Perfumer
Carlos Benaïm
Carlos Benaïm is a highly regarded perfumer who has made significant contributions to the fragrance industry. Born and raised in Tangier, Morocco, he developed an early interest in perfumery through his father, who was a pharmacist and had a passion for extracting essential oils. He then went on to study chemical engineering before embarking on a career as a perfumer.
Benaïm has worked for several prominent fragrance houses throughout his career, including IFF, where he was appointed Master Perfumer in 2013, being the first perfumer to be distinguished with this title in the company. He has also created fragrances for a wide range of fashion and beauty brands, including Armani, Calvin Klein, Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent.
Benaïm is known for his ability to bring to light invisible connections in his fragrances, creating compositions that are both imaginative and harmonious. He is passionate about simplicity, which he considers a crucial trait for any artist or perfumer.
Throughout his career, Benaïm has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the fragrance industry, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Perfumers in 2004 and the Perfumer of the Year Lifetime Achievement award from the Fragrance Foundation in 2014.
In addition to his work as a perfumer, Benaïm is actively involved in charitable causes. He has been involved with ISEF (International Sephardic Education Foundation) for two decades, serving as Chairman of the Council and finally becoming President in 2017. He and his wife, Dr. Darel M. Benaïm, have also established an endowment fund at ISEF to fund scholarships for advanced professional studies at Ben-Gurion University.
