When we talk about perfume, the spotlight often falls on international brands, designer labels, and celebrated perfumers. Amid this global fragrance boom, the Philippine perfume industry remains a hidden gem—vibrant, creative, yet still largely underappreciated. While social media has amplified interest in scent around the world, local perfumery has yet to receive the recognition it truly deserves. Unless you’re a true fragrance enthusiast (often called a “fraghead”), this emerging scene might not even be on your radar.
For many Filipinos, perfume is seen as a status symbol or a finishing touch reserved for special occasions. The country’s hot and humid climate also shapes a cultural emphasis on hygiene and freshness, often prioritizing showering over the use of fragrance. This helps explain the local preference for light, clean scents. And while the Philippines once thrived in the fragrance trade—it even earned the title “Reina de los Perfumes de Oriente” (Queen of Perfumes in the Orient) in the late 1800s—perfume never really became deeply embedded in everyday Filipino life. It was mostly confined to luxury imports for the upper class.
Fortunately, we now live in a time when Filipino perfumery is slowly but steadily gaining traction, marked by the rise of homegrown brands and locally crafted scents. At the forefront of this revolution is a small but passionate group of perfumers—pushing boundaries, telling Filipino stories, and redefining what local perfumery can be. They are the founding members of the Filipino Perfumers Society (FPS): four trailblazers, each pioneering the craft in their own distinct way. Their personal journeys reveal not only the creativity behind their work, but also the challenges they face—and the future they’re helping to build for Philippine perfumery.
From Curiosity to Craft: The Artistic Evolution of Renato Lopena Jr.
Artistry and serendipity—these are the two words that capture the fragrance journey of Renato Lopena Jr., also known as The Filipino Nose (@thefilipinonose).
His roots in fragrance trace back to childhood weekends spent at his parents’ lab, where their family business imported raw materials, mostly for the cosmetics industry. It was there that curiosity first led him to experiment with scents. While he didn’t immediately see perfumery as a career path, those early experiences planted a seed.
After college, he considered culinary school, only to realize his passion lay more in tasting and consuming food than in the technical side. He eventually joined the family business, though lacking a chemistry background left him unsure of where he fit. Still, his fascination with scent deepened—especially in how his own habits with perfume reflected his memories, moods, and sense of identity. “When I earned my own money, I bought different perfumes. I found out I had different perfumes for different emotions—Light Blue when I felt happy, Invictus when I felt handsome,” he shares. “And then I just became more curious about perfume.”
This personal intrigue led Lopena to apply for a perfumery course at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery (GIP) in Grasse, France, a.k.a. the perfume capital of the world. With no local representation or entrance exams offered in the Philippines, he took a leap of faith—flying to Japan just to sit for the test. It was a costly move, with no guarantee of acceptance.
“September, I got the best birthday gift when they messaged me saying I got selected to be one out of twelve students—one of only three Asian students chosen for the program. At that time, I was more focused on sourcing because I believed we had a lot of fragrance raw materials that weren’t being utilized,” he recalls. “But when we started creating perfumes, I realized I really enjoyed it.” In the process, he discovered a passion for the artistic side of fragrance—ultimately shifting the course of his career
After completing his perfumery course and returning to the Philippines, Lopena wasn’t sure where to begin. He had the option to pursue a career in France but ultimately chose to come back home, despite the uncertainty of his path. A pivotal opportunity came in 2016, when he was tapped to create a fragrance for Heart Evangelista. This opened the door to more collaborations, including with Whiff Perfumes and designer Natalya Lagdameo, to name a few.
Yet despite the momentum, Lopena hesitated to launch his own brand, worried about competing with the very clients he was collaborating with. That initial reluctance shifted in 2020, when he founded Wren Atelier—a platform to fully express his artistic vision. He debuted with Hacienderos, a scent developed during his time at GIP. With its sustainability-focused design and strong artistic direction, the fragrance sold out in just two weeks—thanks to a social media post that caught the attention of a fragrance enthusiast, who later reviewed Lopena’s creation in Facebook fragrance groups.
After completing his perfumery course, Lopena returned to the Philippines unsure of where to begin. His breakthrough came in 2016, when he was tapped to create a fragrance for Heart Evangelista. The project opened doors to further collaborations, including with Whiff Perfumes and designer Natalya Lagdameo. Still, Lopena hesitated to launch his own brand, wary of competing with the very clients he was working with.
