ONLY ONE - NICHE EDITION

Last year I started a series called #OnlyOne and the rules are intentionally strict: one perfume per category. No backups, no honourable mentions. So far, I’ve done the Accord Edition and the Season Edition; this time, it’s time for niche.

Because my perfume collection spans a wide range of niche houses, I added one extra rule to keep this list honest: I'll only mention brands from which I own more than five perfumes. Depth matters and owning multiple fragrances from the same house gives real insight into its DNA, consistency, and standout creations. This series is about cutting through excess and identifying the one niche fragrance that truly represents each brand at its best.

I'm assuming you've clicked into this because you're into niche perfumes, fragrance collecting, or figuring out which luxury scents are actually worth owning, so you’ll want to save this.

Initio Parfumes Privés

This was definitely the hardest choice since every single one of my Initio's are a 10/10 love for me. I went with Atomic Rose because it's my most worn from the house, and got me one of the absolute best compliments ever. This nuclear performing rose scent is just a must in any rose lover's collection.

Nishane

This house has so many great scents that it was quite hard to choose, but although it's not the obvious choice, Papilefiko took the win. Based on the notes I should hate this, as it has both moss and lavender in it, notes I find quite challenging, but somehow it was love at first sniff! I made sure to sample it a few times just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, but even after now owning a bottle, this aromatic perfume is still a hit for me.

Amouage

Guidance is the closest I have to a signature scent. It's the only perfume that I feel like wearing all the time, no matter the occasion or weather. I have already gone through 2 bottles and have backups, so the obsession is real. I love both the original and the extrait equally, but if I had to choose just one, it would be Guidance 46 since it's smoother and the bottle is prettier.

Xerjoff

This beauty still remains my favourite perfume of all time. I just can't get enough of this rich, spiced apple, vanilla, rose and oud scent! A masterful blend that even it's Anniversary flanker could not top.

Memo Paris

This is a house I don't talk about much, but it has some real heavy hitting gems in my collection. My favourite is still the one that made me discover the house - Tamarindo. As someone who isn't a fan of green notes, I'm not sure how this made it past my radar, but that pineapple is so juicy and that peach so sweet, that it was an instant love.

Kayali

Everyone's favourite influencer turned brand owner, Mona Kattan, has some really nice fragrances in her extensive lineup, but nothing at Kayali hits quite like Yum Pistachio Gelato 33. Creamy, nutty, vanilla with all the sweetness I love. It was an easy choice.

Fragrance Du Bois

The first time I sampled something from this house I was not impressed at all! It was Wild Orange and I hated it. The next time I approached the brand, I got some help from the sales associate and quickly discovered that my wallet was going to be mad at me because I fell in love with multiple perfumes. I have a few faves, but Cavort is so sexy and develops beautifully on the skin, that it had to make this list.

Parfums de Marly

A cult favourite with many greats, but I think the winner has to be Valaya. I didn't even know I liked this scent profile until I smelled her! The Exclusif is nice too, but there's something about the original that is incredibly addictive; all hail the queen of all citrus musks!

There are other niche brands that I could have added to this list, but the post is already quite long. Let me know in the comments if you'd like a part 2, or if there's a specific brand you want to know about.

Sillage...