On October 16, 2025, the German Society of Perfumers (DGP) announced Radka Bušovská as the winner of the first edition of the German Award for Young Perfumers. Bušovská, a junior perfumer at Joh. Vögele KG, earned the top honor with her creation “Afterlight.”
Young perfumers were invited to translate a contemporary musical composition, “Jeux” by Max Knoth, into an olfactory experience. Bušovská’s fragrance was noted by the expert jury as evoking “the shimmer of early sunlight, a gentle, contemplative mood and a calming ambiance - all elements inspired by the melodic landscape.” The award ceremony took place at the SEPAWA Congress in Berlin, Germany.
“Listening to Max Knoth’s ‘Jeux’ inspired me to craft a fragrance echoing its gentle melody and capturing the emotions it evokes,” Bušovská said. “I truly loved the idea of transforming music into a fragrance. It was a creative joy, and I’m honored that ‘Afterlight’ found such resonance.”
Dr. Maren Protzen, president of the DGP, remarked, “With the German Award for Young Perfumers, our goal is to nurture the next generation of perfumers by giving them a stage to showcase their creativity. This year’s challenge — transforming music into fragrance — exemplifies the innovative spirit we aim to foster. We are proud to support young perfumers. Providing a platform for young talent is vital to the future of our industry, and we are delighted to witness such inspiring results in this inaugural year.”
The German Society of Perfumers also announced that another creative and inspiring challenge for young perfumers in and outside of Germany will be launched next year.
