On October 5, ahead of the Beautyworld Middle East trade show, Takasago officially inaugurated its new Creative Centre in Dubai, marking a further step in strengthening its presence in the region. The opening ceremony brought together several senior executives, including Paul Ireland, President of Takasago’s Fragrance Division; Bassel Kouchacji, Managing Director of Fragrance Middle East; Frédéric Rivoire, Head of Fine Fragrance EMEA; Sylvain Eyraud, VP of Fine Fragrance Europe Sales, Global Marketing and Communication; and Master Perfumer Aurélien Guichard.
Located in the heart of Dubai Media City, the new centre brings together three specialized facilities: a fragrance application laboratory, a composition laboratory, and an analytical laboratory equipped with GC-MS technology.
Through this investment, Takasago aims to strengthen ties with regional partners, foster co-creation, and respond more effectively to the needs of a market that has become one of the most influential in the global fragrance industry.
“The Middle East is no longer just one of the most dynamic markets in the fragrance industry. It has become one of its greatest creative forces,” emphasizes Bassel Kouchacji.
Beyond its commercial significance, Takasago also views the region as a strategic source of creative inspiration. The Middle East is a “creative territory capable of inspiring the perfumery of tomorrow,” says the fragrance and flavour manufacturer.
Following the centre’s inauguration, Takasago unveiled a collection of twelve fragrances at Beautyworld Middle East. The creations reinterpret iconic ingredients of oriental perfumery, enriched with elements from the Asian olfactory palette and the company’s exclusive captive ingredients.
The design of Takasago’s booth drew inspiration from Kyoto’s Kinkaku-ji, or Golden Pavilion, which was destroyed by fire in 1950 and rebuilt five years later. This symbol of resilience provided the inspiration for a thirteenth fragrance, collectively composed by Takasago’s Paris-based perfumers. Named Tears of the Phoenix, the creation combines resins with Hinoki, the renowned Japanese cypress.
Extending this dialogue between cultures and creative expertise beyond perfumery, Takasago also partnered with La Confiture Parisienne to develop Sakura d’Or, an exclusive jam resulting from a creative exchange between the Parisian company’s chef and Takasago’s perfumers. The collaboration was conceived as a bridge between Japan and the Middle East.
