Preliminary judges: LOs angeles
Shabnam Tavakol
Perfumer, Kismet Olfactive
Shabnam Tavakol studied fragrance creation at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery in South France. After graduating, she worked professionally with large-scale fragrance houses and master perfumers in Paris and New York City before founding Kismet Olfactive.
Dana Kiley Buchanan
Podcaster & retailer, Luckyscent | ScentBar
Dana Kiley Buchanan is an artist living in Los Angeles with almost a decade of experience working in perfumery with Luckyscent/Scent Bar. A deeply passionate fragrance enthusiast, she finds profound meaning in the world of scents and the power of scent memory, and co-hosts the Luckyscent podcast.
Syd Buffman
Perfumer, SYD Botanica
Syd Buffman is an independent perfumer and multidisciplinary artist in Los Angeles, California. She is the perfumer and founder of SYD Botanica fragrances. Syd's work is inspired by the poetry of nature, transformation, emotions and interconnectedness. She creates immersive and ethereal fragrances informed by her background in design, incense making, herbalism, and alchemy.
Taylyn Washington-Harmon
Founder, Black Girl Perfume Club
Taylyn Washington-Harmon is an award-winning journalist, consultant and fragrance critic. She is the founder of Black Girl Perfume Club, a community and think tank centering BIPOC fragrance consumers and perfumers since 2022. She currently lives in Los Angeles, by way of Chicago.
Preliminary judges: NEW YORK
Victor Mane
Director Creation Fine Fragrance & Ingredients North America, MANE
Victor Mane is from Grasse, the modern cradle of perfumery, and is a fifth-generation member of the fragrance house V.MANE FILS. Academically trained as a chemist, he is passionate about raw materials, responsible sourcing, and innovative extraction technologies, combining scientific expertise with a deep appreciation for the art and craft of fragrance creation.
NEWCOMER AWARD JUDGES
Steven Gontarski
Host, 'It's Just Perfume' a Luckyscent podcast
Steven Gontarski is an artist, musician and perfume aficionado. He sees perfumery as an art form that both mirrors and shapes culture. Through his YouTube channel and work with Luckyscent, including hosting their podcast 'It's Just Perfume,' Steven presents fragrances in a broad context pulling from perfume history, entertainment, fine art and personal memories.
April Lea
Perfumer & Founder, LVNEA
April Lea is a multidisciplinary artist rooted in the fertile soil of do-it-yourself counterculture. Her work explores the intersection of nature and the immaterial world. LVNEA was born from her passion for the natural world and a desire to honour ancient perfumery traditions while challenging modern fragrance conventions.