Create a free Perfumer & Flavorist account to continue reading

Iberchem Perfumer Wins German Award for Young Perfumers With Coastal-Inspired Cologne

Award winner receives certificate at German Award for Young Perfumers 2026 ceremony with two presenters on podium
From left: Jörg Zimmermann, VP of the DGP; Andrea Fernandez Gavira, perfumer at Iberchem; and Dr. Maren Protzen, president of the DGP.
DGP

Andrea Fernandez Gavira, perfumer at Iberchem, has won the German Award for Young Perfumers 2026 with “SeaRenity,” a contemporary reinterpretation of eau de cologne inspired by her Spanish coastal roots.

Surreal artwork featuring a figure in gray period dress with braided hair holding a lemon at a beach, titled Serenity by Andrea Fernández GaviraOriginally from Estepona in Málaga, Fernandez Gavira drew on her connection to the sea to develop the winning fragrance. “It was difficult to choose just one concept, but in the end, I decided to go back to my roots in Estepona and the sea I have always felt connected to,” she said.DGPPresented by the German Society of Perfumers (Deutsche Gesellschaft der Parfümeure im SEPAWA e.V., DGP) during the SEPAWA Congress in Berlin on October 14, the award challenged young perfumers to explore the theme “Eau de Cologne–Legacy and Future.” An independent expert jury evaluated the entries anonymously.

Originally from Estepona in Málaga, Fernandez Gavira drew on her connection to the sea to develop the winning fragrance.

“It was difficult to choose just one concept, but in the end, I decided to go back to my roots in Estepona and the sea I have always felt connected to,” she said.

The jury praised SeaRenity for its sparkling liveliness, crisp aquatic facets and exceptional longevity. The composition opens with uplifting citrus notes before evolving through spicy and marine facets into an airy, ozone-like character, balanced by a subtle touch of iris.

Dr. Maren Protzen, president of the DGP, said, “With this award, we aim to celebrate the true craftsmanship of creative perfumery. Andrea embodies this vision perfectly: with her background, she brings together science, emotion and imagination.”

Fernandez Gavira also expressed gratitude to the DGP and her Iberchem colleagues, noting that the creative journey had made her fall even more in love with her profession.

The German Award for Young Perfumers is part of the DGP's efforts to support emerging talent and encourage creative development across the international fragrance community.

More in Fine Fragrance