Top 5 LGBTQ+ Owned Fragrance Brands To Look Out For in 2024
If you have been closely observing the fragrance industry for the past few years, you will have noticed a remarkable shift towards authenticity, inclusivity, and creativity. LGBTQ+ owned perfume brands are at the forefront of this movement, and their founders are telling important stories that need to be heard. We should be proud to live at a time when LGBTQ+ owned perfume brands are paving their way to success in an industry that has often leaned more conservative in their ideas.
There’s so much to explore when it comes to LGBTQ+ owned perfume brands, so you should waste no time if you love discovering new fragrances.
Here’s a curated list of brands that you should immediately look up:
Arquiste
Founded in 2011 by Carlos Huber, an architect and restoration expert from Mexico, Arquiste practices “olfactive restoration,” which translates to historical storytelling through perfumery. The brand believes:
“A scent is a time capsule. It can invoke our most intimate memories and dreams, and open doors to distant worlds.”
Arquiste’s collection helps you connect to your inner self and relive the glory of the past. The fragrances ‘ crafted using rare, high-quality ingredients and fine-tuned through extensive research ; take you back in time to specific moments and places. Arquiste sources its raw materials responsibly and prioritizes sustainability.
Carlos Huber was taught by master perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux, and he soon realized that he could view “architectural and perfume history through the lens of restoration.” He collaborated with Flores-Roux and perfumer Yann Vasnier to establish Arquiste, with the goal of creating layered, transportive fragrances that would capture authentic historical experiences.
As the first international niche fragrance brand by a Mexican designer, Arquiste has partnered with global luxury and retail brands, including Vacation Inc., St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, J.Crew, El Palacio de Hierro, and Trudon. The brand’s commitment to authenticity and quality has earned it many accolades.
Arquiste Fragrance Recommendations
L’or de Louis, the Indie Fragrance of the Year 2024 as declared by The Fragrance Foundation, is an opulent fragrance based on King Louis XIV’s visits to Versailles’ Grand Orangery. The fragrance juxtaposes vibrant orange blossom with warm and woody notes. You may also enjoy Indigo Smoke, which is inspired by the smoking of tea leaves in ancient China. It is a lovely blend of black tea, mandarin orange, apricot, and incense.
Boy Smells
Boy Smells was founded by Matthew Herman and David Kien in 2016. This contemporary fragrance and candle brand has redefined personal care with its gender-fluid approach and unconventional scents. Inclusivity is at the forefront of Boy Smells’ ethos as the brand challenges traditional gender norms in the fragrance industry. Interestingly, Boy Smells refers to its fragrances as “genderful.” Matthew Herman says:
“Genderful reflects the evolving thinking around gender, where neither binary gender codes nor terms like genderless or unisex feel relevant. It is permission to try all the things that you have been told are off-limits.”
Boy Smells believes in elevating everyday personal care practices. In fact, it was Herman and Kien’s desire to formulate fluid, essential, and accessible products they would want to use daily that sparked the idea for the brand. Herman pointed out:
“We wanted to have products that were embracing masculine and feminine simultaneously in a simple and straight-forward way that wasn’t overtly targeted to one gender…It is permission to harness your power from wherever you want it.“
Those looking to express and celebrate their identity beyond the binary confines of traditional fragrances will enjoy Boy Smells’ unique offerings.
Boy Smells Fragrance Recommendations
Woodphoria is a lovely blend of woody notes and sun-kissed florals. Fig, coconut, jasmine, sandalwood, and musk are layered to create a creamy and serene fragrance. Violet Ends, a luxurious concoction that juxtaposes smoky papyrus and rich incense with delicate violet, may also catch your fancy.
The Bubble Collection
The Bubble Collection is an indie perfume brand founded by Gregory Cole and Michael Perris. All their fragrances are unisex as the brand seeks to break out of the gendered norms that pervade the luxury industry. The Bubble Collection is for the rebels, those who are vehemently against the idea of labeling scents as masculine or feminine.
