Pieces by alex
The Fragrance Influencer’s Bargain
Fragrance influencers brought new people into the hobby. Free bottles, affiliate links and TikTok Shop are making their recommendations harder to trust.
13 min read
Perfume’s Private Referee: Who Runs IFRA?
IFRA decides what can go into most of the world’s perfume. So who runs it, and who profits when a molecule is banned?
17 min read
Balenciaga Pink Oud Review: A Rose Worth the Wait
Balenciaga's Pink Oud extrait was forgettable on paper. Forty-five minutes after a decanting accident, its rose and oud made a very expensive case for a second chance.
8 min readRated 9.40/10
The Virgil Effect: How Abloh Helped Build the World Niche Fragrance Was Ready to Conquer
Virgil Abloh did not invent niche perfumery, and he did not hand fragrance houses a secret playbook. His influence was broader than that. By redefining luxury around authorship, collaboration, scarcity, cultural fluency and community, he taught a generation of consumers what to look for. Niche fragrance was ready.
15 min read
Ormonde Jayne Oud Liaisons
Ormonde Jayne Oud Liaisons pairs a confrontational opening with a remarkably elegant heart, delivering a rich, refined take on oud that feels far more expensive than its price suggests.
5 min read
The Fragrance Collector’s Apology
Why do perfume collectors feel compelled to justify having a collection?
10 min read
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