Beauty aficionados will know this for a fact: there’s power harnessed in a scent. It permeates upon the first spritz, or a welcoming waft that you impart just by passing through—triggering the olfactory system that conveys a feeling and a certain mood. For the wearer, it’s also a form of self-expression. Lighter and citrusy notes to cut through a sun-filled day outdoors or a headier concoction for a sexy date night out. And whilst we all have a personal cocktail of scents that we gravitate towards—from the renowned Diptyques, Byredos to the emerging names like Tamburins that have taken the world by storm, elsewhere in East Asia, an uprising of fragrances have chocked up a sizeable following.
There’s a good reason for it. After all, you would expect no less from the birthplace of beauty trends that have populated on Douyin and Xiaohongshu, China’s equivalent of TikTok. Its cosmetics scene is booming that’s for sure, but what’s special is that amidst playing in a commercial field, Chinese brands have managed to uphold local heritage with its repertoire of products. From the look and feel to the actual formulas, they’re distinctively original. As a result, these Chinese fragrance brands have amassed a legion of fans of their own. Think viral scents that are tea-based and earthy fragrances that have incorporated a deeper dive of Chinese history and culture by merging beauty with books.
Of course, part of the fixation lies in the perfumes being hard to procure, given that most of them aren’t privy to international shipping. Perhaps that’s what makes them all the more desirable. So the next time you find yourself in China, don’t miss these Chinese fragrance stores.
1 / 7
The Beast
Like its name suggests, entering this gold plated haven could feel pretty consuming but inside its opulence, lies a treasure trove of lifestyle and home products. A signature that many return for? Its perfumes and home fragrances that inhibit Eastern influences—think bestsellers like Oriental Beauty and Osmanthus Oolong. The brand currently only has one atelier, which resides in the historic Xintiandi Shikumen Block in Shanghai.
2 / 7
Handhandhand
Here’s where you’ll find the unorthodox. Founded by three designers that have perfected the design brief for every minimalist out there, Handhandhand leads with four perfumes that go by cheeky names like First Blush, Out of Blue, Black Sheep and White Lie. The secret sauce lies in its choice of ingredients like lentisk and rockrose; whilst divisive, appeal to its own set of consumers and too, differentiating from the rest of the pack. Don’t forget its well-endowed home line too—great for gifting with pleasing packaging to boot.
3 / 7
Documents
The name ‘Documents’ does let on a hint of what the brand embodies. With scents that are minimalistic and each tell a story, it’s no wonder how the Chinese brand has carved out a unique space of itself in the fragrance scene. Mostly abiding by notes of nature—be it scents that emit a certain season or a main fixture like trees (in its latest collection), Documents’s fragrances are bright and floral and often incorporate ingredients and smells that attribute to Chinese heritage. To complement its Tree collection last year, the brand even opened a special bookstore titled Documents Yuyan Study in Shanghai—in a conceptual space that comprises both books and fragrances.
4 / 7
Secrets Door
Found in most cosmopolitan cities but still known as China’s best-kept secret on Xiaohongshu, Secrets Door’s success lies in collaborating with award-winning master perfumers. The result forms delightful, intoxicating formulations like heady names like Educated and herbaceous ones like Under Moonlight, although a slight caveat would come through the brand’s loose and disparate vision in its product lineup. What you can be certain, however, is its expertise in perfumery—think the best natural ingredients and the most radical combinations to land on your skin.
5 / 7
Melt Season
Be it Shanghai, Beijing or Shenzhen, definitely make Melt Season part of your shopping agenda, with each city boasting captivating and immersive interiors within its respective stores. As with most Chinese perfumes, natural elements like florals and wood come through in its scents. The brand collaborates mostly with French perfumers, and in Melt Season, its concoctions are light, clean and not too imposing. For something a little fruity and spicy, pick up Revoir—with punchy notes of yuzu and pink pepper.
6 / 7
Im Sole
Compared to the other perfume brands in the market, Im Sole owns a humble product line with only seven perfumes. Made in collaboration with perfumers Olivier Cresp and Florian Gallo, you can find both women’s and unisex fragrances bottled within a sculptural design. The latter’s most famed number, The Naif, sparks notes of green tea, peach, green apple and lemon leaf. Within the top, lies clove, which spices up the concoction. Whilst it does not have a standalone address, you can find this internet-famed scent stocked in multi-label stores like Lighthouse in Guangzhou.
7 / 7
To Summer
Undoubtedly, one of the top players in the Chinese fragrance scene right now. To Summer’s fame has superseded the realm of Chinese social media channels and has now breached the confines of TikTok. Priding themselves as a brand who produces Eastern scents, its focal fragrances revolve around botanicals like osmanthus (that has since gone viral), gardenia, orchid, honeysuckle, citrus and bamboo.
