If I could sum up my favourite moments of 2023, entering the olfactory realm of ScentXplore would be high up on my list. Situated in the vibrant heart of Chelsea, New York City, this exhilarating international niche perfumer convention proved to be a delightful escapade for myself and fragrance enthusiasts around the world. Launched in 2019, the convention operates with a hybrid approach, allowing both in-person and virtual attendees to enjoy all that the show has to offer. The convention has grown exponentially over the years, attracting over 3000 attendees each December to explore the 70+ exhibitors. Each day is filled with scented masterclasses, workshops, and presentations, all ending with the exclusive Scentxplore People’s Choice Niche Fragrance Awards.
This year, I was kindly approached by ScentXplore to join their team as a contributor for their social media and a virtual broadcast moderator at their renowned convention, an opportunity I was delighted to take part in. From the moment I stepped inside the convention, I immediately felt part of something very special. Having visited similar shows in Milan and Florence, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with the American version, but knowing founder Max Forti, I knew it was going to be held at a very high caliber.
Arriving on the first day, I was barely in the door before a long queue of eager fragrance enthusiasts awaited in the rain for the show opening. The event space was contemporary, spacious, and airy and gave off a slightly industrial art gallery vibe, a perfect backdrop for the captivating scents and brands waiting to be discovered. With two main halls, presentation space, and a MaxAroma Bar, I was impressed with its layout. Amouge, one of the main sponsors, had a stunning Amouage cafe filled with boucle-covered sofas and chairs, where attendees could relax and enjoy a rose or frankincense-flavoured coffee.
With over 70 exhibitors and my responsibilities at the event, it would be impossible for me to cover every aspect of the show, but I thought it would be a good idea to share my top favourite brand discoveries. Join me as I guide you through my fragrant journey at ScentXplore, where each scent whispers a tale and every bottle brims with the promise of adventure.
Founded by Bernardo Moller, House of Bō is one of the most special brands I came across at the convention. The story behind the brand, the passion from the founder, and the exquisite scents really resonated with me. With his proud Mexican heritage, Bernardo sought out to create a range of eco-luxe, gender-neutral fragrances inspired by Mexico’s rich culture combined with his father’s spiritual teachings of living an authentic life. All of the fragrances contain high-quality, sustainably sourced natural ingredients, designed to transcend the senses and touch the soul within each person that wears them. Each of the fragrances were stunning, but with a love for all things orange blossom, it’s no wonder I gravitated towards Agua de Santos. This invigorating woody citrus fragrance by renowned perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux was uplifting yet calming, and the neroli oil and orange blossom really lit up my soul. I particularly loved the feel and look of the caps, which harked back to Mexico, with each one being sculpted by local Mexican artists with reclaimed marble stone. Fingers crossed that this brand makes it across the Atlantic, as I can’t wait for people here to experience it.
With names such as Star 69, Fantastic F****** Rose, and Deep Inside, I was particularly drawn to The Elemental fragrances due to their luxurious yet rebellious nature. Founded by Luc Solomon, he set out to create a range of fragrances to empower both men and women to unapologetically reveal their inner passions. What resulted were 16 powerful scents, each holding a particular alluring quality, so much so that every bottle I picked up, I immediately wanted them in my collection. Being particularly drawn to heavier scents at this time of the year, I immediately gravitated towards Leather Boy. Its notes of Vanilla, Sandalwood, Oud, Tobacco, and Frankincense exuded a rich, seductive, and complex fragrance that left an undeniable impression on me. This is definitely a brand to look out for!
Founded by M. Serhat Okyay and Selim Ozen in 2017, Unique’e Luxury is a Turkish/American niche fragrance brand with 17 unisex fragrances in their collection. Having traveled to Turkey many times and being a huge fan of its culture, I couldn’t wait to explore this brand when I knew it was going to be at ScentXplore. With an increasing love of gourmand scents, I soon noticed that this brand had quite a few in their collection that immediately caught my attention. Istanbul, with white floral mixed with toffee and vanilla, and Chocolate Makes Me Happy with chocolate and sandalwood, we’re exceptional. But mostly, I was drawn to their newest release, Mashumoro (meaning Marshmallow in Japanese), a sweet, creamy, and smoky scent that was utterly addictive. Look out for their new release in 2024, Woud & Mood Absolute.
Launched in 2017, Jouri Parfum is a Dubai-based perfume house with ten fragrances in its collection. What first attracted me to this brand was its beautiful bottles, half of which were smooth and the other half frosted, to give the illusion as if the bottle had been buried in the desert, with its slightly exposed part eroded by sand granules. It gave the sense that these perfumes were forgotten scented treasures. With an obvious Middle Eastern influence, the fragrances are heady and strong and include some beautiful ingredients. One that really stood out to me was Jild, its midnight blue-colored bottle with an alluring spicy, fruity, and smoky elixir inside. With unique notes of strawberry and rhubarb combined with jasmine, leather, and guaiac wood, it was one of their standout fragrances for me.
I couldn’t contain my excitement when I stumbled upon the team for Le Parfum Magazine, a luxury fragrance publication . Its elegant pages are a treasure trove, filled with the latest trends, essential seasonal must-haves, enchanting perfumeries from around the world, timeless fragrance classics, and intriguing details about fragrance notes. Issue three was being released at ScentXplore and I was lucky enough to be part of it, writing an article on my favourite home fragrance. The magazine is available to purchase on their website and includes the option to add a mystery box filled with fragrance goodies. Its exquisite design making it a perfect addition to any table or fragrance enthusiasts collection.
While there were numerous sights and scents to explore at ScentXplore, the ultimate way to truly grasp its essence is to experience it firsthand. Whether you’re a new brand, perfumer, fragrance influencer, or enthusiast, this event is the perfect venue to stay abreast of all the latest happenings in the perfume industry. It is the best place to see the top niche fragrances, meet the best perfumers and get to know the top fragrance influencers. ScentXplore is set to return in 2024, so be sure to monitor their social media and website for updates. I hope this has inspired you to consider planning your own visit to this exceptional convention.
Thank you to the ScentXplore Team, including Andrés Croxatto, Daniel Barros and Paula Forti (who unfortunately I didn’t capture a photo with) :
Frag Comm Meet Ups:
Industry Meet ups:
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