While France is renowned for its perfume industry, with some of the famous perfumeries hail on UK soil. British perfumers are beginning to shake things up, with industry heavyweights such a Jo Malone London long flying the flag and more niche perfume brands stepping on the scene. British perfume brands are expanding and creating scents to meet the standards of even the most sophisticated noses.
”Fragrance is still dominated by France, and for good reason—they have a long history of amazing perfumers and fragrance production,” says Ruth Mastenbroek, founder of Ruth Mastenbroek Perfumer London. “We have so much amazing natural beauty on our British shores, and it is this perspective that I feel British perfumery can bring to the world. I am inspired by my surroundings and family connections who originate from across the British Isles; a Welsh mother, Irish grandmother, English father and Scottish ancestors. I feel compelled to tell the story of my own life experiences and to conjure this up through unexpected and original fragrances” she explains.
Perfumes are certainly subjective, yet some brands seem to always knock it out of the park, think the likes of Chanel, Le Labo and Hermès, to name but a few. However, the British perfumery industry is hot on their tails, with not only long standing brands but new talent making a mark for themselves within the industry and among consumers.
With endless choice, and no signs of slowing down, curating our perfume wardrobes is very much limitless. To make the process a little bit easier, we put our noses to the job to bring you seven of the best British perfume brands you should have on your radar.
You can’t have a round of British fragrances including Jo Malone, it’s particularly synonymous with British culture, as well as luxury and indulgence. Quintessentially British, Jo Malone fragrances take inspiration from the British countryside, with notes of English oak, blackberry and earl grey. Known for their unusual ingredient pairings, these are versatile fragrances which can be mixed and blended to create unique scents. Try the Lime Basil and Mandarin cologne for a vibrant, light and floral scent with a herby twist.
A pleasant surprise of earl grey works exceptional well with cucumber. It creates a lush citrusy scent, that brings the freshness of the cucumber and sweetness of the base notes of beeswax and vanilla all together.
This is one of those unusual pairings, but do they work. The white musk and neroli create gorgeous and clean and fresh base, while the notes of basil add a peppery twist.
Ruth Mastenbroek is one of the very few classically trained perfumers in the UK. Upon completing her undergrad at Oxford University in chemistry, she went on to train in Grasse, France—AKA, the perfume capital of the world. Ruth has worked with brands such as Jo Malone, and with the training and experience under her belt, she went onto launch her own brand in 2010, Ruth Mastenbroek Perfumer London. At the heart of her brand, is the idea of telling stories through the art of perfumery. “ Every drop of perfume tells a story,” she says, with the wearer transforming into a vehicle to bring those stories alive. “The perfumes in my collection are for people who appreciate all forms of art, for people who choose to express themselves in a different and unique way,” Mastenbroek says of her brand. The scents in her recent collection are inspired by her British heritage and the charm and quirks of nature, developed with essential oil that is grown, harvested and distilled in the UK.
Inspired by the feeling of discovery and curiosity, Oxford is scent full of surprise twists and turns. Bergamot, rosemary, oud and amber, while you might think could clash, are blended together seamlessly to create a beautiful marriage of invigorating notes.
Signature is the first blend created by the founder, which is a classic yet thrilling scent, set to evoke a sense of freedom and adventure. Fresh and fruity top notes of mandarin, bergamot and pineapple are balanced by notes of patchouli and oakmoss, a scent to inspire and boost confidence.
Co-founded by wife and husband duo, Allison and Ed Stubbings, Medeau was born to fill the gap in the perfumery industry for luxury fine fragrances that also had a ocean conscience. All of Medeau’s perfumes are vegan, PETA-certified and cruelty-free, made with bioidenticals to protect vulnerable natural species and are free of synthetic dyes, parabens and phthalates. Medeau’s bottles are 98% recyclable and their perfumes inspired by English flowers are formulated and bottled in the UK, supporting British business and reducing their carbon footprint. The philosophy behind the brand is “to create incredible perfumes that uphold the same values and safety standards that you would expect from any truly luxury product— ingredients of merit, safety, sustainability,” says co-founder Allison Stubbings. “Because what could be more of a luxury than to wear a perfume that smells beautiful without compromising your health or the planet?”
A unisex pheromone-reactive perfume that reacts differently on different skin types, complimenting and collaborating with the wearer’s unique chemistry. A cool and complex blend of citrus, geranium, anise, cedarwood, guaiac wood and amber.
