Biography of Nelson Ayala, Ph.D., Distinguished Toastmaster

Nelson was born in New York City and graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, Brooklyn College with a BS in chemistry, SUNY Stony Brook with a MS in chemistry, Lynchburg College with a MBA, and UVA with a Ph.D. in physical chemistry.   As a Ph.D. graduate of the University of Virginia, he got his first taste of Virginia in the 80’s. In the 90’s, he was a tour guide at the Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, New York, which is the oldest continuously operating winery in America.  His interest in sensory science has fed his creativity in his career; Nelson has worked to create new consumer products that either taste good, smell good, or feel good on the skin.  He has worked in new product development on consumer products at Unilever, Westwood Chemical, Carter Wallace, Fleet Labs, and Prestige Brands.  He has patents on taste masking, oral rehydration, anti-itch, antiperspirants, and deodorants. He has authored several papers in major journals. Nelson has been a member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists in the New York and Virginia sections.  As a member of Toastmasters International since 1990, Nelson enjoys making   presentations on topics related to health, beauty, and career/personal development.

Wine, Roses, and Chocolate

The challenge (and the joy) of the cosmetic chemist is to create products that have exquisite appeal for their consumers. We will explore the sensorial aspects that make products successful.  The audience will have an opportunity to taste wines, chocolates, and smell flowers from around the world. We will learn more about the art and science of evaluating scents and tastes, which will add greatly to our enjoyment of the finer things that we will be tasting and smelling.