2026 . 07 . 20
Argentina is not the first country that comes to mind when one thinks of fragrance, and yet, why not? Species of mimosa and acacia are indigenous to the country, pine and eucalyptus trees are cultivated there, and when we head to Patagonia, peaches, plums, pears and almonds are among the major crops. Fueguia 1833, founded in Buenos Aires by Julian Bedel, arrived on the niche fragrance scene in 2010. Bedel came to fragrance through an unconventional path as he initially followed his family footsteps and trained as a musician and painter. Seeking another creative outlet, he turned to fragrance with the idea of creating fragrances for a scent installation inspired by landscapes. The range was never meant to be commercialized, but consumer demand led to the creation of the brand which was initially conceived as an homage to the local communities of South America, to their rich heritage and to the natural environment of aromatic and medicinal plants which they protect.
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2026 . 07 . 20
Alberto Morillas has had a stellar career, marked by the milestone of signing CK One 35 years ago. Now working with his daughters on his own brand, the master perfumer admits he never stops thinking, and never stops creating. In this interview, he talks about fragrance culture today including Gen Z, dupes and the influence of TikTok.
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2026 . 07 . 20
Master perfumer and founder of his eponymous brand, Francis Kurkdjian has been named a Knight of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest national distinction for civilians. The annual awards recognize individuals whose work has made a lasting impact across a wide range of fields. Kurkdjian is recognized as one of the world’s most influential perfumers.
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2026 . 07 . 20
Niche fragrance is associated with gender-neutral all inclusive scents, but this new brand is targeted to men only. Perhaps capitalizing on the trend of young men driving fragrance sales, Urbanbeast launches with three scents positioned as “performance-enhancing” adapted to the brands vision of today’s man defined by discipline, emotional balance, and self-control.
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2026 . 07 . 20
Last month ScentFestSF hosted its inaugural event with a 3-day fair including over 100 exhibiting brands coming from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the US itself. The author describes his day visiting a handful of brands: from the avant garde, to the art inspired to heritage based. This San Francisco show is sure to be a “don’t miss” annual fragrance happening.
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2026 . 07 . 15
Here’s a story to inspire anyone who has struggled as a student. Legendary fragrance bottle designer Pierre Dinand was once told by his teachers that he’d never do anything in design. 1000 or so perfume flacons later, many of which are iconic, Pierre is still at the drawing board. Essencional sits down with the master as he talks about creation and working with some of his famous clients.
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2026 . 07 . 13
Latin America isn't just a growing fragrance market - it's becoming a source of original olfactory storytelling.
Brands such as Mutiz Nueva Granada are already exploring this path, creating fragrances that tell distinctly Latin American stories rather than following established trends.
As independent perfumer Esneda Vale notes, the future isn't just about using local ingredients—it's about transforming them into meaningful narratives rooted in origin and authenticity.
Could Latin America be the next frontier of niche perfumery?
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2026 . 07 . 13
Essential Parfums, a niche fragrance brand launched by Géraldine and Stanislaus Archambault in 2018, has formed a strategic partnership with Milan-based private equity firm Style Capital. The alliance will give the brand the support needed to expand and develop while maintaining the creative independence it’s had from day one.
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2026 . 07 . 13
It’s been a month since Esxence 2026 and the press just keeps coming! This article takes a look at some of the top trends seen at the show and features specific launches from a handful of the international exhibiting brands. There’s also an overview of one workshop on how to enter the Chinese market.
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2026 . 07 . 13
It stands to reason that, just as the taste of wine varies from year to year due to the quality of the harvest, fragrances made from natural ingredients such as rose and jasmine may not smell the same every year, especially when the planet suffers weather extremes. With synthetic molecules, perfumers can continue to create beautiful scents without depleting the environment.
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