The British Society of Perfumers was founded over 50 years ago, by perfumers, to help gain recognition and status in the perfume industry for perfumery as a profession. We currently have over 250 members, with 8 tiers of membership; Full Perfumer Member, Associate Perfumer Member, Associate Member Student Member, Retired Member, Honorary Member & Society Friends.
The inaugural meeting was held on April 9th 1963 at the Bonnington Hotel with 36 founder members. Eight people had met in London in late 1962 and decided to form a Society, which made the above its first meeting. Robert Favre was in the chair.
The Society supports the education and development of perfumers, and other fragrance industry professionals, by bringing them together as individuals to exchange views and items of professional interest in an informal atmosphere.
In 2022, the BSP reviewed and renewed our purpose in-line with our new membership categories to; ‘promoting and supporting the craft of perfumers and related roles within the fragrance industry throughout the UK’.
The Society runs a full lecture program each year, and a Workshop Weekend every other year. As a forum for access to the fragrance industry many of our events are open to the public.
Originally the members were all perfumers but as the importance of the Society grew, the role of Associate member was introduced. Later, the Society grew to include Friends of the Society and student members.
In 2020, we have amended our constitution to include a new perfumer membership category (Associate Perfumer) for perfumers who have come to the trade via unconventional routes.
Most of our meetings, lectures, conferences, workshops and excursions are open to members and non-members, so you may not need to be a member to join in. For membership details please read our FAQ section and if you would like to apply, contact us.
We ask all members to keep the General Secretary informed of any changes of home address, email address, or company – this is most important as otherwise we will not be able to send you details of our events and other news.
Past Presidents of the British Society of Perfumers
1963 -1964 Robert Favre
1965 Jack Pickthall
1966 Eric Simco
1967 Charles Holding
1968 Jim McIver
1969 William Botfield
1970 Vivian Ward
1971 William Tichener
1972 Brian Kingston
1973 Bert Murray
1974 Len Smith
1975 Nancy McConkey
1976 David Cartwright
1977 Tony Wuertz-Field
1978 Geoffrey Davis
1979 David Witty
1980 Ken Shipp
1981 Brian Jaggers
1982 David Butterfield
1983 Bernard Nicholl
1984 Eric Simco
1985 Chris Clements
1986 Tony Pettifer
1987 Jenny Murray
1988 Hamish Crombie
1989 Tony Dallimore
1990 Evelyn Speller
1991 David Witty
1992 Jeff Brown
1993 Paul McGee
1994 Beverly Bayne
1995 Mike Parrot
1996 Lisa Hipgrave
1997 Marianne Hoyle
1998 David Ruskin
1999 Roger Duprey
2000 Julie Towle
2001 John Ayres
2002 Rhona Wells
2003 Ruth Mastenbroek
2004 Sheilagh Foyle
2005 Vincent Scully
2006 Claudine de Vogel
2007 Rhona Wells
2008 Derek Bird
2009 Matthew Williams
2010 Helen Hill
2011 Tim Gage
2012-2014 John Bailey
2014-2015 Peter Whipps
2015-2017 Kate Williams
2017-2019 Virginie Daniau
2019-2020 David Whitaker
2020-2022 Peter Malton
2022 Marianne Martin
2023 Julie Dunkley
2024-2026 Denise McLaverty
2026- Hayley Forster