A perfect blend of floral and sweet, it encapsulates the most luscious summer’s day. A blend of milky tuberose, violet leaf and French magnolia and a sash of vanilla for an addictive sweetness without it being overpowering.
British brand Panah London was founded by husband and wife Rushikesh and Vidhi Patel, to create good quality perfumes made out of essential oils and skin-friendly ingredients. Panah’s fragrances use synthesised aroma molecules, instead of solely relying on synthetics, which allows them to work with natural ingredients to create beautiful fragrances that not only smell great, but won’t irritate the skin. All their fragrances are extracted and blended using artisan methods, so every step of the process is intimate and intentional. Especially perfect for scorching weather, we recommend Icy Citrus, which is developed with cooling technology. Cooling micro spheres are activated upon contact with perspiration and trigger immediate cooling sensation. So not only do you smell great, you also keep cool—literally.
It’s all in the name, the most glorious sweet strawberry scent that carefully avoids verging into the sickly sweet side of things. A combination of sweetness from the strawberry, vanilla and coconut perfectly balanced out with notes of rose, a definite winning summer scent.
Crafted from an intoxicating blend of pepper, nutmeg, honey, wood, and smoke for a decadent rousing scent that lasts for hours.
The first Penhaligon fragrance was created in 1872 by William Penhaligon, and the brand has expanded ever since. With over 150 years of olfactory experience, Penhaligon has well and truly cemented itself as a national treasure. With a distinctive Britishness at the heart of the scents, it even has the royal stamp of approval from the Queen. The brand celebrates the richness of British culture by incorporating national symbols, think decadence and the British countryside. Try Empressa, a refreshing fruity scent of peach and shimmering blood orange, with warm and sweet notes of vanilla. You’ll feel like royalty.
Inspired by the famous Tudor rose, the flower of England. An addictive and unique blend of rose, hazelnut leaf and vetiver.
Reported as Princess Diana’s favourite perfume, this is a gorgeous scent that will transport you to a lush woodland walk. Notes of subtle bluebell, hyacinth, lily of the valley, jasmine, rose and clove combine for a gorgeous sweet yet fresh scent.
Created by renowned ‘English scent maverick’ Jo Malone herself, Jo Loves is inspired by memories and moments in life. From eating golden ripe mangoes in Thailand to daydreaming in open fields under blue skies, each fragrance tells a unique story and aims to inspire. Try Pomelo—it’s a summer holiday in a bottle, evoking white sandy beaches and refreshing sparkling water. But as well as creating scents that are powerful in evoking inspiring imagery and transporting the wearer to a happy place, at the heart of Jo Loves is creating beautiful and unexpected fragrances using high quality ingredients and the most elaborate processes to blend the scents.
“I love breaking the rules of fragrance and this mouth-watering combination is a celebration of Thailand’s most vibrant culinary flavours,” says Jo Loves founder, Jo Malone. A rare combination of golden mango, lime, black pepper, and mint leaves to capture the magic of eating golden ripe mangoes in Thailand.
Created by the founder for herself, this is a vibrant and sparkling scent that works in every season. Notes of grapefruit, bitter orange, lime and spearmint on a base of guaiac wood, cedarwood and vetiver and hints of hedione and black pepper.
4160 Tuesday is a small-batch france brand, created in a small studio in London. The key focus of 4160 Tuesday is making the “world a lovelier place.” Each scent is developed and carefully blended to capture a specific moment or person at a particular point in time. A creative and witty brand that is not only committed to producing small-batch, quality scents but also creating fragrances that are accessible to the perfume-obsessed. Try Eat Flowers for the most gorgeous floral explosion with notes of lemon blossom, neroli, linden flower, rose, lily, geranium, tuberose and a powerful green aroma of iris and violet leaf.
Inspired by the wave of fruity fragrances from the ’70s, Doe in the Snow smells of fresh peach sorbet with floral notes of jasmine, rose and woody notes of cedar wood and oak.
This scent was originally created by founder Sarah McCartney, who was commissioned to make the scent of an orange tree to fragrance an exclusive gathering. Developed using a blend of essential oils from four kinds of orange: sweet, bitter, blood and the clementine, using the flowers, fruits, leaves and twigs to capture the scent of the whole tree.