That changed in 2020 when he founded Wren Atelier—a platform to fully express his artistic vision. He debuted with Hacienderos, a scent developed during his time at GIP. With its sustainability-focused design and strong creative direction, the fragrance sold out in just two weeks—thanks to a fragrance enthusiast who reviewed Lopena’s creation in Facebook fragrance groups. From there, Wren Atelier grew, expanding into creations like Manila Oud, Valensole Romance, Cosa Nostra, and Cerveza Rosa, alongside a bespoke perfume service that allowed him to both hone his craft and embrace creative freedom.
The pandemic became a surprising catalyst. As the local fragrance community began to grow, Wren Atelier found its audience. An even bigger breakthrough came when international influencer Scout Dixon West featured Valensole Romance in a post—signaling that Lopena’s work could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with global niche brands. “A foreigner appreciating your work means I’m doing something right,” he says. “[It feels like] validation from cultures that have a stricter or more established taste in perfume.”
Still, building a niche perfume brand in the Philippines came with its challenges. Many consumers undervalue local products, often associating them with lower quality—or believing they have no right to command higher prices. On top of that, the retailers he was targeting, both locally and internationally, required a certain “brand image” that aligned with a certain price range.
In an era where hype culture often dictates what’s trendy and cool, Renato Lopena Jr. deliberately resists the fleeting nature of these trends. Instead, he prefers an “if you know, you know” approach—one that fosters deeper, more meaningful connections with his scents.
Lopena responded by rebranding and repositioning—raising his prices to reflect not only the artistry behind his work but also the upgraded visuals and overall brand experience. This wasn’t just a business move; it was a statement: Wren Atelier is about craftsmanship and global standards, not mass appeal. “I guess one of the best decisions I’ve made was to really create a brand,” he reflects.
While some of the critique has centered on the wearability of his creations, Lopena embraces the fact that his perfumes aren’t made for everyone. They’re designed to evoke emotion, provoke thought, and express a distinct artistic voice. Through ongoing collaborations, he continues to showcase his versatility—balancing bold creativity with commercial appeal. In an era where hype culture often dictates what’s trendy and cool, Lopena deliberately resists the fleeting nature of these trends. Instead, he prefers an “if you know, you know” approach—one that fosters deeper, more meaningful connections with his scents.
But even as someone who has created many fragrances, Lopena is still no stranger to “impostor syndrome,” pressure, and the artistic blocks that come with a growing career. To him, they’re reminders that there is still deep humanity in the art of perfumery. He meets these creative challenges with optimism, viewing pressure as something he can alchemize into growth—helping him further hone his craft.
Looking ahead, Lopena’s vision remains fixed on the global stage. As the first Filipino to become a member of the prestigious International Society of Perfumer-Creators—joining the ranks of celebrated names like Francis Kurkdjian of Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Thierry Wasser of Guerlain—it’s no surprise that his creations are designed with international sensibilities in mind. For him, it’s not just about building a brand or gaining foreign acclaim; it’s about reshaping how Philippine perfumery is viewed—both by Filipinos and the rest of the world.
Crafting Scents, Cultivating Industry: Bernadette Lim’s B2B Fragrance Journey
Step into SM Aura in BGC or any Tempur store, and you might notice a signature scent subtly filling the space—a sensory detail that, more often than not, traces back to Bernadette Lim, known on Instagram as @thefragrancespecialist on Instagram.
As the founder of BC Fragrance—a studio dedicated to creating personalized scents, training aspiring perfumers, and offering Level 1 certification through the Asia Perfumery Foundation (APF)—Lim has been quietly shaping the olfactory identity of Philippine retail since 2007. Instead of launching her own perfume line, she chose to focus on the Business-to-Business (B2B) side of the industry: importing and supplying fragrance oils, and developing signature scents for brands. It’s an approach grounded in both practicality and deep passion.
Her love for scent began at home. “I grew up in a household where we had a lot of perfumes—not because my parents were collectors, but because we had family in the U.S. who would send Balikbayan Boxes,” she recalls. It easily became a Christmas tradition: She and her sister would delight in unboxing and picking their favorites—Benetton Hot & Cold, Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works—sparking a lifelong fascination with scent.
Lim was also no stranger to a childhood ritual many of us might recall—sneaking into her mother’s boudoir to spritz a bit of perfume. Since her mother reserved fragrances for special occasions, she and her sister would steal a few sprays before bed, savoring the feeling of drifting off enveloped in scent.
Access to formal perfumery education is limited and expensive—often requiring travel abroad. “That’s why I started teaching,” says Bernadette Lim, who’s keen to empower more Filipinos to kickstart their own perfume brands.
