{
  "id": 6495548,
  "title": "5 rising Filipino perfume brands putting the Philippines on the map",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/5-rising-filipino-perfume-brands-putting-the-philippines-on-the-map",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T23:22:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/style-beauty/filipino-perfume-brands-philippine-fragrances-6351056"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Five Filipino perfume brands are gaining attention for their unique scents inspired by local ingredients and culture. The Philippines, previously considered a foreign destination for fine fragrance enthusiasts, is now emerging as a notable player in the industry. Drawing on the country's botanical resources, traditions, and memories, these perfume houses are creating fragrances that showcase a distinctly local sense of place.\n\nTadhana, a niche perfume label, was recently invited to France as an exhibitor at the inaugural Grasse Perfume Week, a testament to its growing international recognition. The brand's founder and creative director, Shale Albao, studied at the renowned French perfumery institution ISIPCA. Each Tadhana fragrance is anchored by a native ingredient, transforming elements of the Philippine landscape into olfactory stories. One example is Hello, Silence, which features almaciga, a conifer tree indigenous to the Philippines' rainforests, lending a grounding character to the scent.\n\nWren Atelier, established in 2020 by Renato Lopena Jr, draws inspiration from Filipino culture and heritage. His olfactive creations are steeped in cultural significance, exploring elements such as sinigang, a beloved Filipino dish, and Batok, a traditional art of tattooing in Kalinga. Wren Atelier's Smoky Gourmand scent, which incorporates mango and tupig, won the Emerging Perfume Brand Award at the APF Asia Perfume Awards 2025 in Hong Kong. The fragrance skillfully blends juicy sweetness, gourmand warmth, and smoky depth.\n\nOscar Mejia III, the founder and nose behind his perfume house, grew up on a cut-flower farm in Davao City where his fascination with scent began. His commitment to promoting Filipino fragrances is evident in his work with essential oils native to the Philippines. One of his standout fragrances, Handumanan, translates to memories or remembrance in Cebuano and centers on ylang-ylang, a tropical flowering plant native to the Philippines. The scent, which also includes notes of lemon and gardenia, evokes a sense of warmth and nostalgia.\n\nOlfaction, founded by perfumer Claire Mavreen, offers a portal into memory through its dreamy gourmand fragrances. Mavreen, inspired by people, places, and even food, creates scents that begin with an irresistible familiarity before developing into complex, lingering dry-downs. For instance, Samyo Ng Bagong Kanin, meaning the aroma of freshly cooked rice, captures an everyday scent with remarkable vividness. The fragrance unfolds with rice and steam notes, complemented by pandan and clove for warmth and dimension. Mavreen also conducts bespoke fragrance design workshops for those looking to explore the experience further.",
  "summary": "Discover five Filipino perfume brands redefining fine fragrance with scents inspired by sampaguita, pandan, ube and the rich culture of the Philippines.",
  "key_points": [
    "Five Filipino perfume brands gaining international attention",
    "Tadhana invited to Grasse Perfume Week in France",
    "Wren Atelier fragrance wins APF Asia Perfume Awards 2025"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}