For Donna Ramanauskas, perfumery began at home, surrounded by her father’s blotters and daily creations. Now a senior perfumer at Agilex Fragrances, Ramanauskas reflects on her first big win, an accidental amber breakthrough, and why the best creative discoveries can come from constraints and even mistakes
Ramanauskas: I was introduced to the fragrance world long before I thought of it as a career. My dad was a perfumer and growing up I was surrounded by blotters and bottles of his daily creations. That early exposure shaped my curiosity. Over time, I realized I didn’t just admire my dad’s work but wanted to follow in his footsteps. The fragrance industry felt like home to me.
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For Donna Ramanauskas, perfumery began at home, surrounded by her father’s blotters and daily creations. Now a senior perfumer at Agilex Fragrances, Ramanauskas reflects on her first big win, an accidental amber breakthrough, and why the best creative discoveries can come from constraints and even mistakes
What led you to the fragrance industry?
Ramanauskas: I was introduced to the fragrance world long before I thought of it as a career. My dad was a perfumer and growing up I was surrounded by blotters and bottles of his daily creations. That early exposure shaped my curiosity. Over time, I realized I didn’t just admire my dad’s work but wanted to follow in his footsteps. The fragrance industry felt like home to me.
Can you share a defining moment or breakthrough in your career as a perfumer?
Ramanauskas: A defining moment in my career, as I’m sure it is for all perfumers just starting, was my very first win. Something I remember vividly. For me, it was creating a lily of the valley fragrance for Crabtree & Evelyn. That brief becoming a finished scent, felt like a moment when everything clicked. It was the first time I saw my work move from an idea on a blotter to a fragrance out in the work touching people’s daily lives. That experience gave me both confidence and clarity and remains a milestone I look back on fondly.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when entering the perfume industry, and how did you overcome them?
Ramanauskas: One of the biggest challenges I faced entering the perfume industry was a personal one. Stepping out from behind my dad’s shadow to prove myself and discover what truly resonated with me creatively. Finding my own voice meant giving myself permission to explore beyond what I’d grown up around. Trusting my own instincts and leaning into materials that sparked genuine excitement for me. To carve out a niche that felt authentically mine. This challenge helped me embrace honoring the foundation my dad gave, but also trusting my own curiosity enough to shape a new path.
Can you describe a time when a fragrance formulation didn’t turn out as expected? How did you address the issue?
Ramanauskas: One moment that stands out was a formulation that was meant to be a soft, balanced composition when I accidentally overdosed a dry amber note. At the time, it was far from what consumers were gravitating toward and it immediately felt like a mistake. But this is exactly where magic happens in perfumery. You’re forced to look at scent through a completely new lens. Despite being “wrong,” that so called error ended up sparking my deep love for amber notes, something that has since become an identifying thread in my work. What started as a misstep became a breakthrough, reminding me that some of the most exciting shifts in perfumery come from those unexpected happy accidents.
How do you find the right balance between artistic expression and the technical limitations of perfume formulation?
Ramanauskas: For me, the balance between artistic expression and the technical limitation of formulation isn’t about choosing one over the other. It’s about seeing those limitations as creative catalysts. I view restrictions as an invitation to think differently. When a formula forces me to adapt whether due to regulations, stability issues or cost, I’m pushed to explore materials I might not normally reach for. Those moments often open unexpected doors, helping me stretch beyond my comfort ozone and push boundaries, spark experimentation and ultimately lead to a kind of newness that keeps perfumery evolving.
Are there specific skills or knowledge areas you believe are crucial for a perfumer to master?
Ramanauskas: Beyond the obvious technical foundations of olfactive memory, raw material knowledge and the ability to construct a balanced formula, I believe the most crucial skills for a perfumer are rooted in creativity and adaptability. The ability to translate emotion, imagery and abstract ideas into scent. Curiosity and experimentation are equally important, because true innovation often comes from pushing beyond the expected and trying unconventional pairings. At the same time, perfumery isn’t created in isolation. Collaboration and communication play a huge role in shaping fragrance. Being able to listen, interpret a brief, articulate your vision, and adapt when direction shifts is just as important. Ultimately, the combination of technical mastery, creative openness, and strong partnership skills is what allows a perfumer to bring idea to life in a way that feels both intentional and inspiring.
