Michael Salazar

Perfumer at heart, bio in progress

Hello there! Blending fragrances, details about me coming soon...

Published Formulas (2)

Jasmine rice. A fragrant, long-grain rice native to Southeast Asia—revered not only for its soft, slightly sticky texture, but for its unmistakable aroma. Sweet, airy, and gently nutty, it evokes comparisons to popcorn, pandan, and warm kitchens filled with comfort. A quiet staple in cuisine… yet still an underexplored note in perfumery. At the heart of this aroma lies 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP)—a powerful compound responsible for that signature toasted, almost ethereal scent. Found throughout the plant (except the roots), its presence is delicate and fleeting. The less processed the grain, the more pronounced its aroma. Even in cooking, its preservation requires care—favoring gentle steaming over boiling to maintain its nuanced profile. Interestingly, this same molecule can emerge through the Maillard reaction, appearing in foods like roasted hazelnuts and mushrooms—bridging the gap between savory warmth and soft sweetness. In perfumery, we interpret rather than replicate. To recreate this atmosphere, we turn to materials like 2-acetyl pyrazine—nutty, toasted, almost popcorn-like—and 2-acetyl pyridine, which brings a richer, more savory depth. Used with intention (and restraint), they form the backbone of the accord, giving body and realism. Grounding it all is Rice Bran Absolute—a material we love to incorporate whenever possible. Soft, creamy, slightly fatty, and delicately powdery, it lends a natural warmth that transforms the accord from abstract to tangible… from concept to memory. This was a challenging study. Pyrazines are powerful, often unforgiving materials—but learning to shape them with precision opens an entirely new dimension of texture and realism. A quiet note. A humble ingredient. Yet one capable of telling deeply personal stories.

Sea Salt Accord

While salt itself does not possess an aroma, it leads us deeper into the fascinating world of “Fantasy Accords” — a place in perfumery where imagination, chemistry, and artistry converge to create the illusion of scent. With a Sea Salt accord, the goal is not to recreate literal salt, but rather the atmosphere that surrounds it. Coastal breeze, mineralic air, fresh ozone, driftwood, crashing waves, and the subtle briny quality carried through the ocean mist. To build this illusion, classic marine materials such as Ambroxan and Calone (in this case, Cascalone) establish the oceanic foundation of the accord. Helional and Floralozone contribute an airy and ozonic character that evokes the sensation of wind moving through salty coastal air. Seaweed is perhaps one of the trickiest materials to utilize. Dense, pungent, and almost overwhelmingly marine on its own, it can quickly dominate a composition. Yet in small amounts, it becomes invaluable — adding mineralic, iodine-like, briny, and deeply oceanic nuances that bring realism and texture to the accord. ISO E Super introduces an airy driftwood effect and soft diffusion, grounding the marine facets while creating a sense of space and atmosphere. Looking at the formula, you may notice the heavy use of Benzyl Salicylate. Its purpose here is not necessarily aromatic, but textural. Smooth, diffusive, humid, and almost sunscreen-like, it helps create the sensation of sun-warmed skin after the ocean. It also softens the sharpness and metallic edges often associated with powerful marine materials like Calone and Floralozone. This is one of the beautiful aspects of perfumery — understanding that materials are not only used for how they smell individually, but for how they shape texture, atmosphere, and emotion within a composition. Max Use: 14.1% In Finished Product