Most niche perfumes are anything but cheap and simple. Most of you have started your fragrance journey with designer fragrances. And if you are like me, you probably have started with cheapies – which is fine. But we all are fragrance enthusiasts and we need to know what’s on the other side.
So I bring you a list of the top 10 niche perfume brands which you need to try as a beginner in the niche fragrance journey. I have focused on certain factors to compile this list, which are:
- Popularity
A fragrance can be popular for various reasons. One is definitely because it is loved and hence, hyped by people in social media or forums where they talk specifically about perfumes. And as a beginner, it is better to get into or try out fragrances which you will find worth the hype – or something that a lot of others ‘gets it’.
- Accessibility
This is very important.
If you are already very much into niche fragrances, then there’s nothing to stop you from leaving no stone unturned to finding a fragrance and buying it. However, as a beginner, you probably wouldn’t book your next trip to France just because a fragrance is not available in your country yet or they don’t ship online.
This is why fragrances that are a little easier to find will be given priority for this list.
Note: Niche fragrance sometimes refers to fragrances that are not easily accessible. But as more and more of these brands are making sales as much as designer fragrances and even designer brands are launching their niche collections - there is no definite concept of what niche should be.- Availability of Discovery sets
If you are looking to explore the whole brand, you are probably not going to buy the full bottles of each from their collection. And while some brands have a stand-out product, they also have others in the collection which perfume enthusiasts heavily love. So, the availability of a discovery set will help you explore the bests from the brand rather than just the popular ones.
Note: This list will not be based on pricing, because I am not assuming beginner to be equal to someone looking for an affordable alternative.
- Maison Francis Kurkdjian
I don’t think there’s anything that can go wrong with Maison Francis Kurkdjian. I have tried three of their perfumes, and while I don’t wear them all, two of these are my absolute favourite.
Now, behind this fragrance house is the master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian himself, an Armenian perfumer. But he has also worked for other popular perfume houses before starting his own fragrance house, and it worked beyond well.
With Francis Kurkdjian, I have a serendipity moment. I was so surprised to learn that two of my most beloved fragrances – one is Narciso Rodriguez For Her by Narciso Rodriguez and another Grand Soir by Maison Francis Kurkdjian have the same creator behind them. Of course, I was aware of Grand Soir during the purchase but not about NR for Her.
But here’s the thing – I cannot be done with Maison Francis Kurkdjian without mentioning its most hyped and beloved perfume – Baccarat Rouge 540. A beautiful fragrance, Rouge 540 will be remembered in the perfume history as we go ahead in the future.
Rouge 540 is considered a sweet fragrance – reminding people of something like burnt sugar. And I know a lot of people don’t like sweet fragrances, but I promise you, you need to let Rouge tell the whole story. The sweetness is just the tip of the iceberg, and you will understand the hype around it. And as for a beginner, I can say, just go ahead with this one if not the whole house.
Discovery Set: Available
- Maison Margiela
This brand can be argued as not a niche brand since it sells shoes and bags. But I believe their fragrance range, called Replica, is a niche range and is a very good one at that.
I’ll start by mentioning their bottle and packaging design; it’s so minimalist and looks very premium, not anything fancy. It reminds me of my degree days as a Botamny major, where we used herbarium sheets for dried plant specimens.
Maison Margiela’s Replica range is a true niche when it comes to the classification of the perfumes – which has no gender. The brand also has scented candles.
Discovery Sets: Not available. If you still want to try out any from this house, I highly recommend Replica By the Fireplace. It’s not just a popular from this house, but also my personal favourite.
- Amouage
Amouage is a house that I am waiting to try out. When it comes to beginners trying niche fragrances, I think Amouage is an excellent choice. Because this house brings the best of Arabian culture in their perfumes. As a perfume lover, everyone should be introduced to Eastern perfumery as it’s on a whole different level.
Two of the common ingredients you may find in Amouage are myrrh and incense, making its collection a little different to most mass-market or even niche fragrances.
Amouage is also unique in a way that these perfumes are worn by members of royal families, international celebrities, and nobles. So when you see the prices, you know that it’s for a reason.
Discovery Sets: Available
- Byredo
The general population’s idea of Byredo is that despite being a niche brand, and how well its products are, the price is way too much. Now I have never Byredo, but I see people going crazy over at least three of Byredo’s collections – Bal d’Afrique, Mojave Ghost, and Gypsy Water.
But Byredo is not just a luxury fragrance brand, as it also sells apparel, leather goods, makeup, etc. Which of course makes you question whether Byredo is a niche brand. While Byredo definitely started out as niche, their continuous addition of non-perfumed products to their shop is making them lose their status as a niche perfume.
But niche perfumery is not strictly about whether they only sell products related to fragrance, but also whether their perfumes are catering to the mass market and so many others.
Discovery Sets: Available
- Kilian
Kilian, again, is another brand that offers a great range of perfumes, which are also super expensive. I have only tried one perfume from Kilian, which is Roses on Ice, but I do plan to explore more, which is one of the reasons why I mention Kilian in this list.
One of the commonalities of niche perfumes is that – these brands put their emphasis on the perfume itself over catering to the market. And Kilian is definitely one of those brands.
Kilian Hennessy, the founder, and the master perfumer behind these creative fragrances, is a man who looks back to the beginning of perfumery for inspiration. He isn’t an accidental perfumer as he comes from France’s one of the most valued fine liquor dynasties.
Kilian is a brand that won’t disappoint even the more advanced perfume lovers or noses, and suitable for beginners as well.
Discovery Set: Available
- Nishane
Nishane is a brand that screams quality to me. Don’t get me wrong – all of the brands here offer good quality perfumes but Nishane is something else altogether. Now, Nishane cannot be said the most suitable for a beginner, but if you still want to understand the intricacies of a true niche brand, this is it.
When I first started with Nishane Ani, had no idea how much I would come to love it. It’s an experience that evolved into an unexpected love affair. Initially, it was just a spicy fragrance, nothing more, nothing less. But it stayed on forever, and then finally revealed captivating vanilla and warm amber undertones.
I have read reviews of other fragrances from Nishane, and a lot of them hold this house in high regard. Also, the brand is Istanbul’s first niche house and also claims to be the only niche house. I would definitely like to see more niche fragrance houses from Turkey in future though.
Discovery Set: Available
- Creed
If you are a fragrance lover, you must have already heard about Aventus. Aventus has changed the game for House of Creed, and the fragrance industry as a whole. Any perfume community is well aware of the price of this house, and yet they would give a high price to even get a sample for these perfumes, especially Aventus.
At the helm of Creed is a legacy passed down through seven generations of master perfumers. Olivier Creed, the current perfumer, continues the family tradition, crafting timeless fragrances using traditional techniques handed down through centuries.
While this brand is now as popular as a designer brand, and sales are as high as designer brands, it still maintains an air of exclusivity. This also makes it a niche fragrance house by definition.
Discovery set: Available
Takeaway
Too expensive, right?
I know it’s expensive, and I don’t have money to add all of the niche bottles I love either. But the journey into niche fragrance was definitely worth it for me, as a fragrance lover, and someone who wants to get into the depths of the fragrance world. I highly recommend trying at least one perfume of each brand to know whether niche fragrances are worth it for you.
