2026 . 03 . 30
In a year defined by industry upheaval, let’s trade the chaos for wild rosemary fields, olive groves, and a 360° olfactory immersion at Mas Flaquer.
A journey from Paris to rural Catalonia led to Mas Flaquer, where perfumer Ernesto Collado invites guests to experience scent at its source: wild harvesting, distillation, and the living landscape that shapes fragrance long before it reaches a bottle.
This experience is a powerful reminder: before fragrance becomes a product, it begins as a place.
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2026 . 03 . 30
The niche fragrance sector has undergone tremendous change over the past two decades, amplified by M&A activity and the countless, soulless brand launches. Consumers are savvy to the changes. “They want to feel that the scent, the story, the price, and the brand identity belong together.” An interesting opinion piece.
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2026 . 03 . 30
Brands are increasing their budgets for influencer marketing with specific priorities in mind: building trust between the content creator and their audience, producing great content and increasing reach. While Instagram and TikTok remain the favored platforms, Substack is gaining popularity for high quality content.
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2026 . 03 . 30
Shanghai sets its cap on being the crossroads between Eastern and Western fragrance culture at Notes Shanghai in April. In addition to 200 exhibiting international and domestic brands, the event will include brand presentations, educational programmes and curated exhibits including one from L’Osmothèque and another in tribute to perfumer Dominique Ropion.
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2026 . 03 . 30
As Essencional goes to press, no formal agreement has been signed in what could be the biggest beauty deal of the year. While speculation continues to circulate, this article dives into how the deal could benefit the players along with examining the drawbacks that could arise if greater scale and accelerated growth erode brand appeal.
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2026 . 03 . 25
At Maison de L’Asie in Singapore, the lady of the house leads the visit inside her stunning interiors inspired by Asian cultural stories. In Thailand, Prin takes us through its sophisticated and rich concept. In China, One Day sticks to minimalism to give room for imagination while Maison Dixsept welcomes us into its house full of dreams, and Documents magnetically pulls us into its dark home.
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2026 . 03 . 23
Latin America isn’t the next fragrance frontier - it’s happening right now.
Across Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and beyond, a new wave of creativity is emerging. Local niche brands are growing alongside global players, consumers are highly informed, and tastes vary dramatically from country to country - proving Latin America is anything but homogeneous.
Since moving to Colombia, our contributing editor Simon French has seen firsthand how fragrance culture across the region is evolving fast: informed consumers, rising local niche brands, and powerful new influences from social media and Middle Eastern perfumery.
Niche fragrance here feels like Europe in 2010 - full of opportunity, experimentation, and bold storytelling - yet evolving in its own unique way.
This is only the beginning.
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2026 . 03 . 23
Ever since the pandemic brands have been trying to discover the key to selling fragrance online. In this podcast, the discussion explores why online sales are thriving, how fragrance wardrobing is finally taking hold and why packaging matters more than ever.
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2026 . 03 . 23
Scented balms may be the latest hot item in China. Not only does this format tie in to cultural rituals and history, but it is a discreet way to wear scent in a culture not keen on outward projection. With the added plus of portability and collectability, this reference also plays into the layering process gaining worldwide attention.
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