Marc Zini is a prominent figure in modern perfumery, particularly renowned for his expertise in oriental and amber-based compositions. Born in Grasse to an Italian family, he grew up surrounded by the heritage of fragrance. Despite this, his professional journey initially led him into accounting before he ultimately followed his true calling in 1977, joining the research laboratory at Charabot.

His formal training at the Charabot perfumery school laid the foundation for a career that would span decades and continents. Since the early 1990s, Zini has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman. These experiences deeply shaped his understanding of oriental raw materials and regional scent preferences, becoming a defining influence on his work.

Today, Zini works as a perfumer at Robertet, collaborating with a wide range of brands—from niche houses such as Maison Crivelli to global retailers like Zara. His versatility is further reflected in partnerships with brands like Jesus Del Pozo and Dr. Pierre Ricaud, demonstrating his ability to create compelling fragrances across different market segments.

Since 2018, Zini has also taken on a mentoring role at the Robertet Perfumery School, where he shares his extensive knowledge with the next generation of perfumers. His teaching reflects a commitment to preserving traditional techniques while encouraging contemporary innovation.

Zini’s creative philosophy centers on emotion as the driving force behind every composition. He views fragrance as an expression of memory and feeling, blending classical perfumery structures with modern refinement. His preferred palette includes warm, sensual notes such as musk, vanilla, amber, and cedarwood, often enhanced with fresh or spicy accents like bergamot, cardamom, and patchouli.

A standout example of his work is Iris Malikhân for Maison Crivelli. In this composition, he contrasts the powdery, green elegance of iris with the warmth of leather, vanilla, and amber. The fragrance opens with fresh, resinous notes of cypress and galbanum, unfolds into a rich iris heart, and settles into a soft, enveloping base.

This creation highlights Zini’s ability to balance delicate floral nuances with deeper, more grounded elements. His extensive travels in the Middle East bring additional depth and cultural richness to his work, allowing him to create fragrances that resonate both locally and globally.

Marc Zini represents a style of perfumery that honors tradition while embracing emotional depth and cross-cultural influences—resulting in compositions that are both timeless and distinctly modern.