6 Black-Owned Perfume Brands for Every Fragrance Lover's Collection
Chances are, when you think of perfume brands, you think of big-name fragrance houses like Chanel, Byredo, Diptyque, or Le Labo. While these perfumes will always have a place on our vanities, Black-owned perfume brands have long deserved the spotlight, and many of them are still mostly unknown.
The Black-owned fragrance brands that are catching our attention are making truly exciting scents—picture the smell of drinking a mojito by the beach, a refreshing dip in the pool, or the electricity you feel after a long kiss. They’re a breath of fresh air in the fragrance industry, which has long been a bit stuffy.
Below, I’ve rounded up some of the most exciting Black-owned fragrance brands that need to be on your radar. The scents range from sweet and fruity to deep and woodsy, so there’s truly something here for everyone, regardless of your typical scent profile. Keep reading to find your next signature scent.
1. Mair
Created by Mair Emenogu, these fragrances are meant to "express your emotions in the absence of words." She wanted to create scents that make you feel confident, and that's exactly what these perfumes do.
Key notes: jasmine, neroli flower, pear, bergamot, orange blossom, jasmine, amber, warm musk, guaic wood
If the feeling of putting on a cashmere sweater could be bottled, you’d wind up with this fragrance. It’s soft, light, and airy, with sharp citrus notes that cut through amber and jasmine.
2. Pink MahogHany
Founded by Chavalia, a self-taught niche perfumer in Texas, Pink MahogHany creates truly exciting and different scents. Chavalia uses top-notch ingredients to create beautiful and intriguing skin scents.
Key notes: lime, mint, flowered rice, orange blossom, woods
This is one of the most unexpected scents I’ve ever tried. It smells salty and citrusy, like drinking a mojito on a beach. You can smell the rice notes, which round out the fragrance and make it smell truly delectable.
3. Chris Collins
Chris Collins's fragrances stem from his love of luxury and travel. Each of his perfumes tells a story, whether it's going back in time to the Harlem Renaissance or grounding you in modern romance.
Key notes: coffee beans, centifolia rose, pink peony
This perfume definitely leaves an impression, just like a lingering kiss after a really good date. Passion fruit and coffee bean seem like an unexpected pair, but they complement each other perfectly in this fragrance.
4. Maya Njie
Maya Njie was born in Sweden and has a background in design and photography. She started dipping her toe into the world of fragrance after discovering an old family photo album. She wanted to re-create the moments through scent.
Key notes: tobacco leaf, vetiver, cinnamon, tonka, musk, leather
This deep, smoky fragrance will be your new favorite if you live for warm and spicy scents. "Unique” is an understatement—this heady blend is downright hypnotic. Fans of Le Labo's Santal 33 might decide this is their new favorite scent.
5. Kimberly New York
Kimberly New York is a niche sustainable fragrance brand that makes undeniably exciting and creative scents. Founded by Kimberly Walker, the fragrance house is a celebration of art, culture, and love.
6. Travertine
Travertine's fragrances are all hand-bottled and hand-blended. They're all unisex and inspired by traveling.
Can't decide? Try a discovery set:
Prior to her time atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , Katie Berohn worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles.