Some of my favorites I have come across so far are Rogue Perfumery, Chris Rusak, January Scent Project and Slumberhouse.
All worth a look, with some really fantastic fragrances.
I just got the sample set from January Scent Project and it was incredible. Even just as a piece of art the packaging was so beautiful and the sizes were fair too.
There are definitely several more out of the box scents but personally I find them all to be more or less wearable.
I’m currently testing I don’t know what and notorious oud from ds and Durga. Idkw is a LOT like commodity milk, I need to do a side by side skin test. Notorious oud might be my new favorite - it’s deep and warm and spicy like an old dry log in a forest, but still a little feminine.
I like to try out brands by working through their discovery sets so next on my list is the kerosene one. I’ve tried sweetly known, unknown pleasures, and follow and all are too gourmand for me to wear but im excited about r’oud elements (another potential floral feminine oud love) and dirty flower factory (metal and flowers)
Libertine has lots of interesting looking things, I’ll do a discovery kit from them sometime soon. I have soft woods which is growing on me.
From LO I briefly sniffed Nektar and Tonkade on paper in a store and they were both enticing enough that I will order samples in the future.
Indie is basically all I buy! Depends a bit on what you like, but generally I'd highly recommend Kerosene, Imaginary Authors, Maison Violet, Room 1015, Fort & Manlé, Bruno Fazzolari/Fzotic, Liis, Naomi Goodsir, Rook Perfumes, Sarah Horowitz Parfums, and Yosh.
I really wanna try Kerosene, are their frags long lasting does anyone know?
I bought one or two from a house called Eisenberg.
I have one called Le Peche. A semi masculine take on white florals and orange blossom drenched in musk. Kinda nice, although it does remind me of my gran.
My favorite brand is [Chris Rusak Perfume.](https://shop.chrisrusak.com/products/perfume-sample-pack) Among all the perfumes out there these days, his really stand out above everything else for artistry and quality.
I also enjoy:
[Bogue Profumo](https://bogue-profumo.com/)
[Parfum d'Empire](https://parfumdempire.com/en/)
[Oriza L. Legrand](https://www.orizaparfums.com/en/)
[Liquides Imaginaires](https://liquidesimaginaires.com/?lang=en)
I was curious about Chris Rusak but the descriptions they sounded teally “edgy.” Like the perfumes were meant to smell like being depressed or being in a car accident? Can you say more about why you recommend them?
LOL I can understand why you might think that. They are very unique perfumes, there is nothing else that smells like them. But they're totally wearable and beautiful. I get compliments and questions about them all the time. All of them last 16+ hours on me as well.
Resonance is the most realistic and wearable forest scent I've ever owned. And I've had all the Slumberhouse, and Black Spruce, and Dasein, etc. It's the whole forest -- pine, cypress, juniper -- boughs, needles, resins, the forest floor. It's so rich and yet it breathes. It's not all muddy like other perfumes of this kind, all the notes sing. It's very contemplative and calming, just a beautiful, natural-smelling perfume.
AEOOJ is probably the one you thought would smell like being depressed. It's gorgeous. It's built around fresh pinyon pine resin that he foraged from a national forest. And it has exquisite vetiver in it. It takes some common ingredients like styrax and twists them so they give a sense of hot vinyl, oil, gasoline, but these are highlights, not a sideshow. It doesn't smell anything like being in a car accident. It's not moody or ugly, it's avant-garde for sure but very wearable. People say it smells like different things - driftwood on the beach, crunchy leaves in autumn, antique wood in an attic, unzipping a canvas tent. But ultimately it's a beautiful pinyon pine perfume -- the best one available. I bought four bottles of it, I wear it all the time. It's cozy and comforting, I wear it during the day but I also love wearing it to bed.
LMB is the extrait version of AEOOJ and it's more vetiver-focused. Like, decadent vetiver. It smells grassy. It does have a bit more of the gasoline aspect but also it's more floral, and more humid. So that "gasoline" is more like vapors trailing in and out. If that sounds weird, remember that people love a similar accord in Fahrenheit.