The brand centers on olfactory liberation and fluidity of style : fragrance should not be bound by the gendered stereotypes that Western marketing promotes. Cole and Perris firmly believe that all fragrance notes are inherently unisex. The Bubble Collection sums up its philosophy as follows:
“Join us in defying the norms, rejecting the chains of comfort, and fearlessly venturing into uncharted olfactory realms. Fragrance is a powerful tool for self-expression, a testament to individuality that refuses to be stifled by the stale echoes of outdated marketing trends. It’s time to unleash your inner adventurer and break free from the shackles of conformity.”
The Bubble Collection specializes in light and clean fragrances that linger in the air and never overwhelm the wearer. The brand imagines its offerings as perfume bubbles meant to bring limitless joy and avenues for self-exploration. Each fragrance spotlights a certain mood or lifestyle and takes you on an unforgettable sensorial journey. The Bubble Collection values sustainability and ethical production. To that end, all its fragrances are handcrafted in small batches following the strictest guidelines.
The Bubble Collection Fragrance Recommendations
Santorini, created by Vincent Kuczinski, is a crisp, reinvigorating fragrance that captures the spirit of the sunlit Mediterranean. It features zesty citruses, delicate florals, and creamy woods. Connect, crafted by Claude Dir, is an intimate floral reminiscent of the soft and warm touch of cashmere.
Snif
Snif, founded in 2020 by Phil Riportella and Bryan Edwards, is a trailblazer in the modern fragrance industry. On the one hand, it challenges the idea that the exorbitant pricing of luxury perfumes is justified. The queer-owned brand firmly believes that “a great scent should break hearts, not the bank”, and all its offerings are affordable despite being made with high-quality, clean ingredients. On the other hand, Snif rebels against the gendering of fragrances and wants to promote inclusivity. Phil Riportella told CNN:
“At Snif, we’re removing gendered words from the fragrance conversation, making scents that are loved by everyone. Our LGBTQIA+ community has always been an incredible inspiration for us to keep creating products and a brand that is authentic and inclusive to everyone.”
Snif is particularly unique in that it lets customers try out the scents at home through trial bundles, so they have no doubts in their minds when purchasing the full sizes. This makes for a highly personalized experience, which perfume enthusiasts adore. Snif adheres to strict industry-specific standards, and all its fragrances are vegan, cruelty-free, and free of preservatives, phthalates, and parabens.
Snif Fragrance Recommendations
Rose Era, a fruity-floral blend of rose, strawberry, and ambrette, is a bestseller : justifiably so, as it smells divine. Coco Shimmy, a warm fragrance with notes of coconut, pineapple, and sandalwood, evokes visions of tropical, sun-kissed beaches.
Tana’s
Tana’s, an acclaimed novelist and podcast host, founded their namesake brand to create products that would honor our ritualistic self-care practices. Tana’s is a storyteller first and foremost, so it is not surprising that they liken perfumery to writing; both are creative media that allow for layered narratives.
To Tana’s, “each perfume is an evocation, a portal into another time, place, or memory.” Hence, they are made with the natural, high-quality raw materials that are ethically sourced. The website notes:
“The perfumes recreate the surreal, the psychedelic, the sultry : encapsulating the vast multitudes and textures of our lives.”
It is important to note that Tanais’s fragrances defy gender binaries and can be worn by anyone and everyone. They don’t believe in limiting art using artificial boundaries.
Tanais Fragrance Recommendations
Ancients is a fougere fragrance that captures the scent of petrichor perfectly. Tanais drew inspiration from the ancient redwood forests in California. You may also enjoy Namaka, a lactonic blend of coconut milk, jasmine sambac, and tiare flower that features lovely floral and citrus notes.
Summing It Up
LGBTQ+ owned brands are architects of a more equitable and inclusive fragrance industry, so they deserve all our love and more. Considering how personal and intimate fragrance can be, it is crucial to note that the founders are infusing their creations with hopeful stories and powerful expressions of the self. The emphasis on gender-neutral or genderless perfumes should be welcomed with open arms as we shouldn’t be interacting with art within the confines of gender binaries.
As a fragrance enthusiast, if you want to explore pure artistry, you will not want to miss out on what LGBTQ+ owned perfume brands have to offer. From a business standpoint, it is time for retailers to recognize that inclusivity isn’t a trend; it will largely shape the future of the fragrance industry. So, it is crucial to collaborate with wholesalers like B Futurist to be the first to stock these brands.