‘Niche’ suggests that a product has specific appeal for a narrow section of the market. Niche perfumes are an alternative to mass produced perfumes. There is no official definition of a niche perfume but niche perfumes are usually understood in the light of drawing a distinction between them and designer perfumes.
Niche perfumes are usually produced by small companies whose only products are fragrance products.
History of niche perfumes
In 20th century and the earliest years of the 21st century, a lot of purchasers’ desire for unique scents gave rise to the popularity of niche perfumes in Europe and North America. Niche houses typically make smaller batches than designer or celebrity fragrances produce. A niche perfume brand’s products could range between perfumes to scented candles- the focus always remains on scents.
A niche perfumery can have just one person behind its production, hence, niche perfumes are sometimes called artisanal perfumes. The fact that niche perfumery is undertaken by smaller brands allow those brands to take risks that larger brands normally would not like to take. Smaller brands tend to be more willing to take higher risks in experimenting with scents than bigger brands would be willing to. So, this made niche perfumes more common among smaller brands.
Why you should try niche perfumes
1. They are not common: A niche perfume’s production is always limited, usually has more artistic expression and generally takes more time to create. The passion, creativity and time put into niche perfumes ensures that they are only available at limited departmental stores or luxury boutiques. These production factors also come with a price tag.
2. A true lover of perfume is bound to feel some attraction for niche perfumes. They are usually more artistic in production, the scents are unique and they are considered premium luxury. It is like the avant-garde of the perfume world. You are very likely to love a perfume that is not common, still smells nice and lasts longer.
3. A niche perfume would offer longer wear time as they usually have a higher concentration of oils.
However, the increase in the popularity of niche perfumes made larger perfume brands venture into ‘niche perfumes’ by introducing more daring and limited fragrance collections.
Also, since the coming of the 2010s, the distinction between niche perfumes and designer perfumes are slowly disappearing because a lot of niche perfume brands are being purchased by larger parent companies. This complicates the concept of niche perfumery as they can now be almost as common as departmental store perfumes. And this would defeat the essence of niche perfumery.
How to shop for a niche perfume:
If you’re interested in niche perfumes, these tips will help you in choosing the right one for you.
1. Decide how intense you want the fragrance to be. Do you prefer eau de parfum or eau de toilette or any other concentration?
2. Have a specific fragrance in mind and seek it in different formulas. For example, if you like the smell of roses, try different lines that offer rose scent in their various notes. You can also order discovery sets from a niche brand in order to find the one that suits you the most.
3. Check out the story of the niche perfume brand to know if the may have something for you. Ascertaining the mission of the brand helps you understand the category of people their products are targeted at. That way, you can easily know if they have something for you.
Fired up for a niche or designer perfume? Shop our carefully selected picks here.
