Bangkok has its unique array of charms—culinary prowess and generous hospitality aside, it’s also become the go-to spot for lush oil massages and dependable aesthetic treatments. Then there’s the rise of T-beauty, thanks in part to Lisa’s make-up look gracing the small screens in The White Lotus Season 3, but also the meteoric rise of Thai celebrities. While it might seem like a new discovery to outsiders, it’s a scene that has been teeming with high-performing formulations, innovative packaging and covetable collaborations. As popular as it is among the locals, T-beauty caters to anyone looking for lightweight, humidity-friendly products that still yield a glowy and glamorous aesthetic. Take one trip to Beautrium, Eveandboy or even the beauty aisle in a 7-11, and one thing becomes immediately apparent: this is only just the start.
And if there’s one aspect of the Thai beauty scene that’s still on the rise, it’s fragrances. If you’ve ever found yourself at a Thai spa wishing you could perfume yourself with the intoxicating scent of jasmine flowers soaking in a bowl, the good news is that you now can. Weaving olfactory tradition into contemporary profiles, Thai perfumers are introducing niche nuances to the world of perfumery. Traditional Thai wellness practices are centred around the concept of balance, where the mind, body and spirit are in a state of harmony. It’s the reason why a culture of rituals exists, usually aided by homemade ointments and tonics to dispel stress and heal the spirits. Translating that to scent manifests in delicate compositions featuring naturally-derived ingredients, which can evoke and restore a sense of calm. More adventurous noses, however, are experimenting with familiar notes to draw out arresting statements. Leading the charge are five brands, each presenting their own unique interpretations of the intersection between the traditional and the contemporary—ahead, discover the bottles and labels to add to your fragrance library.
1 / 5
Panpuri
Rooted in the belief that all forms of life are deeply intertwined, Panpuri was established in 2003 in an effort to honour the Thai wellness traditions that brought solace to founder Vorravit Siripark—but especially the memory of his grandmother infusing jasmine petals in an earthen jar of cool rainwater. Emulating that is Siamese Water, just one out of the many enigmatic compositions in their Extract Perfume Oil range. Perhaps what sets Panpuri apart most is the tactile dimension of their fragrances—the core collection of scents is carried across formats ranging from solid perfume balms to milky bath emulsions that nourish the skin. Their latest entrant to the collection, the Care Eau de Parfum, incorporates one’s sense of touch in the experience of scent by way of an alcohol-free, water-based mist that can be massaged onto the skin, hair and body. Refined profiles aside—think tomato leaf, coriander and white tea in the same breath—select bottles are also accompanied by sculptural vessels doubling as objets d’art.
2 / 5
Copenn
You’ll know it’s a Copenn store by its facade alone: dark, moody interiors with industrialist touches. The same essence carries through to their offerings, spanning eau de parfums, incense sticks, reed diffusers, hand soaps and more. Across their scents, the word ‘grounded’ comes to mind, thanks to the herbaceous notes and earthy facets. Dimorfig, for one, features an intriguing medley of fig, tomato leaves and earl grey, while Mantis Monument garnishes bergamot and vetiver with coriander and basil. Rounding out the scent offerings are a selection of stainless steel accessories for the full atmospheric experience.
3 / 5
Perfumers’ Journey
Despite being a newcomer on the scene, Perfumers’ Journey has already garnered some acclaim with a few award-winning bottles. Baan Suan made it as a finalist in the 2024 Aesthetics of Scent Awards, an annual fragrance competition organised by the Thai Perfumers Association—and it’s probably because it found a way to distill a sweltering Thai summer into a concoction of green mango, jasmine and sandalwood. Even more riveting is A la Mod, a scent that paints you a vignette of red ants weaving mango leaves into their nest through lavender, oakmoss, mango leaves and an abstract ants accord. The next time you’re at the Song Wat stretch, give one of these distinctive square bottles a sniff at Skonx Perfumery.
4 / 5
Tada Parfumeur
It’s rare that a bottle tells you exactly what to expect from its contents, but that’s precisely what a Tada Parfumeur bottle does with its striking illustrated label. Helmed by Tada Archawong, a figure celebrated as one of the earliest pioneers of modern Thai perfumery, the brand is an ode to his adventures—both real and imagined. What started as a tea-hunting quest in the Kyushu region of Japan soon evolved into an avid appreciation for green tea, eventually leading to the creation of Gyokuro. A nuanced depiction of green tea—that in his words, goes beyond matcha as we know it—Gyokuro is a brew of saffron, ambrette seed and mate absolute, an aromatic extract derived from the South American yerba mate plant. Other, edgier counterparts include an aptly-named Inferno, which wields multi-origin ouds intensified with amber, smoke and cherry.
5 / 5
Voyager Fragrance
There’s something infinitely mysterious about an opaque black bottle with a wax seal and conceptual name, and there lies the appeal of Voyager Fragrance. Some capture fleeting moments, like sudden stirrings of past memories. In Flashbulb, the rosy opening fades to a papery note, before being invigorated by violet leaf and amber to emulate the feeling of flipping through a well-loved book. Yggdrasil captures the enveloping atmosphere of a forest and its serenity. Fluffy Cake, however, is inspired by kanom tuay foo, an auspicious Thai dessert—jasmine, pandan leaf and milk enfold each other to recreate the delectable waft from it steaming in the pot.
