Niche or Designer Fragrances?
If your just getting into perfume, you might be asking “whats the difference between niche and designer fragrances?” Generally, when talking about designer items, it suggests that the expense and quality of the products are at the absolute highest, however this actually isn’t the case when it comes to perfume. Both niche and designer have their own quirks, and knowing the difference can make picking out a new scent a lot more enjoyable and tailored to your preferences. Is niche better than designer? Or vice versa? That’s may be one of the many fragrance myths that we are about to cover in this article.
Designer Fragrances
If your a newcomer to perfumes, more likely than not you will have a couple of these. Designer fragrance houses are primarily focused on fashion. These are brands most people will know the name of, and when it comes to perfume, the scents tend to be incredibly mass appealing. As they are designed to be widely appreciated, most people who own a fragrance will have one of these. Some of the most popular designer houses are:
Imagine your walking through Harrods, your browsing all of the brands your favorite celebrities wear. “What?! £250 for a pair of socks?” you say to yourself. But hold on, right next to these socks you stumble across a shiny bottle of cologne. Lets take a guess: £300? No, only £50, suddenly this doesn’t seem so bad considering its a fifth of the price of a little bit of wool for your feet. So why are designer perfumes an affordable price compared to the rest of the brands products?
Designer colognes tend to have simple and linear perfumery, meaning that the scent smells the exact same from when you first spray it to when it dries down. I’ve always felt as if designer scents tend to smell more “flat” compared to niche houses. Designer houses aren’t trying to create a scent for the art of perfumery, its more so an attempt to sell as much as possible to make money. Now this doesn’t mean that designer fragrances are bad. In fact, I would go as far to say that designer fragrances are better for everyday use, they are mass appealing, affordable, and easy to wear. Here are some of our favorite designer fragrances we recommend you check out:
- Bleu De Chanel – Masculine – A woody aromatic fragrance with a vibrant citrus opening that can be used in any occasion.
- Versace Eros – Masculine – Perfect for going on a night out, Versace Eros is known for its signature notes of mint and apple which shines in the opening. Check this one out if you want to grab someones attention.
- Azzaro The Most Wanted Parfum – Masculine – A darker scent designed for the colder weather, this fragrance is powdery, woody, and spicy.
- Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium – Feminine – A vanilla fragrance with a smokey coffee opening. This can be dressed up or down, perfect for both everyday use and special occasions.
- Prada Paradoxe – Feminine – A light floral fragrance with touches of citruses, this fragrance is mainstream and mass appealing but not at all boring.
Niche Fragrances
Niche fragrance houses tend to be dedicated on creating fragrance for the art and quality of perfumery. How creative houses can be with their perfumery can vary depending on the house and the fragrance. For example, Parfums De Marly is praised on their high quality fragrances that are mass appealing but have a niche edge to them. On the latter, a house like Zoologist creates different scents inspired by animals, sometimes becoming very creative and downright unwearable. Take their 2018 release “Tyrannosaurus Rex” for example, you either love it or you hate it.
Whilst some houses take the full on experimental approach, the majority find a healthy balance between art and wearability, sometimes shaping the industry by pushing boundaries of typical perfume conventions. Some of the most popular niche houses are:
Niche fragrances tend to be far more expensive than designer houses as the ingredients used are of much higher quality. If I were to define Niche fragrances into 3 points, they would be: expensive, high-quality, and artistic. Because of their artistic nature, they tend to be more defined in what seasons they should be worn in. Not sure about what temperature to wear your favorite perfume in? Find out here.
These colognes tend to have complex and non-linear perfumery, meaning that they tend to smell different at each the opening, the mid, and the drydown. Previously, I mentioned how I thought that a lot of designer fragrances smell flat, this is not the case with niche. Imagine that designer fragrances are a guitarist in a band, whereas niche are the whole band playing together. Does this make niche fragrances better than designer? That subjective, but in my personal opinion I will always go with a niche – its a much more exciting experience. Here are some of our favorite niche perfumes that you must check out:
- Creed Aventus – Masculine – A staple that changed the industry. This scent combines smokey accords with a juicy pineapple. Super versatile yet unique.
- Xerjoff Naxos – Unisex – Luxurious tobacco and honey scent.
- MFK Baccarat Rouge 540 – Unisex – Although feminine leaning, BR540 can be worn by anyone. Interesting mix of sweet and metallic notes.
- Le Labo Santal 33 – Unisex – A polarizing one that will stand you out from the crowd. Woody and aromatic.
- Penhaligon’s Halfeti – Unisex – Cedar heavy with a touch of oud, more suitable for men than women.