Stéphanie Bakouche’s journey into perfumery began at a very young age—at just five years old, she declared that she wanted to create perfumes. This early passion led the Paris-born perfumer to study chemistry before enrolling at ISIPCA in Versailles, one of France’s most prestigious perfumery schools. Her dedication was evident early on, as she began working at the historic fragrance house LT Piver at the age of eighteen.
Her education extended far beyond formal training. She spent seven formative years under the mentorship of renowned perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour, whom she describes as “brilliant and uncompromising.” This intensive experience, combined with roles at major fragrance houses such as Givaudan, Takasago, and Hermès, helped shape her distinctive creative approach.
Bakouche’s career path has been remarkably diverse, encompassing roles in sales, quality control, regulatory affairs, and development. At L’Artisan Parfumeur, she progressed from International Training Manager to Head of Perfume Development, gaining comprehensive industry knowledge that would later influence her independent work.
In 2017, she founded Sensaba, her independent perfumery laboratory and consultancy. This step allowed her to fully express her artistic vision while collaborating with niche brands worldwide. Her philosophy centers on “slow perfumery”—respecting the time required to create meaningful and refined fragrances, in contrast to fast-paced mass-market trends.
