Mainstream scents may be great, but there’s something alluring about a niche fragrance with a cool brand story, amazing packaging, and unique ingredients. Spritz away!
Finding your own niche fragrance is like hitting the jackpot in the style game. Sure, you can put together a killer outfit and accessorise like a pro, but a unique fragrance? That’s the secret sauce that truly completes your look. Niche perfumes, with their one-of-a-kind blends and rare ingredients, are more than just scents – they’re statements. Get the one that’s perfectly you with our list of elite niche fragrances and where to find ‘em in Singapore.
Niche fragrances to complete your style
1. Maison de L’Asie
Maison de L’Asie fuses the art of French perfumery with the spirit of Asia. Every scent in the Parfum Chapters collection feels like a mini cinematic journey, with themes inspired by Asian travels, philosophies, and traditions. With top artisans from Grasse, France, the brand combines rare, eco-conscious ingredients with high-concentration formulas for fragrances that linger luxuriously on the skin.
Take a trip back to the golden days with “Nanyang”, an evocative tea fragrance inspired by the South Seas and Chinese diaspora. It beautifully blends hazy black tea with warm green tea, malt, and a hint of delicate white flowers.
Maison de L’Asie, shop online or at multiple Escentials stores islandwide
2. Rahasya
With a mission to put Indian-inspired niche fragrances on the map, the folks at Rahasya are breaking stereotypes through their new-age unisex scents. Modern India is at the heart of the fragrance brand, which draws inspiration from contemporary music, art and culture that embody the vibrance and youthfulness of today’s India. From the fragrance concepts to the use of top quality Indian ingredients (think Mysore sandalwood, marigold and saffron), every stage of the manufacturing process stays true to Indian roots.
Take a gander at its debut collection of four fragrances recently launched in October 2024. There’s Chapter One, a fresh, leathery yet spicy fragrance inspired by independent India bookstores and the smell of ink, paper and aged leather books; as well as Love Marriage, a boozy, sweet and nutty scent profile that captures the extravagance of Indian weddings.
Ask for our top picks, and we’ll point you towards Oud Mangifera with its smoky and luxurious blend of mango, oud and leather. We say it’s perfect for those who want to give off irresistible old-money vibes. Another standout is Cutting Rain. Inspired by refreshing monsoons, the scent is akin to a warm hug of sandalwood with sweet hints of rose, marigold, strawberry and honey.
Rahasya, available online
3. Akro Fragrances
What do you get when three unique personalities, who’ve journeyed through different cities, come together to find a perfume brand? Wearable vices that bring a little edge to your everyday. One of the founders, Anaïs Cresp (whose father’s also a master perfumer) was inspired by the scents of Ladbroke Grove’s bustling pubs, coffee shops, flower markets, and even a hint of smoky nightlife. She wondered, “Why not bottle those bold vibes instead of just florals?” Skip your morning coffee and spritz on ‘Awake’ instead. With notes of bold Balkan Santos coffee, zesty green cardamom, Italian lemon, and earthy Haitian vetiver, it’s like a jolt of aromatic adrenaline in a bottle.
Akro Fragrances, available online via Amaris
4. Monotheme Venezia
Monotheme perfumes are like your fragrance wardrobe’s secret weapon – each scent is a love letter to a specific note, crafted with Italian flair and attention to detail. Whether it’s fresh citrus, cosy vanilla, or deep woods, every bottle radiates serious main-character energy. Not only are they made in Italy (hello, eleganza!), but each fragrance feels like its own vibe – perfect for days when you want to channel everything from breezy romance to bold confidence.
The sensual Rose Oud features vibrant lemon and elemi top notes, a heart of rose oud, and deep woody undertones. But if you’re looking for something bright and spritely, the Lime eau de toilette is a zesty ode to all things lemon. Crafted from natural extracts, it blends lemon peel, blossom, and leaf for a layered, vibrant scent.
Monotheme Venezia, available online via Novela
5. Floraïku Paris
Floraïku Paris combines Asian tradition with French perfumery, creating scents that are pure poetry in a bottle. Inspired by Eastern ceremonies – think flowers, teas, and incense – the fragrances are crafted with minimal, precious ingredients to capture the beauty of fleeting moments, from sunrise to first blooms. Each scent is named after a haiku, giving a nod to the poetry of life. And the packaging? A showstopper! Floraïku bottles are like mini works of Japanese art, with refillable caps designed to resemble Japanese bento boxes and topped with colourful, eye-catching lids.
Explore the ‘scent finder’ on the website to discover your perfect fragrance based on your scent profile, favourite ingredients, or desired mood.
Floraïku Paris, available online via The Beauty Shop
6. Lilee Perfume
Lilee Perfume is an indie brand from Singapore with a unique twist – each fragrance is handcrafted to explore big, timeless questions about life and existence. Inspired by Nietzsche’s bold philosophy, Lilee captures the dualities we all face: life and death, permanence and change. Every bottle becomes a small “diary in scent,” connecting us to shared human experiences and the beauty of our fleeting moments.
The brand features five unique scents at the moment. Saints & Sinners brings a bold spice; Tobacco Dusk, a smoky, leather allure; Body Laundry offers cosy simplicity; Basic Peach is playfully fruity; and Lush & Dew captures an ethereal, forest mystique.
Lilee Perfume, available online and at Therapy Market at #B1-06, Wheelock Place, Singapore 238880
7. Sifr Aromatics
This niche perfume brand has been quite the establishment on Arab Street. Inspired by the timeless charm of old-world scents, the team brings you custom fragrances, along with essential oil blends, and unique home fragrances. “Sifr” means zero in Arabic – a blank canvas for creating scents that uplift, soothe, and surprise.
These small-batch oil perfumes are crafted from the finest ingredients, giving you a luxurious, charismatic scent that evolves beautifully throughout the day. Sultan is fit for royalty with bold cedarwood top notes, woody chypre mid-notes, and a velvety musk base. Meanwhile, Tobbaco Sea features top notes of leather-spiced tobacco and bergamot, mid-notes of sultry saffron and salty sea breeze, and finishes with a soft touch of ozonic musk.
Sifr Aromatics, 42 Arab Street, Singapore 199741
Go ahead, spritz on a little magic and let your niche perfume do the talking!
