Connecting, Highlighting, & Promoting the Black Perfumer
Fragrance is Storytelling: Conversations with Bawo Ijirigho on Verdant
An Art and Olfaction Awards Independent Finalist
by BLACKPERFUMERS ~ JUNE Pt. 3 2026
Ilé Olomu is redefining contemporary perfumery through scent stories rooted in memory, culture, and the African diaspora. Following the brand’s recognition as a finalist in the 2026 Art and Olfaction Awards for Verdant, founder Bawo Ijirigho reflects on the emotional and creative journey behind the fragrance, the importance of cultural storytelling in scent, and the evolving landscape of independent perfumery.
In this conversation, he discusses collaborating with perfumer Andreas Wilhelm, building an olfactory language inspired by West African experiences, and why authenticity, experimentation, and personal history remain central to the future of fragrance.
RECOGNITION & MEANING OF THE NOMINATION
Congratulations on being a finalist for the 2026 Art and Olfaction Awards for Verdant. What does this recognition mean to you personally, and what do you think it signals for your work as an independent perfumer?
This recognition means everything to me. It’s a huge validation of the vision behind Ilé Olomu and the work we’ve been building. To see our story, heritage, and perspective resonate on this level is incredibly humbling.
For a long time, I felt there was space for African materials, memories, and cultural experiences to be explored in fragrance in a deeper and more intentional way. To see Verdant recognized by the Art and Olfaction Awards feels like confirmation that people are ready for those stories and that the timing is right for this approach to perfumery.
As an independent house, it also signals credibility. It shows that authenticity, culture, and originality still matter, and that there is room in contemporary fragrance for new voices and new perspectives.
The Art and Olfaction Awards are known for spotlighting independent and experimental perfumery. How does it feel to be included in that lineage of finalists and winners?
It feels incredible to be included in that lineage of finalists and winners. The Art and Olfaction Awards have become one of the most respected institutions in independent perfumery, so to have Verdant recognized in that space is a huge honor.
For Ilé Olomu, and especially as an African fragrance house, it feels like an important moment. We are deeply inspired by culture, memory, and storytelling, and to see that perspective acknowledged on this level gives us even more confidence in the direction we’re moving.
More than anything, it feels like a meaningful step forward for the house and for the stories we want to continue telling through fragrance.
THE CREATION OF VERDANT
Can you walk us through the origin of Verdant — what was the initial idea or feeling that sparked the fragrance?
The origin of Verdant came from a simple observation: I had never experienced a fragrance that truly explored the story of plantain or the sensory world I grew up around in a way that felt authentic to me.
I started thinking about the smells and memories tied to my upbringing and cultural experience, especially ingredients and materials that are deeply familiar across West African, Caribbean, and Latin cultures. Plantain immediately stood out because it felt both personal and universal at the same time.
That was the spark. I felt that if we could capture the essence of plantain in a sophisticated and artistic way, we could create something entirely new within fragrance while also telling a deeper cultural story.
How did the collaboration with Andreas Wilhelm come about, and how did your creative approaches complement or challenge each other during the process?
My collaboration with Andreas Wilhelm came from a chance meeting at Scent Fair in 2023. At the time, I had just created my first prototype fragrance, and we immediately connected through conversation, philosophy, and our shared passion for scent.
What drew me to Andreas was not only his technical mastery, but also his openness, curiosity, and approach to creativity. The deeper we got into the process, the more we realized we shared similar sensibilities around culture, humanity, music, storytelling, and art.
My background in music and creative direction complemented his technical expertise in perfumery. I was able to clearly communicate emotional direction, memories, and atmosphere, while Andreas translated those ideas into composition with incredible precision. The collaboration worked because there was mutual trust, respect, and a willingness to challenge each other creatively.
What was the most important material, accord, or concept that anchored the composition for you?
The concept that anchored Verdant was the idea of the green plantain. Initially, I was leaning toward the sweeter memory of fried ripe plantain because that was such a nostalgic reference point for me.
