The Future of Fragrance Personalization: Harnessing Skin Microbiome Insights for Enhanced Performance, Safety, and Sustainability

Fragrance personalization, traditionally guided by aesthetic preferences, offers a novel approach by leveraging skin microbiome insights. The ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, interacting with skin pH, sebum, and temperature, shapes scent longevity, projection, and character. This review proposes a science-driven framework, integrating microbiology, fragrance chemistry, and consumer behaviour. It explores microbial metabolism of volatile organic compounds, health risks from overuse, and environmental impacts of overconsumption. Practical personalization strategies, with or without metagenomic testing, benefit enthusiasts and those with fragrance underperformance. This approach can enhance satisfaction, reduces health risks, and promotes sustainable consumption, redefining fragrances as personalized wellness.