This early exposure was reinforced by her family’s work in chemistry and chemical importation. Often in and out of lab settings, she became familiar with fragrance oils firsthand. Over time, she noticed that personal milestones were often marked by perfume—like receiving the limited edition Dior Me, Dior Me Not for her high school graduation. That moment sparked a personal tradition: celebrating achievements with a new bottle of scent.
In the early stages of her career, she briefly dabbled in retail by selling inspired perfumes in Mindanao. But she soon realized her strength lay in supplying raw materials to local retailers and manufacturers. Still, the path wasn’t easy. Market demand was inconsistent, making it difficult to maintain a stable supply chain. Access to formal perfumery education was also limited and expensive—often requiring travel abroad. “That’s why I started teaching,” she explains—to empower more Filipinos to kickstart their own perfume brands.
When it came to creating scents for spaces, Lim longed to craft distinctive olfactory identities for brands. But trends often dictated copycat fragrances, leaving little room for creative experimentation. She frequently found herself encouraging clients to curate scents that genuinely reflected their brand and target audience. This copycat mentality extended to perfumes as well. “They have to see a local brand ‘make it’ internationally before [having the courage] to make their own or develop original scents,” she explains.
Traditionally, perfumers have been invisible figures behind big-name brands, with little recognition. But with the global fragrance industry shifting, more brands now highlight the creators behind the scents. For Lim, this change presents an opportunity to step into the spotlight, finally linking her name to the fragrances she designs. It’s a small but meaningful evolution, allowing her to express her artistry more fully and perhaps, in time, launch a signature line of her own.
Driven by her journey, Lim is currently committed to nurturing local talent. She envisions a thriving Philippine perfume culture, with its own olfactory identity, one shaped by Filipino sensibilities and stories. Though some might see this as an overly idealistic mission, her work planting seeds of education and empowerment has the potential to yield a new generation of local brands, some of which may one day gain international recognition.
In the Philippines, the B2B side of perfumery is often overlooked, yet it’s a crucial part of the industry. Lim’s story highlights a broader theme among members of the FPS: the importance of a circular economy, where local innovation, access to raw materials, and education fuel growth from within. With continued momentum, it’s not hard to imagine a future where Filipino fragrance houses stand proudly alongside global names like Sweden’s Byredo, the United States’ Le Labo, and Korea’s Tamburins.
The Scent of Self: How Oscar Mejia III Bottles Memory and Meaning
Heart, perseverance, and grit are the defining qualities behind Oscar Mejia’s brand: Oscar Mejia III Artisanal Fragrances, a venture that not only endured but evolved during and after the pandemic.
Mejia’s fascination with scent began as early as age five. Growing up on his family’s orchid and cut flower farm in Davao, he would boil petals to create his own “essences” to give as gifts. His mother’s love for perfume also left a lasting impression; scents like Estée Lauder’s Beautiful and Pleasures, and Elizabeth Arden’s Fifth Avenue, helped shape his appreciation for fragrance and florals—something that now echoes through his work. This early exposure, combined with a strong interest in the sciences, led him to study at the Philippine Science High School and later pursue a degree in chemistry.
A turning point came when he watched Perfume: The Story of a Murderer—a film that reignited his passion for perfumery and spurred him to seek out courses to deepen his knowledge of the craft and industry. His search for formal training led him to French perfumer Nicolas de Barry, who mentored him remotely and guided his self-directed study. Mejia also traveled to Grasse to attend perfumery workshops, but much of his learning remained self-taught. With this foundation—and encouragement from his loved ones—he began crafting fragrances and eventually launched his own brand.
‘Unique’ is an understatement when describing Mejia’s journey with his brand. He started at a time when perfumery was far from trendy, and the market was less receptive to independent scent makers—let alone local ones. Early on, he faced marketing hurdles, particularly in positioning a fragrance brand without relying on status or trends. He ultimately framed his brand as a souvenir-style offering, rooted in distinctly Filipino heritage. As he puts it: “When we started, we wanted the brand traits to be intimate and sentimental because we want people to see it more [as something you would give] as gifts, rather than for yourself.”
Seeking alignment with the growing appreciation for local craftsmanship, Mejia first set his sights on the MaArte Fair—a prestigious annual fundraiser for the Museum Foundation of the Philippines that celebrates Filipino artisans. After two years of rejections, his persistence paid off through a serendipitous commission: He was asked to create an ylang-ylang-centric scent for an Ayala Museum event honoring Filipino composer Julio Nakpil, inspired by a musical piece of the same name. That experience introduced him to the MaArte organizers and eventually led to his first appearance at the fair in 2017—where his perfumes sold out by the second day.
