Paul Ireland
Consumer Fragrances
Global
“Be bold, be brave, and be different. Challenge the creative process.” This is the advice Paul Ireland gives to perfumers seeking to compose the cult fragrances of tomorrow.
Soon after graduating from the University of Birmingham (UK) with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Geography, was hired as a business trainee by PZ Cussons, a major British manufacturer of personal healthcare products and consumer goods.
There, he gained experience in purchasing and marketing, before moving on to product development. But above all, he discovered the power of the fragrance experience in driving customer loyalty. “The fragrance is the lasting embodiment of the brand that the consumer chooses to become part of their personal brand”, he says.
It is this conviction that has driven Paul for the past 19 years at Takasago, where he held positions in Global Account Management, before becoming Corporate Vice President.
To him, the industry continually presents new opportunities. Today, he is especially impressed by the determination and enthusiasm of young professionals in emerging markets: tomorrow’s fragrance creators and innovators.
As for his personal olfactory memories, the London-based Paul confides that he loves the smells of the beach on windy winter days, suffused with ozone and salt: they remind him of the stunning beautiful vistas of the northern English coast, close to where he grew up. Whether it comes in a beautifully designed bottle or from untamed Nature, scent always, ultimately, about emotional connection…
