About

Maria was born and raised in Moscow in the wake of Soviet Union’s collapse. Inspired by Dr. Emmett Brown, the spirit of invention, and the magic of chemical reactions, she created her first perfume blend at the age of eight. Using sand, dandelions, and dacha strawberries, she mixed her “formulas” in miniature bottles that had once held imported liquor brought back by her grandfather, a pilot.

After completing her studies at the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) and the College of Chinese Language and Culture at Jinan University, Maria began her career in the fragrance world as a buyer and brand relations manager. She curated selections for Moscow’s leading concept stores, working closely with brands such as Fueguia 1833, Etat Libre d’Orange, Mona di Orio, and others. Drawn to the technical side of perfumery, she moved beyond self-education to formally study the craft at Grasse Institute of Perfumery (GIP) and Institute of Art and Olfaction (IAO).

Equally fascinated by vintage formulas and the avant-garde, Maria creates fragrances that weave together historical references and unconventional ideas. Active within the underground scene, she helps local and international brands, artists, and creative spaces shape their own olfactory identity.

Golovina’s notable projects include fragrances for the Swedish perfume house Nos Republic — with her creation Tansu Silk earning international recognition — as well as collaborations with New York’s experimental retail store CAFÉ FORGOT, the subscription platform LOT2046, and a scent inspired by Berlin’s legendary Tresor club, created for her own brand, HOLYNOSE, one of Russia’s pioneering niche perfume labels.

Maria is also active in journalism and cultural work. As an olfactory artist and educator, she has worked with institutions like the Moscow International Festival of Archive Films, GES-2 House of Culture, Moscow Urban Forum, and others. As a writer and fragrance expert, she has appeared in numerous publications, podcasts, and YouTube shows.

Maria’s current focus encompasses new ways of using and perceiving fragranced products, production transparency, basic olfactory education for all, reviving traditional formulas and scent-related practices, shifting the Eurocentric perspective, studying the sensory legacy of the Silk Road, exploring scents as a new medium of communication, and promoting olfactory wellness and sustainability.