MATTEO PARFUMS founder Matthew J. Sánchez ‘17 has been named to the 2026 Forbes “30 Under 30” list in the Retail & eCommerce category. The honor highlights his rapid rise in the fragrance and beauty industry and the innovative approach that has defined his company’s growth. A first-generation college graduate, he is one of the youngest Black male perfumers and Latino perfumers in the country.
Sánchez graduated from UCLA in 2017 with a degree in Chemistry and Applied Mathematics, and minors in Global Studies and Entrepreneurship. He credits his time on campus with shaping his creative direction and entrepreneurial drive. “UCLA taught me to tackle every challenge with curiosity and purpose,” he said. “I’m honored and flattered by this recognition, and I’m incredibly proud to represent the Bruin community.”
Sánchez was recently featured in a UCLA Newsroom video, and he was a guest lecturer at the department’s Chem 147: Careers in Chemistry & Biochemistry course. A video of his lecture can be viewed here.
When he launched MATTEO PARFUMS, Sánchez’s vision was to craft accessible luxurious fragrances that fuse concepts and cultures (inspired by his own multicultural background), accomplishing this through contemporary design, new perspectives, and ethically-sourced ingredients. In an overwhelmingly crowded market, his brand has distinguished itself through its multicultural inspirations, chic and playful aesthetic, sustainably minded production, and a direct-to-consumer model that has resonated with a new generation of fragrance enthusiasts.
Since its debut, MATTEO PARFUMS has gained national attention for its clean formulations and refined scent profiles, earning coverage in lifestyle and beauty publications and cultivating a passionate online community. Forbes cited Sánchez’s ability to build a modern, mission-driven fragrance house from the ground up as a key factor in his selection for this year’s list.
Sánchez is also co-building a company called Eroma Health, which develops scent-based tools for early disease screening and health management. Several conditions and diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease, have characteristic and detectable scent biomarkers that he, and supporting research, believes can be leveraged to benefit so many by empowering and encouraging proactive health evaluation.
Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
