Niche fragrances are fragrances made by companies that primarily exist to make perfume. These companies are generally small, focusing on niche perfumery that often is not sold in a department store or other large retail establishment. These artisan perfumes often contrast with mass-produced designer perfumes produced by larger fashion houses or celebrity scents tied to a famous person’s or famous group’s identity. Additionally, while these big mega brands have high costs due to massive marketing campaigns, niche fragrances focus on high-quality ingredients. Think of them as the small-batch whiskey or the craft beer of the fragrance world.

While finding niche perfume brands in larger stores was challenging, since 2010, niche fragrances have become increasingly popular. This has led to brand deals with some of the most prominent companies for marketing and distribution– in some cases, giant conglomerates have even purchased entire niche perfume companies.

The first niche perfume company to be bought by a more prominent firm was Jo Malone London, which was purchased by Estée Lauder in 1999. Other niche perfume brands have followed this trend, making the world of niche scents more accessible to a broader audience.