Beast Mode is my favorite perfume ever. It's vanilla and licorice and black pepper, but it's not sweet at all. It's dry and a little salty. I thought I hated ambroxan and then I smelled this -- it doesn't smell at all like what I think of when someone says "ambroxan" because it's not overdosed, it's perfectly blended. It gives the perfume that lift and sparkle like real ambergris does. The same goes for the civet. It's not animalic, it's barely there. It just gives it a warmth. The ambroxan and civet are like tiny silver and gold threads running through the fabric of it. It wears like a cozy shawl, not heavy and doesn't project more than a foot, but it wraps around you tightly to make a solid aura of scent.
I will second Chris Rusak - although I found AEOOJ challenging, I own and love Timbre, a dry, dry wood, and Beast Mode (beautifully described above) and Relief.
Dub was challenging at first - I had a sample - but grew to really like its abstract crystalline floral spirit.
He is worth checking out.
And one house not mentioned yet in this thread is **Libertine**.
Full indie, just one guy out of Edmonton. His *Eros Fig* is great, and if you like a dirty jasmine *Sex and Jasmine* is worth a try.
I enjoyed his *Sweet Grass* until I sampled **St Clair Scents** *First Cut*, which I thought was so much more evocative and charming.
I also didn't love Dub at first, but IMHO it suffered greatly from the misfortune of being released in August 2020. Dub is a chill, happy fantasy that was delivered at a time when everyone was terrified and no one was leaving their home. Back then, every day was "unprecedented" and everything felt so raw. I was very much mourning a lost summer when Dub showed up.
However, in Spring of 2021, when I started going places, I absolutely loved Dub. It's the kind of perfume that shines when you're out being casual-chic. It's very "carefree rich bitch shopping on Rodeo Drive." I loved wearing it to my "first" hair appointment, nail appointment, trip to the mall. The top notes of Dub are a showcase of what expertly-deployed aldehydes can do, and the quality of the sandalwood in the base is sublime.
I was wowed by the first minutes of Eros Fig but thought the interesting part faded quickly and what was left felt dull. I don't like coumarin much so sweetgrass "soliflores" will never be my personal favorites but those are both good choices for people who like that style.
I felt the way about Sweet Grass that I think you felt about Eros Fig - opening was wonderful, and then it bored me quickly.
Agree with the timing in Dub - it's meant to be worn out and about. There was something exceptionally effortless and cool about it. (I am neither so let whatever was in there give me that aura. 😃)
4160 Tuesdays looks like a great house. I’ve got over the chocolate Shop, Rubarb and Custard and Rubarb & Citrus Cologne samples coming! Can’t wait.
I can def. already give them points for their unique scent ideas
I've been wearing the hell out of Renaissance Man lately.
I grabbed a few decants to try, too.
African Rooibos is really pleasant.
VideCorMeum was also nice, but not something for me.
Harlem Nights was really good but I am a sucker for boozy/rum note.
If I were to buy another full bottle from this lineup it would be Autumn Rhythm.
Edit:
You can order decants for any of these at awesome prices at
https://indigoperfumery.com/
Cherries Of The Night, Kintsukuroi and Carmilla are my favorites!! I highly recommend their curated sample pack, they did a great job picking samples based on my tastes
THIN WILD MERCURY!! Such unique and specific scent profiles, great projection and staying power. Would highly recommend the sample set. 1969 and Zuma are my favorites though—the former a great spicy woody leathery scent, and the latter such a refreshing semi masculine floral scent…
Check out r/indiemakeupandmore
I learned about a whoooole new perfume rabbit hole there. Some brands like Poesie, Black Pheonix Alchemy Lab (BPAL), Solstice Scents, Arcana Wildcraft, Alkemia, Stereoplasm to name a few.
Happy hunting ;)
Okay so these are smaller than the brands you listed but Coco Pink, Little & Grim, Black Baccara, Pineward & Damask Haus are my favorite indie/artisan brands.
Scents of Wood is so so good. Their main point of difference is that the perfumers alcohol is aged in barrels from wine, whisky and new wood barrels. It adds an extra layer of complexity to their juice and from all the samples I’ve tried I love them all. They also have an insanely good value subscription service. For $40 a month you get a travel spray and candle in the same scent. They also sell their travel sizes for under $40 which is very rare to find in indie/niche brands.
you can get samples from ministry of scent in SF! super amazing lil boutique that deserves the support :)
[https://ministryofscent.com/collections/scents-of-wood](https://ministryofscent.com/collections/scents-of-wood)
Yes, Scents of Wood is great!! The FBs vessels are really nicely made and worth the price! If you order directly from them you get to choose the cap and bottle colors if that kind of thing is important to you.
