Perfume layering is a technique that involves combining different fragrances to create a one-of-a-kind scent. Just as this principle of layering creates a unique final result, one’s personal experiences and background can be interwoven to form an identity as complex as any bespoke fragrance.
Like a refined perfume, Conan Fee’s career path is a story full of many exciting nuances. After making his mark on engineering education in New Zealand, Fee is now applying his chemical engineering expertise to the captivating world of perfumery. From establishing foundational engineering programs to launching an artisan perfume studio that employs innovative techniques, Fee’s story is a testament to the power of adaptability and a passion for bringing ideas to life.
Born and raised in New Zealand, Fee began his academic journey at the Univ. of Canterbury. He had initially planned to pursue a civil engineering degree since his sister had studied architecture; however, during his first year, he was intrigued by textbooks on organic chemistry and brain chemistry. As his interests shifted, he found himself drawn to chemical engineering, specifically biochemical engineering. At the time, biochemical engineering wasn’t offered at the university, so Fee had to create his own focus area on biochemistry. “During my chemical engineering days, I studied cell biology and a little bit of molecular biology, and just got into the area of biological applications from a chemical engineering perspective.” After receiving his bachelor’s in chemical engineering, he remained at the Univ. of Canterbury to pursue his PhD in the same field, researching atherosclerosis and blood flow in the arteries.
Following the completion of his PhD in 1989, Fee embarked on a postdoctoral fellowship at the Univ. of Waterloo in Canada. This move proved to be a turning point. It wasn’t merely a change of location; it represented a significant shift in research direction. “I started to think, ‘maybe it’s going to be difficult to live life just looking for research grants,’” recounts Fee. “Whereas if I could do something...
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