Valentine’s Day often sees couples exchanging gifts of flowers, chocolates, and perfumes. Recognizing that a good olfactory connection is key to any partnership, Alexander Nemeth, a perfumer based in Weiden am See (Neusiedl am See district), is crafting scents in the heart of Austria’s Burgenland region.
Nemeth possesses a particularly refined sense of smell, a trait he’s cultivated since childhood. A trained cook and insurance professional, he has passionately pursued the art of fragrance creation, dedicating himself to developing new compositions almost daily. He’s self-taught, mastering the perfumer’s craft through specialized literature, online seminars, and, crucially, practice.
“You have to train your nose,” Nemeth explains. “And through training your nose and a lot of experimentation, you learn to recognize individual raw materials, to distinguish them from each other, and to understand how they develop on the skin. There are indeed classic pairings that always work well together and are harmonious. But a perfume is really exciting when it has a certain individuality and isn’t predictable. And achieving that is the art.”
Scents Evoke Emotions
Nemeth often spends several hours after his regular workday experimenting with a selection of nearly 1,000 essences. He has already created more than 30 different perfumes. Whether the scent is more floral, fresh, oriental, or woody remains a matter of personal taste. “My goal is to create special and beautiful moments for people, because scents are always associated with memories, and if people then have a good feeling because of it, then I have achieved my goal. And I hope to create many more fragrances that do just that,” says the perfumer.
While Austria isn’t typically the first place that comes to mind when considering global perfume capitals like Paris or Milan, a growing number of artisanal fragrance houses are quietly gaining recognition. This trend, as highlighted in recent reports, emphasizes craftsmanship and the use of unique, locally sourced ingredients. Stefan Zwickl, another Austrian perfumer based in Burgenland’s Seewinkel region, is pioneering the use of pure natural essential oils derived from local plants, a scent he describes as “steppe fragrance.”
Zwickl, identified as Austria’s fragrance pioneer, operates a manufactory where he captures the essence of the Burgenland landscape. He notes that the scent of the region evokes feelings of vastness, sunshine, and steppe, and aims to encapsulate this in his compositions. His approach aligns with a broader movement within the Austrian perfume scene – a dedication to quality, handcrafting, and small-batch production, appealing to enthusiasts seeking unique olfactory experiences.
This focus on artisanal techniques and regional ingredients differentiates Austrian perfumes from mass-market fragrances. The use of ingredients like Edelweiss, wild herbs, juniper berries, and mountain pines, as noted in industry publications, contributes to scents that are distinctly evocative of the Austrian landscape.
Beyond these smaller, independent houses, established brands like Dr. Vranjes Firenze also maintain a presence in the Austrian market, offering a range of home fragrances and scented candles. However, the emerging trend points towards a growing appreciation for locally produced, uniquely Austrian scents, driven by perfumers like Nemeth and Zwickl who are dedicated to capturing the essence of their region in a bottle.
Nemeth’s work, and the broader movement within Burgenland, suggests a blossoming of fragrance artistry in a region previously unassociated with the perfume industry. As Valentine’s Day approaches, the emphasis on finding the perfect scent – one that evokes emotion and connection – highlights the enduring power of fragrance and the growing appeal of Austrian-made perfumes.
