David Apel

About

David Apel is an acclaimed American perfumer whose journey into fragrance began with a background in environmental chemistry and a childhood spent exploring the forests and coastlines of New England. Born in Ringwood, New Jersey in 1959, Apel started his career at Givaudan in 1980, initially working in gas chromatography, where he developed a keen understanding of raw materials and the complexity behind each scent. His passion for perfumery was further cultivated through the American Society of Perfumers’ apprenticeship program in 1990, allowing him to formalize his expertise through hands-on study. Distinguished early in his career, Apel was awarded as an apprentice perfumer in 1991 and soon moved to Paris to collaborate with leading European perfumers, gaining inspiration from his outsider perspective. His career trajectory led him to Symrise in 2007, where he continues to craft innovative fragrances. Apel has created scents for a diverse range of brands, including Bond No 9, Tom Ford, Elizabeth Arden, and Sean John, and is recognized for his ability to meld technical mastery with evocative storytelling.