Andreas challenged that direction and encouraged me to explore the greener phase of the plantain’s life instead. That completely shifted the identity of the fragrance. It became more elegant, more unexpected, and ultimately more original.
That idea of “staying in the green” became the foundation of the composition and gave Verdant its character.
Were there any unexpected turns or breakthroughs during development that shaped the final scent?
One of the biggest breakthroughs during development came from discovering how certain materials could completely transform the emotional direction of a fragrance. With Verdant, there was a moment where the addition of particular woody elements suddenly brought the composition to life. It created structure, elegance, depth, and contrast while grounding the green plantain concept in a way that felt modern and entirely distinctive.
Another especially exciting breakthrough for us came while developing the rose and chocolate combination in Milora. Traditionally, rose is often paired with oud in perfumery, but exploring rose through chocolate instead opened up something that felt much more unique to our identity and taste. The contrast between the floral elegance of the rose and the richness of the chocolate created a sensuality that felt unexpected, emotional, and signature to the world we are building at Ilé Olomu.
Those moments are always exciting because they feel like discovering a new emotional language within fragrance and realizing you’re creating something that doesn’t already exist in the landscape.
PRACTICE & PROCESS
As an independent perfumer, what does your creative process look like from idea to finished fragrance?
My creative process usually begins with memory, emotion, and observation. I’m constantly inspired by the things around me, whether it’s a smell from childhood, a place, a texture, a conversation, or a moment that leaves an impression on me.
From there, I begin building the emotional world of the fragrance. I think about what the scent looks like, how it feels, what environment it belongs in, and what emotion I want it to leave behind. Before the formula even exists, there’s usually already a strong atmosphere and story attached to it in my mind.
When working with Andreas Wilhelm, that process becomes highly collaborative. I bring the creative direction, references, and emotional framework, and then we begin exploring raw materials together in the laboratory, smelling, testing, refining, and building through multiple trials until the fragrance fully comes to life.
For me, fragrance is storytelling. The technical side matters deeply, but the emotional connection always comes first.
How do constraints — whether material, financial, or structural — shape or even benefit your creative decisions?
Constraints have actually strengthened my creativity. Some of my best ideas have come from having to think more intentionally, move more carefully, and solve problems creatively.
Coming from music and entertainment, I learned early on that limitations can force you to become sharper and more resourceful. That mindset carried over into fragrance. When resources are limited, you have to rely even more on vision, taste, storytelling, and originality.
One idea that stayed with me came from reading The Power of Broke by Daymond John. The concept was that when you’re limited financially, you’re forced to become rich creatively. That perspective has stayed with me throughout this journey.
I think constraints can become dangerous only when they create fear or hesitation. Otherwise, they can push you toward innovation and force you to trust your instincts more deeply.
EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF INDIE PERFUMERY
The indie fragrance world has expanded significantly in recent years. From your perspective, what feels most exciting about where independent perfumery is today?
What excites me most is the diversity of voices and perspectives entering fragrance right now. Independent perfumery has created space for stories that historically may not have had visibility within the traditional fragrance world.
You’re now seeing perfumers drawing from deeply personal cultural experiences and translating them into scent in ways that feel authentic and emotionally connected. Whether it’s a Korean story, a Ghanaian story, or in my case, a Nigerian American perspective, there’s something powerful about seeing fragrance become more global and more personal at the same time.
I also love the creative freedom within indie perfumery. Many independent houses are willing to take risks, explore unconventional materials, and tell stories that would never exist within a traditional department store structure. That spirit of experimentation is pushing fragrance culture forward in a really exciting way.
What are some of the biggest challenges indie perfumers face right now — especially when it comes to visibility, distribution, or maintaining creative autonomy?
Visibility and infrastructure are some of the biggest challenges independent perfumers face today. There are so many talented creators making incredible work, but access to distribution, compliance, manufacturing, and retail opportunities can still be difficult, especially at an early stage.