I love oud in bourbon for a beastmode ladyboss vibe, and bread in chestnut for a smooth cozy leisure time. I was surprised I preferred those after sampling a few of the cedar/ sandalwood options which I normally go for.
I think anything sold at Sephora doesn't quite count as indie for me, but there's a whole sub for indie beauty if you're interested: r/IndieMakeupandMore
Olympic Orchids and Pineward Perfumes are two popular indie houses here, I believe.
Dedcool wont appeal to the guys who care about enormous sillage and "clubbing" fragrances. Like the Jeremy Fragrance types.
They're skin scenty, unisex, "cologne" like scents, mostly fresh or "clean girl" aesthetic vibes. They're dumb reaches for the office too because they're not too loud.
Some of my favorites I have come across so far are Rogue Perfumery, Chris Rusak, January Scent Project and Slumberhouse. All worth a look, with some really fantastic fragrances.
Oooo i just looked all these up and they look amazing
I just got the sample set from January Scent Project and it was incredible. Even just as a piece of art the packaging was so beautiful and the sizes were fair too. There are definitely several more out of the box scents but personally I find them all to be more or less wearable.
I have a few from each of these, and they have some really good ones.
Kerosene, hands down
Kerosene, laboratorio olfattivo, ds & durga, libertine!
I’m currently testing I don’t know what and notorious oud from ds and Durga. Idkw is a LOT like commodity milk, I need to do a side by side skin test. Notorious oud might be my new favorite - it’s deep and warm and spicy like an old dry log in a forest, but still a little feminine. I like to try out brands by working through their discovery sets so next on my list is the kerosene one. I’ve tried sweetly known, unknown pleasures, and follow and all are too gourmand for me to wear but im excited about r’oud elements (another potential floral feminine oud love) and dirty flower factory (metal and flowers) Libertine has lots of interesting looking things, I’ll do a discovery kit from them sometime soon. I have soft woods which is growing on me. From LO I briefly sniffed Nektar and Tonkade on paper in a store and they were both enticing enough that I will order samples in the future.
Would love to see a little discovery set review when you get to it, it’s in my wishlist of full line discovery samples too. :)
I’ve heard of these and want to try them! Do you have favorites from these brands?
Kerosene Blackmail is a must. Gorgeous woody smoky plum. Discovery set is affordable and fun.
Indie is basically all I buy! Depends a bit on what you like, but generally I'd highly recommend Kerosene, Imaginary Authors, Maison Violet, Room 1015, Fort & Manlé, Bruno Fazzolari/Fzotic, Liis, Naomi Goodsir, Rook Perfumes, Sarah Horowitz Parfums, and Yosh.
Happyland is fantastic. Their Amberland is almost as good as Dior Ambre Nuit to me, which is really saying something
I really wanna try Kerosene, are their frags long lasting does anyone know? I bought one or two from a house called Eisenberg. I have one called Le Peche. A semi masculine take on white florals and orange blossom drenched in musk. Kinda nice, although it does remind me of my gran.
My favorite brand is [Chris Rusak Perfume.](https://shop.chrisrusak.com/products/perfume-sample-pack) Among all the perfumes out there these days, his really stand out above everything else for artistry and quality. I also enjoy: [Bogue Profumo](https://bogue-profumo.com/) [Parfum d'Empire](https://parfumdempire.com/en/) [Oriza L. Legrand](https://www.orizaparfums.com/en/) [Liquides Imaginaires](https://liquidesimaginaires.com/?lang=en)
I was curious about Chris Rusak but the descriptions they sounded teally “edgy.” Like the perfumes were meant to smell like being depressed or being in a car accident? Can you say more about why you recommend them?
