10 unusual, creative jobs

What's in the perfect job? Money, of course, matters, but it isn't the only measure of an awe-inspiring career. Creative opportunities, healthy interaction, a good challenge from time to time, and other intangible rewards all count, too. FastCompany.com brings you ten jobs that have all these qualities in spades.

Appealing to the Senses

Flavorist

What gives your favorite foods their special taste? It's the flavorist's job to figure out the precise combination of chemicals. Flavorists' creations most often mimic naturally occurring flavors while adding sharpness and robustness, though they create novel flavors as well, particularly for new candies and beverages. Whether the flavors are old or new, flavorists must ensure that their creations endure once they go into a particular food or drink. They often face special challenges, like striving for flavors that avoid triggering certain allergies, even if they taste like the allergens.Creating flavors isn't all chemistry. It also involves a fair share of
art, as different chemical combinations can produce the same flavor.
Because of this intricacy, flavorists
spend seven years in apprenticeship before they gain seniority. Once
they have enough experience, they can make subtle manipulations in
chemical formulas to produce unique versions of even common flavors
such as vanilla.

Additionally, the scientific understanding behind the flavorist's
art continues to develop. Chemists still have an incomplete
understanding of the factors that separate taste from odor. "It's an
exciting area, a challenging and interesting field," says Gary Takeoka,
a research chemist at the Western Regional Research Center of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, who has also worked for Nabisco.

Combined with the steady demand for innovation in the food industry, such ambiguities offer exciting possibilities for new flavorists. Those entering the field will also enjoy a comfortable salary. Most flavorists earn $58,000-$76,000 a year, according to estimates from the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Brewmaster

Brewmasters, or head brewers, manage the daily operations of beer
breweries, including ordering raw ingredients for brewing and planning
the brewing schedule. They participate in the actual beer-making proce