, a Nose is patient and meticulous. Becoming one doesn’t happen overnight—it requires long-term dedication and discipline, with a strict routine and constant training.
How to Become a Nose
As you’ve likely gathered, becoming a Nose is particularly challenging—which is exactly why it’s such a rare and sought-after profession. It requires significant personal commitment and years of preparation.
Most Noses start with a training program in perfumery and cosmetics, typically working first as a fragrance evaluator or quality controller.
With experience, dedication, and a highly trained nose, they may eventually reach the prestigious role of Nose, working with top perfumers or in the chemical and cosmetics industries.
Training at the École Supérieure du Parfum & de la Cosmétique is an excellent springboard for becoming a Nose and/or Perfumer.
Feel free to contact us to learn more.