He recalls having to manually transport more stocks of his perfumes from place to place just to meet the demand at the fair. “That was the push,” Mejia says—the moment his brand needed to truly be put out into the world. From there, it began gaining traction and, more importantly, loyal clients, as repeat orders started coming in. “I think the biggest affirmation was during the pandemic, because we survived it. Considering that: one, [fragrance] is not a necessity; two, no one really needed perfume during that time; and three, we were robbed of our sense of smell—people were wearing masks,” he says. “But we were never ‘in the red’ during the pandemic.”
His growth has been organic and rooted in authenticity. “When I create the perfumes, it’s very introspective.” Mejia’s fragrances are deeply personal—more like reflections of the self than trend-driven products. He also carefully selects where his perfumes are sold, choosing places like the Ayala Museum and Tesoros Handicrafts, where they resonate with balikbayans and foreign travelers looking to bring home a memory of the Philippines.
His storytelling is woven into every scent, inviting wearers to connect with themselves—and with others—on an emotional level. “My perfumes are really a reflection of my thoughts and feelings,” he shares. “The inspiration comes at the weirdest times, and I create around that.”
Mejia’s approach to perfumery is ultimately a form of self-discovery. He recalls wearing his creation Sun Soak, when a random fixation on a familiar ginger note unexpectedly reminded him of his mother’s ginger tea—and her care during a recent illness. “How lucky I am that my mom is still around to take care of me,” he reflects, noting how scents can unlock profound emotional memories and offer a kind of refuge that’s difficult to explain.
His fragrances are subtle and comforting, embodying what is now referred to as “quiet luxury.” The understated nature of his creations contrasts with today’s trend of loud, boisterous scent profiles—and yet, they continue to resonate with consumers. “It’s more [about] how you perceive it and your connection to the fragrances,” he says. Rather than projecting the scent outward, the experience is inward and personal.
As more Filipino perfumers find their voice, from experimental scent artists to heritage-inspired fragrance makers, Mejia’s journey stands as both a trailblazer and a mirror of the industry’s evolution. Today, as the perfume industry gains mainstream popularity and local fragrance communities flourish, Mejia sees new opportunities. His brand now reaches customers across the country, and with the rise of online sales and growing interest in niche perfumery, momentum continues to build. Yet what sets him apart remains unchanged: a sincere, reflective approach to scent-making—and a brand rooted in heart.
Tadhana by Design: Shale Albao’s Path to a More Inclusive, Rooted Fragrance Movement
Tadhana, already a beautiful Tagalog word, now holds a deeper meaning for Shale Albao, the youngest member of the FPS. Once a word that simply meant “fate,” it has come to represent something more layered and personal, and is continuously evolving and unfolding.
One look at Albao’s Tadhana Fragrances and it’s immediately clear that this is a brand built with intention. Every element—from its minimalist yet distinct aesthetic to its pricing and quality—feels cohesive and carefully considered. That coherence reflects Albao’s thoughtful vision: a brand that not only speaks to personal identity but also tells a larger story, one deeply rooted in the Filipino experience and her own life reflections.
Even the seemingly small decision to create custom caps and invest heavily in visual branding speaks to this ethos: simplicity with meaning, and a design language that feels both original and grounded.
For Albao, perfume is deeply personal. Each chapter of her life is marked by scent. “As far back as I can remember, every life stage had a specific perfume,” she shares. “When I was a child, there was Angel’s Breath or even Anaïs Anaïs. Sometime in high school, there was Bench.” This tradition continued into adulthood.
She’s also always been attentive to how other people smell. “I remember having a huge crush on someone and I would know that person was there because of the smell,” she says. That same attentiveness extended to herself, forming the foundation of her relationship with fragrance.
During the pandemic, Albao met someone online, which eventually led to a trip to New York—where they began dating. While staying in Toronto for a few months, she felt she was entering a new life stage. This prompted her to search for a new signature scent, and it was during this time that she discovered the world of niche perfumery—previously, she had only been familiar with designer fragrances. That moment felt like a turning point: her growing perfume collection became symbolic of her personal transformation.
