Will Andrews is part of the P&G Fragrance Creation team, based at Procter & Gamble in Egham, UK. As an evaluator and fragrance scientist, he works with perfumers, designers, and marketeers at the Global Fragrance Creation Centre of Excellence in Egham, to design the next generation of classic perfumes for the P&G Prestige brand portfolio. His passion for fragrance creation leads him to educate and inform the internal and external world on all aspects of fragrance design and science. He is also in a perfect position to report on emerging fragrance trends and innovative technologies.
Will was born and educated in England, where he developed a passion for music, painting and science. This was to lead to a degree in Industrial Design from one of the UK's most renowned design courses at Brunel University. This was followed in 1994 by a rewarding career at P&G Beauty, based in Egham, UK and the USA; Will has been part of P&G Prestige Products' fragrance creation team since 2003.
As a scientist and a great brand and fragrance enthusiast, Will is perfectly placed to talk about Fine Fragrances in an holistic context. Says Will:
'I dig deep into the technical and artistic elements of the fragrance development, to find the perfumer's inspiration and any interesting ingredient stories. Coupled with the brand heritage, these elements can bring some fascinating imagery to the fragrance story, which helps people to relate to the scent. The fragrance then really comes alive when this approach is combined with an educational fragrance workshop, where we smell key ingredients and accords to illustrate how each fragrance is a unique product of the DNA of its ingredients.' As a natural story-teller, he describes fragrance in accessible language, with an intention to inform and entertain. This approach makes it easy for everyone to understand, regardless of technical background.
'I have been involved in the design and development of some wonderful products over the years. However, nothing in my opinion compares to perfume - its power to transform moods and evoke memories: even the packs are pieces of art - both functional and beautiful. You could say that Fine Fragrance is at the creative zenith of product design.'
As a great odour enthusiast, Will was delighted to be given the opportunity to work directly on fragrance creation. Since then, he has developed a deep knowledge of fragrance and odour, with many finding him to be a rich source of anecdote and technical knowledge. In addition, he is well versed in design history and is a keen plant collector, which often leads to rich contextual information through historical anecdotes and botanical links.
Will's vision is to help guide the perfume-buying public, to make the experience more accessible, whilst retaining all the magic of the fragrance creation process. Chairing the UK Fragrance Foundation Associate Board, lecturing at the Royal Institution in London, regularly contributing to global Beauty press articles and leading fragrance workshops at new launches, all helps him to achieve this goal.