Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 51'600 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 52'000 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 53'950 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 56'000 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 56'510 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 69'600 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsChemistry & Physics
Parfumeur/in
You compose unique scent creations in the laboratory for the cosmetics industry.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Parfumeur/in develop and test new scents in the laboratory for perfumes and care products.
You work in quiet laboratories at the intersection of chemistry and art. You mix natural essences with synthetic materials to create new scents. Your strong sense of smell helps you detect the finest nuances. The job requires patience, creativity, and a sensitive touch for complex formulas.
FieldChemistry & Physics
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryChemistry, Pharma & Biotech
Swissdoc 0.540.12.1
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Strong salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Parfumerie-Verkäufer. Based on 121 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
View as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 56'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 53'700 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 54'600 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 55'900 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | CHF 57'000 | 13 |
| Geneva | CHF 54'900 | 12 |
| Vaud | CHF 52'613 | 21 |
Top paying industries
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| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Health care / Social services | CHF 61'024 | 5 |
| Service sector in general | CHF 57'200 | 6 |
| Consumer / Luxury goods industry | CHF 56'020 | 17 |
| Consulting various | CHF 53'400 | 8 |
| Retail trade / Wholesaling | CHF 52'613 | 70 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Parfumeur/in
Official education path
Training takes place internally according to company guidelines and combines laboratory practice with theory blocks.
Typical training path
Parfumeur/in
Prerequisites
- Laborant/in EFZ
- Drogist/in EFZ
Requirements
- Strong olfactory memory
- Strong sensory perception
- Abstract imagination for scents
- Creativity
- Musical talent
- Patience
- Persistence
Where this can lead
A career change is often possible with prior initial training as a laboratory technician or pharmacist, plus a science degree.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Strong sense of smell
- Sensory perception
- Creativity and musicality
- Patience and persistence
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand at your lab bench and weigh tiny amounts of fragrance materials. With concentrated samples, you test how the scents develop and fade on the skin.
- You develop and compose new scents in the laboratory.
- You analyze the chemical properties of natural essences.
- You test synthetic materials for skin compatibility.
- You train your sense of smell and fine perception every day.
- You learn different composition techniques for cosmetics and cleansers.
- You document the interactions and evaporation rates of the scents.
- You follow internal company guidelines and theoretical modules.
- You complete practical placements at European company branches.
Working conditions
You work mainly in closed laboratories of cosmetics or chemical companies. You occasionally visit research institutes or European company branches.
Where to learn
- Institut superieur international du Parfum, Versailles F3000 Bern
Strengths
- Strong sense of smell
- Sensory perception
- Creativity and musicality
- Patience and persistence
Trade-offs
- High sensory load
- Long training period
- Strict laboratory rules
- Little customer contact
06 · Similar
