ABOUT ME
I'm Esmeralda Cicchetti, scientist, trainer, mentor, writer and, above all, advocate of innovation, authenticity and humanity.
Born with a synesthetic mind and boundless curiosity, I've always felt the world more deeply than most.
From an early age, I realized that I didn't fit into the narrow mold that society often imposes.
Sensitive, I had to hide my introversion behind an extroverted façade to survive. I quickly learned that to be seen was to take risks, but to hide was to suffocate.
Driven by justice, authenticity and excellence, I've never been able to keep quiet.
My journey into chemistry AND scent
Right from the start of my studies, I was fascinated by the life sciences. In the end, it was analytical chemistry that captured my interest. This choice, though practical in my quest for financial independence, is deeply rooted in my emotions.
Through chemistry, I learned to decode the invisible, to grasp how molecules influence our perceptions, whether through smells, tastes or emotions.
Trained in prestigious institutions, I had the opportunity to conduct research in renowned companies, where I developed cutting-edge expertise in essential oils, natural raw materials and volatile compounds.
MY DIFFERENCE
But the real education came from life itself — surviving injustice, betrayal, and countless cultural gaps as a gifted academically overqualified woman. Early in my career, I often faced “syndrome de Cassandre” — accurately predicting technical and ethical risks yet being dismissed because I didn't fit the "expected" profile. Pretty, feminine, direct: I challenged biases simply by existing. Over time, I learned to embrace my differences, transforming my so-called weaknesses into my greatest strengths.
Struggles turned into
breakthroughs
Despite my impostor syndrome, I've managed to reach great heights in my career. As head of laboratories in a number of well-known companies, and as a member of, and even head of, national and international scientific, technical and standards committees, I have developed innovative analytical methods, recognized worldwide, which have transformed the approach to knowledge of natural raw materials and their extracts.
My work on gas chromatography quantification has become a recommended practice for organizations such as IOFI and IFRA, and many researchers draw inspiration from my research in the fields of natural extracts and odors. I've managed R&D and quality control teams, collaborated on French and European standards and patents, taught, trained and mentored hundreds of analysts, and led innovation initiatives with rigor, passion and ethics, with an emphasis on collaboration.
The higher I climbed the ladder of success, the more I felt a profound vocation: that of making science more naturally accessible and human, in a quest for authenticity and depth.
What I am capable of now — and what I do for others
Today, I bridge science and soul. Through analytical expertise and emotional intelligence, I:
Help individuals and industries reconnect with nature and themselves via scent and sensory education.
Mentor emerging talents to believe in themselves, grow their skills, and reshape industries with ethics and empathy.
Develop pioneering educational tools, publications, and training programs around olfactotherapy, aromatherapy, and analytical chemistry.
Advocate for better practices in the handling of essential oils, natural raw materials, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). I have helped countless professionals not only increase their skills and salaries but also gain self-trust and emotional freedom — an achievement just as important as technical success.
Why I created my brand
I created this platform to share, transmit, and democratize access to knowledge that once felt out of reach.
Education, innovation, and humanity drive every project.
I owe it to the community — and to the child I once was, who lacked access to culture, art, and opportunity — to make science and well-being accessible to all.
I believe in authenticity over perfection, Transmission over competition, Collaboration over ego.
My brand reflects my core values: Innovation, Expertise, and Humanity.
The legacy I want to leave
If my work can inspire others to see beauty where there is hardship, to dare where there is fear, and to share where there is scarcity, then I will have fulfilled my mission.
Through scent, science, and storytelling, I aim to build bridges — between cultures, senses, hearts, and minds.
Welcome to my world, where molecules tell stories, and every scent is a step toward freedom, resilience, and joy.
Proof of Expertise
Master's degree - Chemical Engineering, specializing in Flavors and Fragrances, University of Montpellier
Master's degree - Strategies and Quality in Analytical Chemistry , University of Orleans
PhD in Chemistry, Biomolecular Engineering option, awarded by the ENSCM (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier), and prepared within the Institut des Biomolécules research unit: Development of analytical methods for studying the quality of perfume and flavor raw materials
University diploma in aromatherapy and phytotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montpellier
On-going diplomas:
Certificate of olfactology/olfactotherapy practitioner, Institut Provençal d'Aromatologie et de bien-être en Luberon
Certificate "Langage des Nez", Osmanthe, Rouen
Formation in Forensic Expertise
Scientific works published and cited worldwide: Google Scholar, ResearchGate
President of BIPEA Commission 62, and of PRODAROM's Scientific and Technical Commission (CST)
Active member of national and international standards and trade committees with an impact on fragrance, flavor and analysis standards: AFNOR Commission T75 A- Huiles Essentielles, CEN/TC 347/WG 4 - Fragrances and colophony, IFRA Analytical Working Group (AWG), IOFI Working Group on Methods of Analysis (WGMA)
Lecturer, trainer and author of books on scents, emotions and raw materials
Board member, secretary of the Association pour le Rayonnement du Musée International de la Parfumerie (ARMIP)
Founder and co-manager of the Olf'Active association
