Niche perfumes are in: 7 hyperspecific scents for those who want to smell unique
Niche perfumes have moved far beyond the typical floral, fruity or woody clichés offered on every department store shelf. For the discerning fragrance enthusiasts searching for a headturning yet unidentifiable olfactory signature, hyperspecific scents are the way to go. Like virtual portals to evocative memories, these niche perfumes can take you back to your favorite places or take you on olfactory paths less travelled. If you're looking past popular scents and are ready for unique fragrance profiles, try these.
Read more: 5 discontinued perfumes that need to come back
Memory Motel by Une Nuit Nomade
A nostalgia trip in liquid form, Memory Motel, created by French niche perfumer Une Nuit Nomade, envelops you with a blend of water-stained motels, wood decay and faded wallpaper. Think atmospheric road trips rather than actual hotel lobbies.
School by Rook Perfumes
Evoking pencils, fresh rubber, A4 paper and the faint tang of strong coffee, School by UK artisan perfumer Rook Perfumes wears like a mischievous day spent in a classroom. This niche perfume conjures a distinctly scholastic nostalgia.
Sécrétions Magnifiques by Etat Libre D’Orange
This notorious creation is not for the faint of heart or the unintiated in experimental scents. With audacious notes of blood, sweat, and bodily fluids, it's a challenging narrative for those provoked by the idea of avant-garde niche perfumes.
Anarchist A_ by Toskovat
Anarchist A_ by Romanian perfumer Toskovat makes no attempt to charm, instead favouring a raw and unapologetic profile only niche perfumes dare offer. The woody aromatic scent has top notes of credit cards, whiskey and snow, middle notes of money, candle wax and ink, and base notes of holy water, precious woods and plastic bag.
Eau de Space by Eau de Space
Talk about niche perfumes—only astronauts can say for sure whether Eau de Space really nails the scent (Photo: Instagram/@smellofspace)
Eau de Space supposedly captures the scent of outer space, which apparently smells of latex, gunpowder and soft biscuits—Katy Perry can confirm. If your up for a metallic, ozonic and plastic fragrance journey into niche perfumes, spray this on before take off.
Radio Bombay by D.S. and Durga
The most wearable of the lot, Radio Bombay is a hypnotic blend of warm sandalwood, copper and radiant musk. The scent evokes the feel of a crunching transistor radio under the Bombay sun—a vivid sensory snapshot that embodies the storytelling depth typical of niche perfumes.
Squid by Zoologist
Salty brine and dark ink blend to create the sense of plunging into the ocean’s depths. Squid is a mysterious, aquatic offering that wears like avant-garde poetry, by award-winning Canadian niche perfumery Zoologist.
Trying niche perfumes is about discovering what delights or surprises you, rather than chasing trends. Embrace the process as you would exploring a gallery—let curiosity, patience and your instincts lead the way.
NOW READ
10 perfumes that won't trigger your fragrance allergies
Japanese perfumes to get as souvenirs on your next visit
11 perfumes inspired by nature that will transport your senses to the great outdoors