A starter guide to niche fragrance

You will hear the word "niche" a lot in fragrance conversations. It has no strict definition, which is part of why it confuses people. This guide gives you a practical way to think about it.

What niche usually means

"Niche" is generally used for houses that focus mainly on fragrance and tend to take a more distinctive, creative or artisanal approach, as opposed to the big designer and celebrity brands whose fragrances are one part of a wider range. The line is blurry. Some designer houses make very distinctive fragrances, and some niche houses are large businesses, so treat it as a rough guide.

Is niche better?

Not automatically. Price, rarity and a mysterious name do not make a fragrance better, and plenty of well-loved fragrances come from designer houses. What niche often offers is more unusual ideas and a wider choice of styles. The only measure that matters is whether you love how it smells on you.

How to start

1. Know what you like first. Use fragrance families to describe your taste.
2. Try before you buy. Niche bottles are often a bigger investment, so samples and discovery sets are especially worthwhile. See how to test a fragrance before buying.
3. Go slowly. Pick one house you are curious about and explore a few of its fragrances before moving on.

Buying sensibly

Buy from the brand or a retailer it authorises, so you know the bottle is genuine and has been stored properly. If a price looks too good to be true, be careful.

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