Sophia Grojsman

About

Sophia Grojsman is a Belarus-born American perfumer renowned as one of the most influential creators in modern perfumery. Born in 1945 in Lyubcha, Belarusian SSR, she later moved to Poland, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in analytical chemistry. In 1965, Grojsman immigrated to the United States and began her career at International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) as a lab technician, where she rose to become Vice President. Mentored by legendary perfumers Josephine Catapano and Ernest Shiftan, Grojsman developed a signature style that revolutionized the industry. Her innovative approach, which often brings base notes to the forefront from the very opening, helped define an entire era of fragrance. Grojsman is credited with a string of iconic fragrances, such as Calvin Klein Eternity, Lancôme Trésor, Estée Lauder Beautiful, and Yves Saint Laurent Paris. Her work is celebrated for its sensual silkiness and progressive vision, and she has received numerous industry honors, including the Cosmetic Executive Women's Achiever Award, the Living Legend Award from the American Society of Perfumers, and the Fragrance Foundation's Perfumer of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award.