The Chemistry of Fragrance

Dan Terry, Founder of Oo La Lab in Alserkal Avenue, shares how this bespoke olfactory experience was born

- SARAH JOSEPH

Can you talk us through your career? I’ve always had a sensitivity towards the senses and the power of human experience. However, my calling was to eventually tell beautiful stories. Discovered over fifteen years ago when I was living in Australia, I uncovered my potential through this immersive storytelling ability that fragrances imbued. I subsequently lived in Hong Kong and then Singapore, which helped to develop my personal taste further which has also matured to include an Asian sensibility. As a business owner I have been involved in many roles over the years which include brand consulting, fragrance evaluation, product design and hands-on production. Overall, designing perfumes is a mix of art and time, which I have more of these days that I dedicate to the practice. While for the most of it, I’m self-taught, I have learned from my partners and perfumer colleagues over the years to refine my approach. Through Oo La Lab and other brands inside our portfolio, we have imagined a newly evolved fragrance industry catering to empowered and sensorial consumers.