Anne Serrano-McClain
Owner + Creative Director
MCMC Fragrances
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
Had a creative and philosophical leaning, but was also book-smart.
I studied mostly photography in college, but took a lot of time off to travel.
After college, I moved to New York City (Brooklyn to be specific).
While working at a design agency, I took classes in the evening (like jewelry, yoga, etc.)
One night I took a natural perfume class and fell head over heels.
I spent 3 yrs learning everything I could about perfumery from books, the internet, experimenting.
Then I applied to the Grasse Institute of Perfumery in southern France.
After graduating in 2009, I founded my own company.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Owner + Creative Director
I make perfumes.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Art
Entrepreneurship
Being Creative
Day to Day
I work with my sister in our studio / lab / office, about a 5 minute bike ride from my house. Each day is different. Our roles include communicating with our vendors, fulfilling online orders, working on new fragrances and products, responding to press requests...
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for professionals
Personally, I would really recommend studying perfume at a school like the one I went to. There's a lot to learn and while I thought for a while that I could be self-taught, I realized once I got to perfume school that there are a lot of technical details and that information is not widely available.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Certification/License
Perfumery
Perfumery
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Teachers:
"Even once I was in perfume school, the idea that I would start my own business was really doubted. "The perfume industry works a certain way." "How will you ever make it?""
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
First-Generation Immigrant
