Most people don't like talking about their job once they're done for the day.
However, things are probably a bit different for Huib Maat, who can brag he has one of the 'rarest jobs in the world'.
According to statistics published by Ranker.com, Huib's occupation is even more rare than being an astronomer.
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However, what does he actually do?
Huib is one of less than 500 perfumers across the planet.
With 600 people having been to space, this means you're actually more likely to meet an astronaut than you are to run into a perfumer.
As a perfumer, Huib has been responsible for creating perfumery products selling in excess of 100 million units per year for major brands, and has even invented revolutionary perfume technologies that have sold worldwide.
There are two types of perfumers, one that’s more like a chef, and the other more like a chemist.
'Chefs' create scent combinations in their mind, then blend and trial them before going back, adding to the formula and amending their recipe.
Meanwhile, chemists look at the composition and exchange ingredients like building blocks based on scent trials.
You may expect a perfumer to have studied chemistry, but there’s no real qualification related to such a specific field.
"I think I’ve always just had a natural affinity for it and a good nose," says Huib.
Huib says he's more of a 'chef' in his style as he said the idea that perfumers have “super senses” is a common misconception.
"It’s not related to sensitivity – the sensitivity of the nose is similar in most people," he explained.
"It’s actually about memory – perfumers memorise the smell of thousands of ingredients, accords and perfumes.
"They can pick out key ingredients in perfumes just by smelling them."
He admitted that this means some perfumers are a 'nightmare' to dine out with.
"They'll sniff out a slightly corked wine with ease and ask for a replacement, to the desperation of many a restauranteur," he admitted.
Huib said that, despite perfumers not needing a ‘super nose’ to succeed, good ‘nose health’ is essential.
"Nose health is of vital importance to a perfumer," he commented.
"Covid is a terrible, career-ending risk to people in my line of work.
"I personally take great care not to expose myself to unnecessary risk.
"Sadly, I’ve met several people in my industry who haven’t got their sense of smell back 6 months after contracting Covid."
After working for some of the world’s top perfumery houses, Huib has since turned his passion to building his own niche perfume brand – PAIRFUM London – which has been awarded Niche Perfumery House of the Year for the second year in a row, as well as becoming one of the leading suppliers to 5-star hotels across the UK.
PAIRFUM London is labelled as a boutique perfumery house with an acutely developed sensitivity for the taste and ‘zeitgeist’ in fragrance.
Huib develops fragrances which he says 'you can fall in love with and enjoy for a long time'.
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