Welcome to our Tried & True series, where we highlight the holy grails and OGs, the top-shelf regulars and under-the-radar picks, as well as the new, fresh-off-the-lab products and viral sensations worth the hype—all from reputable brands we’ve road-tested ourselves.
Behind the name, we explore what makes a brand worth discovering, whether it’s how it has redefined beauty, its founder’s inspiring story, or how its range of offerings gave consumers what they truly want and need. In this edition, we take a closer look at GP Fragrances, a Filipino fragrance brand co-founded and creatively led by content creator and perfumer Greg Parilla, who set out to create scents that tell local stories and capture emotion, memory, and place.
For Parilla, fragrance has always been about emotion and recall. “These are all based on stories,” he explains, referring to the moments, feelings, and places that shape each scent. That perspective traces back to his earliest experiences with fragrance. And what began with a compliment soon grew into years of testing, learning, and reviewing scents online. Through his detailed, thoughtful content, Parilla built a community of fragrance lovers who trusted his nose long before he began creating blends of his own.
That personal lens became the foundation of the brand’s debut. “The Dreamer Collection is inspired by me. With the team, they centered their stories around me as a dreamer,” says Parilla. “It consists of three fragrances. It’s inspired by my past, my present, and my future.”
Built around memory, ambition, and lived experience, the Dreamer Collection reflects this approach. Instead of trying to imitate established global bestsellers, the collection leans into narratives familiar to Filipino consumers: the comfort of home, the excitement of aspiration, the quiet confidence of refinement. Each fragrance was developed with a defined feeling or memory, supported by quality ingredients and a collaborative process that included working with local perfumer Renato Lopena Jr.
Parilla later expanded this vision with the Elements Collection, which looks outward toward place, environment, and the natural landscapes that feel distinctly Filipino. “Elements Collection is an inspiration of elements because these fragrances are inspired by elements like air, water, and earth.”
Each fragrance in the collection draws from specific atmospheres—mountain air, coastal freshness, forest greenery, tropical warmth—and many of them were created through collaborations with fellow perfumers who helped translate these settings into scent.
Together, these collections reflect how GP Fragrances approaches perfumery: grounded in story, shaped by culture, and built through a mix of personal insight and creative collaboration. As interest in local fragrance grows, GP’s work shows what a distinctly Filipino point of view can look like: thoughtful, emotional, and rooted in the places and experiences many of us know well.
HERO PRODUCT
Banaue Bliss
Banaue Bliss captures the serene beauty of the Banaue Rice Terraces in a bottle. Bright top notes of grapefruit and bergamot awaken the senses while delicate neroli and petitgrain add a light and airy touch reminiscent of morning mist over the mountains. At its heart, green tea and bamboo bring a refreshing calmness, evoking the lush terraces and gentle breeze of the Cordillera region. The base of vetiver, moss, benzoin, and soft woody notes gives it a grounding warmth that lingers subtly on the skin.
Created by perfumer Gib Ang, Banaue Bliss was created as an olfactory tribute to the Cordilleras: the feeling of rain‑kissed soil, verdant rice terraces, and a quiet mountain breeze. It’s a fragrance made for moments of calm and clarity, whether you’re greeting the morning, unwinding in the afternoon, or just pausing to take a breath of peace.
GP Elements Banaue Bliss Eau de Parfum
P2,200, THE BEAUTY EDIT GALLERY AT SPATIO
CULT FAVORITE
Siargao Escape
Siargao Escape is a breezy and sun-soaked perfume that instantly transports you to the island’s sparkling shores. Zesty top notes of calamansi and lime interact with juicy pear, evoking the refreshing tang of tropical fruit under the sun. At its heart, airy neroli, lily of the valley, and hedione create a luminous sea breeze, while the base of driftwood, ambroxan, and subtle seaweed leaves a soft and clean trail that reminds you of sunkissed sands.
“Siargao Escape is the element of water,” says Parilla. “This is like you going out from the beach around 5 p.m., still wet from the sea… and then you’re about to go with your friends to go party, so that’s the vibe of Siargao Escape. It’s very beachy, and it’s very playful.”