A lot of independent houses are operating with limited resources while still trying to compete at a very high level. Shipping, production costs, regulatory requirements, and scaling responsibly can all become major challenges.
I also think one of the biggest challenges can sometimes be internal. Creative people often struggle with overthinking, self-doubt, rushing growth, or feeling pressure to follow trends. Sometimes the hardest thing is trusting your own voice and allowing yourself to fully believe in the work you’re creating.
How do awards like the Art and Olfaction Awards influence the ecosystem for independent creators?
The Art and Olfaction Awards play a huge role in the independent fragrance ecosystem. They provide visibility, credibility, community, and access in a way that can completely change the trajectory of a brand or artist.
What makes the Awards especially meaningful is that the organizers genuinely care about independent perfumery and the people behind the work. There’s a real passion for supporting artists, building community, and helping creators access opportunities that might otherwise feel out of reach.
Beyond recognition, the Awards also help connect independent houses to the larger ecosystem surrounding fragrance, whether that’s retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, raw material access, journalists, or fellow perfumers. It creates an environment where independent creators can grow, collaborate, and be taken seriously on a global level.
For many independent houses, that recognition becomes an accelerator. It opens doors that may have previously felt inaccessible and helps validate creative work that exists outside of traditional commercial structures.
VOICE, IDENTITY, AND DIRECTION
How have you developed your own olfactory voice within the broader fragrance landscape?
I developed my olfactory voice by staying deeply connected to my culture, memory, heritage, and personal experiences. From the beginning, I knew I wanted Ilé Olomu to tell stories that felt authentic to my upbringing and perspective.
The house itself is named after my great-great uncle, Nana Olomu, a historic Itsekiri merchant and leader from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. That lineage and cultural connection became a major source of inspiration for me creatively. It made me think deeply about identity, legacy, trade, movement, storytelling, and how scent could become a modern expression of those histories and experiences.
As I explored the fragrance landscape more deeply, I noticed there were certain stories, materials, and cultural references that were still largely missing or underrepresented. That realization pushed me to lean even further into my own identity and experiences rather than trying to follow existing trends.
Ingredients like ginger, plantain, and Milo chocolate are deeply familiar within many African households and across the diaspora, but I wanted to present them in a way that felt elevated, emotional, and artistically refined. That became a defining part of the voice we are building at Ilé Olomu.
My background in music also shaped the way I approach fragrance. I think about rhythm, harmony, atmosphere, emotion, and storytelling in a very similar way.
What advice would you give to emerging perfumers trying to define a distinct identity without being overly influenced by trends or commercial pressures?
I would tell emerging perfumers to trust themselves, trust their story, and trust the experiences that shaped them.
You can’t recreate what has already been created, but you can tell your story in a way that has never been told before. That’s where originality comes from.
I think the strongest creative voices usually come from honesty. The more deeply you understand your own memories, culture, emotions, experiences, and perspective, the more distinct your work becomes naturally.
I would also encourage people to look for the gaps. Pay attention to the stories that are
missing, the emotions that haven’t been explored, or the perspectives that aren’t being represented. Then lean into that fully and unapologetically.
When you think about the future of your work at Ilé Olomu, what directions or questions are you most excited to explore next?
I’m excited to continue exploring the experience of the African diaspora and the connection between culture, memory, identity, and scent. There are still so many stories, materials, and sensory experiences from West Africa and the broader diaspora that deserve deeper exploration through fragrance.
Beyond fragrance itself, I see Ilé Olomu evolving into a broader sensory luxury house. That includes expanding into candles, body care, home fragrance, and immersive hospitality experiences that allow people to experience scent in more emotional and environmental ways.
I’m especially interested in how fragrance can shape atmosphere and memory within spaces like hotels, weddings, and cultural environments. As Ilé Olomu continues to grow, those conversations and opportunities have naturally started to emerge, and I think that intersection between scent, design, and experience is something we’ll continue exploring deeply moving forward.
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Photo Credit: Ilé Olomu