16 Best Perfumes From Asian Brands To Stay Fresh This Year

Every outfit that you put on isn’t complete until you’ve spritzed yourself with your signature scent — agree? The right scent provides the finishing touch you need to conquer the day with confidence, so look for one that represents you. If you’ve yet to find The One or wish to expand your scent wardrobe, why not pick up perfume from an Asian fragrance brand?

What makes fragrances from Asian brands so special?

Fragrances that are made by Asian brands are unique, diverse, and often representative of our rich cultural heritage. Think of the creamy, smooth scent of sandalwood and your senses will be transported to India or Indonesia. Recall the sweet scent of cherry blossoms and it’ll have you yearning to visit China, South Korea or Japan again. On this note, here are 16 best fragrances from Asian brands that you should discover this year.

1. Di Ser Hana Matsuri Parfum

Di Ser Hana Matsuri Parfum. (luckyscent.com)

Curious how this fragrance got its gorgeous green hue? That may be due to it containing extracts of alpine wood, which are found in the snowy northern island of Hokkaido, Japan. This also has hints of cherry blossoms, magnolias, Japanese citrus and Kyara agarwood. Pick this if you prefer a luxurious and more masculine-leaning scent.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Di Ser is a Hokkaido-based perfume company founded by Japanese perfumer Yasuyuki Shinohara. The brand follows a slow, science-centric approach, where the fragrances are concocted in small batches and made from chemical-free ingredients.

This fragrance is priced at ~SGD305 for 33ML and is sold at luckyscent.com.

2. Elorea Heaven

Elorea Heaven. (elorea.com)

Is this what heaven smells like? This modern floral scent has hints of pink pepper and citrus, along with notes of passion and fruit tea. These are balanced with hints of freesia, wood and vanilla. It’s your go-to for days when you’re in the mood for joy and a little romance.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Elorea — a portmanteau of ‘Elements’ and ‘Korea’ — is founded by husband and wife duo, Lee Wonny Lee and Park Su Min. The couple takes pride in sourcing their fragrance ingredients from South Korea and aims to share their heritage through their line of genderless fragrances.

This fragrance is priced at SGD125 for 30ML and is available at elorea.com.

3. Everyday Pouf! Spring Fling

Everyday Pouf! Spring Fling. (theeveryday.ph)

Packaged in a lovely lilac-coloured spray bottle, this floral fragrance doubles up as a hair and body mist. It opens with notes of pink grapefruit, lychee, pear and citrus and at the heart of it, contains notes of rose and jasmine. Its base has musk, cedar and oakmoss.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Everyday is a Phillippines-based brand that produces everyday essentials, including stationery, dinnerware and bags. It branched out to offer fragrances in 2020, with its current lineup comprising six scents.

This product is priced at ~SG9.45. Find it at theeveryday.ph and Lazada Philippines. The site currently ships only within the Philippines, so you’ll need to use a proxy shipping service if you’re based in Singapore.

4. Floriography No.1 Old Bookstore

Floriography No.1 Old Bookstore. (floriographyscents.com)

Bibliophiles, this one’s for you. This scent aims to capture the familiar, comforting and musty scent that you experience when you step into a neighbourhood vintage store. It has notes of pine, black spruce (the scent of old books, according to the brand), musks, vetiver and vanilla.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Floriography is a Hong Kong-based perfume house that creates an array of fragrances, including roll-ons, mists and solid perfumes that are made from all-natural ingredients.

This fragrance is priced at SGD60.43 for a 30ML Eau de Toilette and is available at etsy.com.

5. Maison de Lasie Lost Lovers

Maison de Lasie Lost Lovers. (maisondelasie.sg)

Containing notes of rose, sandalwood and vetiver, this genderless fragrance is designed to represent one’s journey through life. It belongs to a trio of scents that form the brand’s ‘Nanyang’ perfume chapter. Each chapter has its own identity and mood and is based in countries in Asia.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Maison de Lasie is a Singapore-based luxury niche fragrance house that fuses French perfumery traditions with Asian influences. This fragrance is priced at SGD405 per 100ML.

Find it at maisondelasie.sg, Tangs.com, and the Maison de Lasie retail store at Ngee Ann City.

6. Nonfiction Santal Cream

Nonfiction Santal Cream. (nonfiction-beauty.com)

If woody fragrances are your cup of tea, this scent is sure to put a smile on your face. This contains notes of sandalwood, cardamom, fig, ginger and vetiver and bergamot — an artful mix that is made for calming, serene moments.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Nonfiction is a lifestyle beauty brand from South Korea. The brand offers its scents in the form of fragrances and bodycare products, such as hand creams, hand wash, and body lotions.

Purchase this fragrance as part of a perfume and hand cream duo for ~SGD205. Find it at nonfiction-beauty.com.

7. RboW CASE STUDY #03 O.A.C

RboW CASE STUDY #03 O.A.C. (@rbow_official)

This fragrance has top notes of geranium, cardamom and orange blossom; middle notes of Amyris, rose and jasmine, and base notes of cedarwood, vetiver and patchouli. It boasts a woody and floral aroma and is inspired by the scents found outside of a Paris atelier.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: RboW, short for rainbow, is a South Korean lifestyle brand that aims to bridge the gap between beauty and art. It is founded by Sohyung Kim, a former director of an art gallery and it offers products ranging from candles and lip balms to fragrances.

