Careers in Fragrance Retail & Buying with Vesa Kalho, Head of Beauty at Fenwick

Among the dynamic and diverse career paths within the fragrance industry, fragrance retail and buying stand out as a pivotal sector to engage with the journey of fragrance and to provide services for the consumer.
We are delighted to be joined by Vesa Kalho, Head of Beauty at Fenwick, to gain exclusive insights into his career journey and to uncover his top tips for entering this exciting industry. Join us as we explore the expanding and ever-evolving world of fragrance retail and buying!

What does the power of scent mean to you?

Scent transports you in time, and can remind you of a particular person. Wearing a scent can make a difference to your day – if you’re not feeling your best, spritz on an uplifting scent or if you feel you’ve got so much going on in your life, what scent can bring calmness to your world?

How did you join the fragrance industry?

I started at Harrods as a temporary sales consultant and worked across many companies, including KGA and YSL.
I then joined Harrods as a permanent Sales Consultant looking after Diptyque. And there the passion for fragrance grew.

What excites you about working in fragrance retail and buying?

The fragrance industry is ever-evolving and changing and what I enjoy is seeing the customer's appreciation of the brands, fragrances, the notes, the perfumers behind the fragrances, the bottles and packaging, and most of all the story behind each fragrance.

What skills and qualities do you think are particularly suitable and favourable for pursuing a career in fragrance buying?

I didn’t know how passionate I was about Fragrance until I started in the industry and it’s grown ever since. Appreciation of scent, the quality and the craftsmanship and that not everyone is going to agree on enjoying the same fragrances.

As Fenwick's Head of Beauty Buying, can you tell us more about the company's approach to fragrance and the fragrance-buying team at Fenwick?

At Fenwick, we are always looking for something that has a point of difference with the quality behind it. We always have our customers in mind on what they enjoy already and what they could possibly enjoy through our edit and curation of brands and ranges.

How does the British fragrance industry support you, and how do you nurture and support future/emerging talents?

What I’m enjoying is seeing more and more British Fragrance brands coming through and we want to support them where possible. The Fragrance Foundation UK training on our staff has been invaluable and we will continue to support our staff through training so that they can pass on their knowledge to our customers.

What are your top tips for joining the fragrance industry?

There are many ways to join the fragrance industry but a good way to the industry is to attend one of The Fragrance Foundation UK events and network to find out how the other attendees are part of the industry.

How do you approach sustainability within fragrance buying practices?

Refills are a great way to support sustainability and recyclable packaging is even more important these days. Also, the origin of the ingredients is crucial.

What are some of the latest developments, markets, or innovations within fragrance that you are particularly fascinated by?

I think it’s fascinating how Social Media can now drive sales of a fragrance that consumers might’ve not come across or smelled before. This gives so many new opportunities to the fragrance industry,

Finally, we would love to discover one of your most cherished scent memories!

My scent memory will always be freshly baked cinnamon buns by my mum.