French fashion icon Coco Chanel – a chic lady with some questionable political associations – once famously, and peculiarly, said: “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” While we don’t agree with that strange sentiment, it’s hard to deny that a beautiful scent can add a spark of joy to a humdrum day.
But instead of sticking with the usual big names like Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, or even sage Coco’s timeless Chanel No. 5, why not venture into the exciting world of niche artisanal perfumes that are emerging on the market.
There are several brands in South Africa that sell boutique perfume confections, but in the past few years Skins has really claimed a space in this market.
If you’ve been lured into its stores at, say, Hyde Park Shopping Centre or the V&A Waterfront, you’ll know what we’re on about. The mix of high-end but unusual beauty (and some décor) items that Skins offers has really made it the go-to for this level of sophisticated – and, we’ll say it, not cheap – purchase. That said, being able to buy your Diptyque hand lotion or Laura Mercier blush locally is a far more attractive alternative than begging a friend returning from London …
The Skins brand was founded in Amsterdam in 2000, and it already has six boutique stores in South Africa. Skins South Africa brand manager Roxy Priebatsch explains that, “unlike mass-market beauty, which often focuses on trends and scalability, the artisanal beauty industry is all about artistry, storytelling and authenticity. These are products often handcrafted with love and precision, where every ingredient is thoughtfully chosen, and every formula tells a unique story.”
She continues: “Whether it’s a small-batch skincare brand from the highlands of Kenya or a fragrance inspired by the vibrant streets of Paris, artisanal beauty reflects a spirit where quality trumps quantity, and creativity reigns over conformity.”
With that in mind, the Currency team spent some time luxuriating in some of the bougee, delightful and different scents that Skins is stocking. Here’s a roundup of five options that we especially rate.
Bibbi Parfum – Ghost of Tom
Choose this if you like: Guerlain’s Shalimar and Diptyque’s Philosykos
Parisian Bibbi Parfum was founded by Swedish-born creative designer Stina “Bibbi” Seger, whose inspiration for her fragrances stems from a meditative state of mind. “Inspired by the stories and encounters within my meditation, Bibbi Parfum serves as a canvas for expressing the intangible,” says Seger.
All 10 scents in the Bibbi Parfum collection are exceptional, but our top pick is the intriguing and amusingly named Ghost of Tom – a fragrance that blends citrus, amber, black tea and bergamot. bibbi-parfum.com, R5,920 for 100ml EDP
Chris Collins Fragrance – African Rooibos
Choose this if you like: Memo Paris’s African Leather and Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo
Chris Collins, founder and namesake of Chris Collins Fragrance, worked as a model and travelled the world before creating his collection of 14 unique scents. For Collins, fragrance has the power to evoke emotions and tell stories in a way nothing else can. He explains: “I’m very much inspired by music, art, and love. The result is only those fragrances that I fall madly in love with, those that elicit a strong emotional response.”
While usually heavily influenced by both Paris and New York – especially Harlem – Collins’s African Rooibos eau de parfum is a standout, and one we all know well. Think rooibos leaves, complemented by rich cedarwood notes that evoke the beauty of South Africa’s majestic mountains. chriscollins.com, R4,590 for a 50ml EDP
Aqualis – Egoli
Choose this if you like: Le Labo’s Santal 33 and Dior Homme Parfum
Aqualis also boasts a strong South African connection, having been founded by London-based South African Steyn Grobler. Grobler worked with several contemporary niche fragrance brands, contributing to both business management and fragrance development, before launching Aqualis in 2015.
The brand’s range of scents is crafted to highlight the exceptional materials used in their creation. Grobler explains the ethos: “Our focus is to create modern, intriguing perfumes of extraordinary quality, where the raw materials are the vessels for your experiences.”
Aqualis is also available at Harrods in London, where it has created an exclusive fragrance, Triptych, featuring the store’s iconic green and gold livery. Closer to home, Egoli Parfum, named after the isiZulu word for Joburg (and not the soap opera), offers a modern exploration of oud, sometimes referred to as “liquid gold”. aqualislondon.com, R6,760 for a 50 ml EDP
BORNTOSTANDOUT – Fugazzi x BORNTOSTANDOUT
Choose this if you like: Alien by Mugler and Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit de l’Homme
If bold branding and clever product names are your thing, then Korean perfume house BORNTOSTANDOUT should be right up your alley. Established in 2022 by Jun Lim, the brand set out to become an alternative cult lifestyle brand, embracing rebellion, originality and creative freedom. With fragrance names like Drunk Lovers, Happy Nuts, Fig Porn, and Mary Jane, this is not your grandmother’s perfume – unless she’s ultra-cool, hip and edgy, of course.
One standout collaboration is its eau de parfum with fellow niche perfume brand Fugazzi, named Fugazzi x BORNTOSTANDOUT. It’s sensual and warm, with powerful notes of milk, citrus, vanilla and incense. borntostandout.com, fugazzifragrances.com, R5,310 for a 50ml EDP
Ex Nihilo – The Hedonist
Choose this if you like: Tom Ford’s Oud Wood and Tobacco Vanille and Byredo’s Bal d’Afrique
This Parisian fragrance house was founded in 2013 by trio Sylvie Loday, Olivier Royère, and Benoît Verdier, offering an alternative to traditional luxury scents. Inspired by the avant-garde French creatives and designers who were ahead of their time, the brand’s philosophy is simple: “Select the most exclusive perfumery materials, push them to their limits, and never forget that rules are made to be broken.”
A great place to start within the brand’s scent portfolio is The Hedonist, which boasts indulgent and daring notes of lychee, grapefruit, patchouli and textured woods. ex-nihilo-paris.com, R6,760 for 100 ml EDP
All fragrances are available from Skins stores and on skins.co.za.
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