Finding your own fragrance

By Yun Suh-young and Kim Mun-jeong (intern reporter)

"Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will," wrote Patrick Suskind in his book "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer."

Fragrance is one of the characteristics that define a person, instinctively.

It is the power of fragrance that can make your head turn while walking down the street, in an effort to figure out who that captivating scent belongs to.

Perfumes such as Chanel No.5 have always been steady sellers. But nowadays, there's an increasing demand for new, unique and exclusive fragrances that can define you and differentiate you from others.

Hence the advent of "niche perfumes," which are perfumes made with the rarest ingredients to create the rarest of smells. Perfumers who whip up these fragrances are not financially bound to a certain budget and are given the freedom to explore their artistic flair, which are reasons why they can come up with creative notes. Niche perfumes also contain higher percentages of "eau de parfum," a concentration of aromatic compounds.

But brands branded "niche" are not always niche. When a certain niche brand catapults to fame, it loses its exclusiveness and dilutes into the mass market.

Diptyque, the French candle and perfume brand, which rapidly gained popularity, is now too popular to be called "niche." The recent likes of Frederic Malle and Byredo, which are similar in design and price, seem to be walking down the same path of Diptyque.

So what are some niche brands that are yet under the surface that we can confidently spray on as one-of-a-kind?

The following are some brands recommended by W that you might want to refer to when looking for a unique personal fragrance.

L' Artisan Parfumeur

Founded in 1976 in Paris by Jean Laporte, this perfume brand uses exclusive raw materials and is sold in a handmade heptagonal bottle.

The brand offers unique fragrances that are inspired by the perfumers' travels to various countries. Timbuktu, for instance, was inspired from the fragrance of a female passerby in the city of Timbuktu in Mali.

The Love series and Emotion series are offered in three fragrances that can be applied in stages.

The most popular lines are La Chasse aux Papillons which was also mentioned in the book, "Me before You" and Mure et Musc, the first perfume created by the brand in 1978.

Keiko Mecheri

Founded by Keiko and Kamel Mecheri in 1998, the brand currently has 53 fragrances for both men and women. The perfume is sold in black, crystal-shaped bottles with a top that holds like the ball of a chandelier.

All of the lines have attractive fragrances, many of which use musk as a base note. The most popular lines are Ume, camellia with a mixture of Japanese plums, and Peau de Peche, a mixture of sandalwood, peach and musk.

Olfactive Studio

What's unique about this perfume brand, founded by Celine Verleure in Paris in 2011, is that the fragrances are created as a result of collaboration between photographers and perfumers.

Perfumers at the brand came up with a special fragrance that is inspired by photography provided by their collaborative partners. The bottle is designed after a camera.

Lumiere Blanche, the most popular fragrance, is inspired by a photo of a beach in Italy on a sunny day. The top, middle and base notes include cinnamon, iris, almond milk and white musk, creating a mild and enveloping smell. All of the brand's fragrances are for unisex use.

Escentric Molecules

This Berlin-based brand launched in 2006 is collaboration between Geza Schoen, MeCompany and Jeff Lounds. It uses aroma-chemical elements which amplifies the pheromone unique to each individual.

What's interesting about the perfume lines ― Escentric and Molecule ― is that there is no defining scent when you spray them on. It can take hours or even days for the scent to exude from your body. Because it is impossible to expect what kind of fragrance this perfume will bring out from your pheromones, customers are recommended to test try them on at the store a couple of times before purchase.

Where to buy them

There are few shops in Korea where niche fragrances are available.

At "Sentir," a select shop which opened in Gyeongridan-gil in Itaewon in August, is where six brands ― Escentric Molecules, Parfums de Rosine, A Lab on Fire, Olfactive Studio, Keiko Mecheri, and L'Artisan Parfumeur ― are available. Sentir means "to smell" in French.

Another boutique store selling niche perfumes is Maison de Parfum, located in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. The store offers seven brands ― Etat Libre D'Orange, Heeley, L'Artisan Parfumeur, Kilian, Odin New York, Keiko Mecheri and A Lab on Fire.