Reina Yahya (FSN, 2017), Junior International Evaluator at Jean Niel

It all started with a simple dream. Growing up, I was always inspired by my mother who worked in the cosmetics and perfumery field. Without knowing it, I started my olfaction training from a very young age. She would always come home from work wearing different fragrances and I was always curious enough to smell them and to start memorizing them.

Fast forward, I wanted to choose a career similar to hers. I decided to join the Faculty of Science and to study Biochemistry at USJ. It was not easy, but my desire to pursue a career that I love kept me going.

After 3 years, I graduated in 2017 and I got accepted in my dream school ISIPCA Paris, a prestigious French school founded by Guerlain for post-graduate studies in perfumes, cosmetics products and food flavor formulation. I chose the international program called European Fragrance and Cosmetic Master, which consists of 2 years of training and a program between France and Italy. I decided to choose perfumery as a career and I was lucky enough to find the perfect internship in one of the oldest perfume manufacturing companies in France: Jean Niel. Located in Grasse, known as the world’s perfume capital, I did Fragrance Evaluation and Development for 6 months.

After graduating in December 2019, I signed a contract with Jean Niel as a Junior International Evaluator focusing on the Middle Eastern market and oriental perfumes. I am also working as a Fragrance Development Manager with a local brand to introduce a new line of perfumes in Lebanon and I am currently fulfilling my passion for perfumes by building my own Instagram page “@liba_nez” where I share some tips, stories, and personal reviews about selected fragrances.

Thanks to the unconditional support of USJ, and my professors, as well as their support, guidance and mentoring I was able to achieve my dreams and to find a career that really makes me happy and motivated.

Published in GPS no.48