Promoting innovation and high creativity in the development of Niche Perfumery and Cosmetics

2026 . 09 . 28 written by Karen Marin

Essencional's original content

Fragrance lovers

Retail

Notes from the Scent Front: In Search of Expert Advice

100 sprays. “Mail shock”. A “scent bubble.”

Who’s an expert - and who’s just making content?

From questionable spray-counting contests to advice that makes you wonder who, exactly, is checking the facts, the line between expertise and performance is getting blurry.

Is Analog Summer of 2026 any surprise then? Gen Z put down their phones to rediscover experiences - and that could be very good news for fragrance retail and the best shops who curate, educate, listen and make magic.

In our latest Notes from the Scent Front, we wonder, who’s an expert? And is the great retailer finally ready for a comeback?

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2026 . 09 . 28 selected by Editorial Board

Events

Fragrance lovers

Markets and Countries

Latin America’s fragrance appetite shifts toward the Gulf

Fragrance consumption in Latin America hits 65% of spend in the beauty sector – the largest in the world. With an affinity for long-lasting, intense scents, Middle Eastern fragrance houses have found a new market. Regional e-commerce platform Mercado Libre is a key player who returns to Beautyworld Dubai next month to continue building the cross-cultural exchange.

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E-commerce site Mercado Libre brings Arabian scents to the local market

2026 . 09 . 28 selected by Editorial Board

Fragrance lovers

Brands

Business & Finance

Extravaganza Beauty buys luxury perfumer Roja London from founder Roja Dove

In an unexpected move British perfumer and eponymous brand founder, Roja Dove, has sold his maison to Extravanganza Beauty. The new owner, a key player in the Middle East’s luxury and prestige beauty sector, with experience in distribution, retail services and brand management, intends to expand market presence and boost product development amongst the five collections.

Image courtesy of Taurus Emerald

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A strategic move, but opinions vary

2026 . 09 . 28 selected by Editorial Board

Events

The People of Niche Perfumery

Fragrance lovers

PITTI Fragranze - First Impressions

The doors have shut once again on Stazione Leopolda after an intense 3 day show. What were the key trends and takeaways? In this article one visitor shares her observations from amberwood fatigue to the resurgence of citrus, from the influx of Asian brands to the megastands of major distributors.

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Highlights and takeaways from the annual Florentine show
Essencional - The Paper
Have you ever asked yourself what’s behind the world of artistic perfumery? We have collected numbers, conversations, and trends of a world that has always been fascinating and inspiring.

2026 . 09 . 28 selected by Editorial Board

Olfactology

Education & Schools

Events

Givaudan Perfumery School Marks 80 Years of Training Fragrance Talent

Givaudan has just marked 8 decades of training perfumers and welcomed the latest group of students. The school, originally begun under Jean Carles who created a method to learn ingredients, is now under the direction of master perfumer Calice Becker. Today, students learn the traditional system while incorporating science, technology and global perspectives.

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A Who’s Who of perfumers came to celebrate the event

2026 . 09 . 21 written by Karen Marin

Essencional's original content

People

Business & Finance

+1

Union? For Perfumer Michael Nordstrand, it’s time for the Industry to Organize

We’ve all witnessed the exponential boom in the fragrance industry: from an accelerated production schedule to a crowded launch calendar to the explosion of new brands vying for market share. Faced with this reality, one man decided to propose an unexpected counteroffensive: create a union. As your ever intrepid reporter, I tracked down the man behind the initiative to get the full story.

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2026 . 09 . 21 selected by Editorial Board

Markets and Countries

Fragrance lovers

Trends

How the Middle East Became a Perfume Powerhouse

Have you noticed that many trends in fragrance today have their roots in the Middle East? Expectations for longevity, sillage and character have shifted dramatically in the past decade. While regional houses eye market expansion and Western brands look at a new palette of ingredients, the consumer is learning that scent is more than something to spray on the wrist.

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Scent is a central part of life in this region

2026 . 09 . 21 selected by Editorial Board

Events

Fragrance lovers

Fragrance museums

Cosmoprof, Esxence and Grasse museum to spotlight contemporary Asian perfumery

A selection of Asian fragrance brands will be featured this Fall at the Musée International de la Parfumerie (MIP) in Grasse in an exhibit supported by Cosmoprof and Esxence. The occasion highlights the growing importance of Asian perfumery both in a commercial sense and as a cultural movement.

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The growing Asian fragrance footprint is both commercial and cultural
Essencional - The Paper
Have you ever asked yourself what’s behind the world of artistic perfumery? We have collected numbers, conversations, and trends of a world that has always been fascinating and inspiring.

2026 . 09 . 21 selected by Editorial Board

Trends

Fragrance lovers

Marketing

Men Are Rethinking Their Relationship With Fragrance

Pinterest data indicates that men are more into fragrance than ever before. No longer on the search for a signature scent, they are creating a fragrance wardrobe, making the connection between occasion, mood and fragrance. The shift in habits is linked to a concept called “Quiet Upkeep” where grooming is no longer random but a part of regular and consistent maintenance.

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Personal style and identity through fragrance is part of good grooming

2026 . 09 . 21 selected by Editorial Board

Fragrance lovers

Retail

The People of Niche Perfumery

Sainte Cellier offers us a new way to shop for fragrance. It’s a breath of fresh air…

Away from the frenzy of Harrod’s and the High Street, make your way to London’s Ladbroke Grove to visit online retailer Sainte Cellier’s first physical store. Known for favoring daring creations, proprietor Brooke Belldon invites us to take our time, explore and discover. ‘No counters, no hovering, no rush. Just you and the perfume.’

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Here’s a new shop where slow fragrance shopping is the norm