Classy, the debut scent of Tadhana by founder and internationally-trained Filipino perfumer Shale Albao, captures elegance that speaks softly yet lingers with strength.
For Albao, Classy was the natural place to begin. “It’s one of the six scents from our Persona Collection, and also the very first scent I created under the brand,” she shared. “Classy is effortless elegance and understated confidence.”
She envisioned a fragrance that transitions seamlessly, from casual days to boardroom moments to evening occasions—“a scent you can wear with a white tee and jeans on a casual day, bring to a meeting feeling powerful and composed, and wear to events where you want to make an impression.”
At its heart lies Elemi, a citrusy, balsamic resin from the pili tree found only in the Philippines. “It has a sparkling, resinous freshness that feels alive, confident, and unmistakably Filipino.” Albao paired it with Vetiver Filipina for warmth and texture building what she calls a study in balance; timeless yet modern, and radiantly composed.
“Classy was born from observing how grace and confidence can coexist without effort,” she said. “I’m inspired by people who lead with quiet strength. The kind of presence that doesn’t demand attention, but naturally draws it.”
Light musks, soft woods, and floral undertones complete the blend to create a scent that feels like second skin. “My goal was for Classy to move with you throughout the day—to adapt, to breathe, and never to overpower. It should feel like second skin, almost like a presence rather than a perfume.”
The Feeling of Classy
To Albao, more than a scent, Classy is a state of being. “I want Classy to make people feel centered and assured, like they’re standing in their own calm power. It’s the feeling of being put together,” she said. “Confident but not loud. Elegant but not distant.”
She’s seen firsthand how wearers connect to it. “Someone once told me that she wears Classy every time she presents something to her boss because it gives her that ‘I got this’ feeling,” she recalled. “Another shared that right before going on stage, she sprayed Classy and felt like the most beautiful person in the room.”
That subtle shift—clarity, composure, ease—is exactly what Albao hoped to evoke. “There’s a quiet kind of strength that comes from knowing who you are,” she added. “That’s the emotion I wanted to capture.”
Scene and Mood
If Classy were a space, Albao imagines it like this: “The palette is neutral and timeless: ivory, dove gray, and soft light. The textures are clean cotton, brushed metal, stone, marble, and polished wood. A single white bloom in the center of the room. Everything feels intentional, nothing excessive. It’s the kind of space where clarity and calm meet.”
It’s a fragrance that fits both morning and evening occasions. “You can wear it on warm, bright mornings when you want a sense of freshness and ease, and just as fitting on cool evenings when you want quiet sophistication,” she said. “It’s a scent for days when you want to show up as your confident self.”
The Tadhana Touch
The name Tadhana—meaning fate—mirrors the way Albao approaches perfumery: intuitive, rooted, and distinctly Filipino. “Every Tadhana perfume highlights a Filipino or Asian ingredient,” she explained. “Notes that are familiar to us, but blended in ways that feel unexpected. When we brought Tadhana to France, almost everyone remarked on how unique the compositions are. And that’s intentional.”
For her, the art of scent is storytelling beyond words. “Scent tells stories that language can’t,” Albao reflected. “It bypasses logic and goes straight to memory and emotion. A single whiff can bring you back to a moment, a place, or a person you’ve long forgotten. It can also take you to somewhere you’ve never been before.”
And with Classy, she bottled that kind of grace; the kind that doesn’t need to speak to be felt.
Classy by Tadhana
P3,700, Spatio
Shop Classy and more Tadhana fragrances at The Beauty Edit Gallery at Spatio, located on the 3rd floor of Opus Mall, Bridgetowne Destination Estate, Quezon City. An editorial-led retail concept—and the first-of-its-kind in the local scene—the gallery spotlights indie innovators, cult icons, and niche trailblazers shaping F-beauty today.