This fragrance is priced at SGD115 for 50ML and is sold at rbowofficial.com.

8. Sholayered Lemon Peel Body Spray

Sholayered Body Spray. (sholayered.sg)

Touted as an “adult body spray”, this product can also be worn as a perfume or a cologne. Simply layer it with other fragrances if you wish to create a stronger scent. This also has antibacterial and sterilisation properties, thus, doubling up as a great room spray too.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Sholayered is founded in Tokyo, Japan and its products are made entirely in Japan. The brand encourages users to layer its scents to create “endless’ possibilities” — it also offers home fragrances, body care products and hair care products.

This fragrance is priced at SGD69 for 100ML. Find it at sholayered.sg, Shopee and at Takashimaya Department Store.

9. SIX Eclat

SIX Eclat. (scentbysix.com)

Designed to reflect "hope, grace and gratitude", this fragrance is composed of ingredients including neroli, lemon peel, vanilla and tonka bean. Its name means “flash of brilliance” in French.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: SIX is an artisanal fragrance label that is based in Singapore. Its fragrances are made in collaboration with renowned perfumers and are made using responsibly sourced ingredients. The fragrances are distilled in the UK and in Singapore.

This fragrance is priced at SGD66 per 30ML. Find it at scentbysix.com and at Scent by SIX stores located at 313 @ Somerset and Bugis Junction.

10. Aranda 1965 (Homme)

Aranda 1965 (Homme). (singapore-memories.com)

If you like masculine scents, the Aranda 1965® features Wild-Aranda Orchids as its main notes. It's complemented by bergamot, citrus, sparkling Asian fruits, and Tibetan amber. 

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Singapore Memories creates Singaporean heritage perfumes and Singapore-inspired room fragrances. All of these scents feature notes of orchids, a flower that can be found everywhere in Singapore as well as in other Asian countries with warm and humid climates such as Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

This fragrance is priced at SGD128 per 100ML for the EDT and SGD148 per 100ML for the EDP on the brand's website.

11. Tobacco Sea Perfume

Tobacco Sea Perfume. (sifr.sg)

If you like your perfumes fresh and light, you'll love this scent made from saffron, tobacco flowers, and ozonic musk that will remind you of a sunset stroll.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Sifr Aromatics was founded in Singapore in 2010 by Johari Kazura. The brand specialises in customised perfume blends, small-batch perfumes and home fragrances. You can find their perfumes at the brand's heritage store located in the historic and cultural Kampong Glam district.

The product is priced starting at SGD75 per 15ML on the brand's website.

12. Code Deco Blanc One

Code Deco Blanc One. (codedeco.com.sg)

This fragrance combines warm, fruity and spicy notes of jasmine sambac with the radiant top notes of white ginger lily.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Code Deco is the brainchild of Gauri Garodia, an expert perfumist who started her career at Unilever in 1996. Today, the proudly Singaporean brand prides itself on combining luxurious materials, fine craftsmanship and a modern vision of what perfume must do for its wearer in crafting its scents.

This fragrance is priced at SGD175 for 50ML and is sold at codedeco.com.sg.

13. Scent Journer A Starlit Spell

Scent Journer A Starlit Spell. (scentjourner.com)

If you like clean, powdery scents with subtle floral notes, this Scent Journer perfume promises to leave a comforting peaceful atmosphere whenever it's used. It has notes of wild iris, orris, pear, vetiver, and rose to give your spirits a positive boost.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Singapore-based perfume brand Scent Journer specialises in crafting mindfully formulated perfumes that are cruelty- and preservative-free, on top of being vegan and champions of no gender labelling on products.

This fragrance is priced at SGD168 for 50ML and is sold at scentjourner.com.

14. Amouage Guidance

Amouage Guidance. (tangs.com)

For folks willing to splurge on a lasting signature scent, this fragrance has a feminine scent that's heady, sultry and spellbinding. It's no wonder since it has notes of Osmanthus blossoms, pear, almond milk, frankincense, saffron, and dark vanilla.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Amouage is a High Perfumery brand headquartered in the Sultanate of Oman. It showcases the best of Arabian perfume culture in its finely crafted and Avante-grade perfumes.

This fragrance is priced at SGD570 for 100ML and is sold at tangs.com.

15. Issey Miyake L'eau D'Issey

Issey Miyake L'eau D'Issey Eau de Toilette. (isseymiyakeparfums.com)

If you're looking for a simple but refreshing scent, grab the Issey Miyake L'eau D'Issey Eau de Toilette. It's inspired by the "scent" of water with hints of floral and woody notes that create a minimalist but essential fragrance for women.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Issey Miyake founded his namesake brand in 1970, specialising in fashion and costumes. In 1992, the brand ventured into fragrances and released its first scent, L'eau D'Issey Eau de Parfum which sold well in Japan and the United States.

This fragrance is priced at SGD133 per 50ML on ishopchangi.com.

16. Oola Lab Sun

Oola Lab Sun. (oola-lab.com)

Delicate and soft is one way to describe this fragrance which is composed of lemon, honey, jasmine and orange blossom, among others. It's a perfume that's classic, simple and will earn you compliments for its long-lasting scent.

Discover this Asian fragrance brand: Oola Lab was founded in Singapore in 2017 as a vegan, cruelty-free brand. They also offer perfume mixology kits for those who want to create their own fragrances. 

This fragrance is priced at SGD125 per 50ML on oola-lab.com.