Encouraged by both her mother and her now-partner, and drawing on her background in chemical engineering, Albao began exploring perfumery more seriously. In 2023, she enrolled in a summer course at ISIPCA in France, one of the world’s most respected perfumery schools. Among the 26 students representing 20 nationalities, she noticed a clear lack of Asian representation. That realization became a catalyst—strengthening her resolve to create something meaningful, something that would reflect not only her identity but also the richness and nuance of Asian, and specifically Filipino, perfumery. “I want to [do my part] to represent Asian perfumery—or Philippine perfumery,” she says.
The name Tadhana—chosen by her partner, who was unaware of its meaning at the time—resonated deeply with Albao. It felt fitting. Her journey, shaped by chance encounters and intentional creation, aligned naturally with the idea of destiny. Tadhana became more than just a brand name; it became a reflection of her ikigai, her reason for being. It allowed her to merge science and creativity, structure and soul.
She came to realize that her mission extends beyond personal success or leaving a mark on Philippine perfumery through Tadhana Fragrances. As a life coach and advocate, Albao envisions the brand as a platform to uplift Filipino communities—from farmers and local producers to fellow creatives.
She quotes the song “Tadhana” by local band Up Dharma Down: “Sa hindi inaasahang pagtatagpo ng mga mundo,” which translates to “an unexpected meeting of worlds.” For her, it perfectly symbolizes her deepening connection to the word tadhana—to her work, her life journey, and the unexpected notes that come together in each of her perfumes.
Of course, the road hasn’t been without challenges. Marketing a brand rooted in cultural authenticity while appealing to a broader audience requires a delicate balance. Albao’s sensitivity to how she communicated her brand’s image and ethos eventually shaped the Tadhana we see today—one that proudly uses locally sourced ingredients while aligning with modern values of individuality and self-expression.
“My big dream—my audacious dream—is to help build the capability for farmers to raise their own crops not just for the plant material, but also for distillation, so they can keep most of the profit themselves.”
—Shale Albao
More critically, sourcing ingredients posed significant hurdles. The Philippines currently has limited distillation facilities, and inconsistent access to high-quality raw materials affects both cost and formulation. While a few facilities do exist, the local perfumery industry—and related sectors—would benefit from more infrastructure and investment in this area.
To maintain quality, she often has to import raw materials in bulk, which drives up production costs unpredictably. “My big dream—my audacious dream—is to help build the capability for farmers to raise their own crops not just for the plant material, but also for distillation, so they can keep most of the profit themselves,” she says, highlighting her vision for a circular economy within the Philippine fragrance industry.
In the current Philippine perfume landscape, much of the interest still comes from fragrance enthusiasts or “fragheads.” Yet Tadhana has begun to stand out—capturing attention not only from niche communities but also from mainstream media. Just recently, Albao marked a huge milestone as Tadhana became the first Filipino perfume brand ever exhibited in Grasse, France, for Grasse Perfume Week. It was a symbolic step forward, not only for her personally but for Philippine perfumery as a whole.
In many ways, Tadhana’s branding and its debut fragrance collection align with this cultural shift in how perfume is seen and experienced. And this shift presents a significant opportunity—not just for her brand, but for the local industry. As Filipino perfumery continues to grow, it holds the potential to uplift other creators, producers, and related sectors along with it.
Still, the potential is enormous. The Philippines is home to a rich variety of endemic flora—sampaguita, ylang-ylang, kalachuchi (frangipani), gumamela, and pili, to name a few—that could shape a distinctly Filipino olfactory identity. Albao envisions a future where more of these plants are cultivated locally, supported by an ecosystem of farmers, distillers, and perfumers working in harmony. There’s vast, untapped land—and untapped potential—and Albao hopes to be at the heart of that movement.
The Next Chapter in Filipino Perfumery
The journey of Filipino perfumers, as seen through the lens of members of the Filipino Perfumers Society, is one of creativity, serendipity, and resilience. It’s also a story of empowerment—for local creatives, farmers, and suppliers. Despite hurdles such as limited access to raw materials, costly education, market biases, and regulatory barriers, they continue to push boundaries, crafting scents that reflect our identity, culture, and environment.
Pioneers like Renato Lopena Jr., Bernadette Lim, Oscar Mejia III, and Shale Albao prove that world-class perfumery isn’t exclusive to international brands—it’s alive and thriving here, in the Philippines. And with a growing interest in native raw materials, the potential to export unique Filipino ingredients gives us not just a creative edge but a source of national pride.
As the global fragrance industry evolves and becomes more inclusive, there is greater space for diverse, authentic voices. Filipino perfumery is ready to claim that space. With support and recognition, we won’t just uplift a homegrown, under-celebrated industry—we’ll shape a uniquely Filipino olfactive identity that belongs on the world stage.