Created by perfumer Bernadette Lim, it’s ideal for hot days, weekend getaways, or any occasion you want to carry a bit of island freedom with you, as it feels fresh, playful, and uplifting. It captures the spirit of adventure, the calm of the waves, and the warmth of tropical sunlight, all in a bottle.
GP Elements Siargao Escape Eau de Parfum
P2,200, THE BEAUTY EDIT GALLERY AT SPATIO
SECRET OBSESSION
Eclat Noir
Eclat Noir captures the indulgent charm of a Black Forest cake in a beautifully layered scent. Bright cherry and warm cognac open the fragrance, giving way to a heart of cacao and rum, before settling into a comforting base of vanilla, amber, and patchouli. The perfume is often praised for being perfect for cooler evenings or special moments, with most saying its cherry and chocolate-like notes feel celebratory but mature. What especially sets it apart is its ability to balance sweetness with a sophisticated richness, making it memorable without being overpowering.
“Black Forest cake to me when I was younger was like something celebratory. To me, this is my future scent. It’s my perception of how I want my scent to be in the future,” shares Parilla.
GP Eclat Noir Eau de Parfum
P1,850, THE BEAUTY EDIT GALLERY AT SPATIO
UNDERSTATED CLASSIC
Vieux Papier
Vieux Papier channels the quiet luxury of “old money” in the form of scent, capturing the image of freshly printed bills, timeless elegance, and a refined, understated power. “Vieux Papier smells like money, literally and figuratively,” says Parilla.
It opens with fresh, crisp notes of juniper berries, rosemary, and bergamot, which give way to a warm heart of lavender and cinnamon. As it settles, Vetiver Filipina, cedar, suede, oakmoss, and patchouli create a soft and earthy finish that lingers on the skin.
Sophisticated yet approachable, this fragrance is ideal for workdays, evening dinners, or moments when you want to feel confident. It’s a scent that softly commands attention, leaving a lasting impression you’ll want to return to every time.
GP Vieux Papier Eau de Parfum
P1,850, THE BEAUTY EDIT GALLERY AT SPATIO
UNDERRATED HOLY GRAIL
Memoires De Montagne
Mémoires de Montagne feels like a stroll through misty mountain mornings. Bright, crisp notes of bergamot, ginger, juniper, and cypress open the scent with a fresh and invigorating lift. The heart softens into subtle coconut, bamboo, and a hint of apple to create a gentle and comforting sweetness, while a base of mahogany, Vetiver Filipina, labdanum, oakmoss, vanilla, and musk grounds the fragrance in warmth and earthiness.
Inspired by co-founder Greg Parilla’s childhood in Binangonan, Rizal, the scent aims to evoke the comforting feeling of enjoying suman (a Filipino sticky rice cake) while breathing in cool morning mountain air.
“If you think about Rizal, it’s breezy, it’s mountainous. But to make it more special, if you go to Rizal… you know there’s a lot of suman out there. So Memoires De Montagne is inspired by Rizal and suman. It’s a fresh suman fragrance,” shares Parilla.
It’s softly nostalgic without feeling cloying, combining warmth and freshness in a way that feels grounding, thoughtful, and uniquely Filipino.
GP Memoires de Montagne Eau de Parfum
P1,850, THE BEAUTY EDIT GALLERY AT SPATIO
EDITOR FAVORITE
Baguio Verde
Baguio Verde feels like inhaling the crisp and pine‑kissed air of the City of Pines distilled into fragrance form. It begins with a morning mist accord and resinous pine needles, balanced by a burst of dalandan citrus; this bright, airy opening captures the clarity and altitude of Baguio’s highlands. At its heart, crushed green leaves, damp earth, and violet flowers evoke rain‑soaked forest paths. As it settles, the base reveals comforting layers of Vetiver Filipina, cedarwood, sweater musks, and a patchouli—warm, grounded, and elegant.
Masterfully crafted by perfumer Shale Albao, Baguio Verde is an homage to place and memory, a modern portrait of mountain nostalgia. It’s best worn when you want to feel refreshed yet balanced: perfect for morning strolls, workdays, or moments when you need a breath of clarity. For anyone who loves green, airy, and clean-woody fragrances, this one stands out as a calm but characterful signature.
GP Elements Baguio Verde Eau de Parfum
P2,200, THE BEAUTY EDIT GALLERY AT SPATIO
GP Fragrances is available 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.
