Trying to pick a signature scent from all of the different types of perfumes out there in a all of the different note combinations and price ranges is tough work. You’re probably already familiar with designer fragrances, but to get a more comprehensive look at your perfume options, we need to talk about niche perfume.

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What is niche perfume?

Perfumes that are produced on a much smaller scale are niche. They are normally found in boutiques or perfume specialists and don’t have the same large-scale advertising or celebrity endorsements that designer perfumes do. Designer fragrances have traditionally been found in department stores, though given the increasing market, niche perfume counters are popping up within these same stores.

Often niche perfumes contain higher concentrations of fragrance oils and are likely to be made up of more natural ingredients. They tend to focus on the originality of scents, the craft and are considered more of an ‘art’. Niche brands tend to craft collections rather than one holy grail fragrance. A key part of a niche perfume house is also having in-house perfumers.

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Why should you know about niche perfume?

Data from Roy Morgan Research has shown that online fragrance shopping is on the rise in Australia. Given that niche perfumes have always typically been less accessible than designer perfumes, this era of online shopping and Instagram stores has made the market more lucrative for niche perfume.

If you like to wear a unique scent, you should definitely be aware of niche perfumes. With little marketing, less perfumes produced and a smaller amount of stockists, a niche perfume is the way to go to stand out from the fragrance crowd.

What about pricing?

It’s undeniable that niche perfumes do tend to be on the more expensive end of the spectrum. They aren’t mass produced like designer perfumes. However, niche perfumes have normally had more time, craftsmanship and natural, rare ingredients put into them. So depending on where you place your priorities in perfume purchasing, niche fragrances could be more bang for your buck.