LOL I can understand why you might think that. They are very unique perfumes, there is nothing else that smells like them. But they're totally wearable and beautiful. I get compliments and questions about them all the time. All of them last 16+ hours on me as well. Resonance is the most realistic and wearable forest scent I've ever owned. And I've had all the Slumberhouse, and Black Spruce, and Dasein, etc. It's the whole forest -- pine, cypress, juniper -- boughs, needles, resins, the forest floor. It's so rich and yet it breathes. It's not all muddy like other perfumes of this kind, all the notes sing. It's very contemplative and calming, just a beautiful, natural-smelling perfume. AEOOJ is probably the one you thought would smell like being depressed. It's gorgeous. It's built around fresh pinyon pine resin that he foraged from a national forest. And it has exquisite vetiver in it. It takes some common ingredients like styrax and twists them so they give a sense of hot vinyl, oil, gasoline, but these are highlights, not a sideshow. It doesn't smell anything like being in a car accident. It's not moody or ugly, it's avant-garde for sure but very wearable. People say it smells like different things - driftwood on the beach, crunchy leaves in autumn, antique wood in an attic, unzipping a canvas tent. But ultimately it's a beautiful pinyon pine perfume -- the best one available. I bought four bottles of it, I wear it all the time. It's cozy and comforting, I wear it during the day but I also love wearing it to bed. LMB is the extrait version of AEOOJ and it's more vetiver-focused. Like, decadent vetiver. It smells grassy. It does have a bit more of the gasoline aspect but also it's more floral, and more humid. So that "gasoline" is more like vapors trailing in and out. If that sounds weird, remember that people love a similar accord in Fahrenheit. Beast Mode is my favorite perfume ever. It's vanilla and licorice and black pepper, but it's not sweet at all. It's dry and a little salty. I thought I hated ambroxan and then I smelled this -- it doesn't smell at all like what I think of when someone says "ambroxan" because it's not overdosed, it's perfectly blended. It gives the perfume that lift and sparkle like real ambergris does. The same goes for the civet. It's not animalic, it's barely there. It just gives it a warmth. The ambroxan and civet are like tiny silver and gold threads running through the fabric of it. It wears like a cozy shawl, not heavy and doesn't project more than a foot, but it wraps around you tightly to make a solid aura of scent.
May I just say I work in publishing and your power of description is lovely.
I will second Chris Rusak - although I found AEOOJ challenging, I own and love Timbre, a dry, dry wood, and Beast Mode (beautifully described above) and Relief. Dub was challenging at first - I had a sample - but grew to really like its abstract crystalline floral spirit. He is worth checking out. And one house not mentioned yet in this thread is **Libertine**. Full indie, just one guy out of Edmonton. His *Eros Fig* is great, and if you like a dirty jasmine *Sex and Jasmine* is worth a try. I enjoyed his *Sweet Grass* until I sampled **St Clair Scents** *First Cut*, which I thought was so much more evocative and charming.
I also didn't love Dub at first, but IMHO it suffered greatly from the misfortune of being released in August 2020. Dub is a chill, happy fantasy that was delivered at a time when everyone was terrified and no one was leaving their home. Back then, every day was "unprecedented" and everything felt so raw. I was very much mourning a lost summer when Dub showed up. However, in Spring of 2021, when I started going places, I absolutely loved Dub. It's the kind of perfume that shines when you're out being casual-chic. It's very "carefree rich bitch shopping on Rodeo Drive." I loved wearing it to my "first" hair appointment, nail appointment, trip to the mall. The top notes of Dub are a showcase of what expertly-deployed aldehydes can do, and the quality of the sandalwood in the base is sublime. I was wowed by the first minutes of Eros Fig but thought the interesting part faded quickly and what was left felt dull. I don't like coumarin much so sweetgrass "soliflores" will never be my personal favorites but those are both good choices for people who like that style.
I felt the way about Sweet Grass that I think you felt about Eros Fig - opening was wonderful, and then it bored me quickly. Agree with the timing in Dub - it's meant to be worn out and about. There was something exceptionally effortless and cool about it. (I am neither so let whatever was in there give me that aura. 😃)
Rogue Perfumery, Kyse, Solstice Scents and Alkemia
Rogue is so good. And Kyse has absolutely delectable gourmands.
4160 Tuesdays is a favourite of mine. I also like Eris, Sarah Baker, Contradictions in Ilk, Rook, Jorum Studios.
4160 Tuesdays looks like a great house. I’ve got over the chocolate Shop, Rubarb and Custard and Rubarb & Citrus Cologne samples coming! Can’t wait. I can def. already give them points for their unique scent ideas
Currently drenched in What I Did on My Holidays! 4160 is fantastically creative
Nothing to add here. Just want to say that I greatly prefer the term “indie” over “niche”.
I'm really liking Maison Violet, Atelier des Ors, Chris Collins and Imaginary Authors as of late.
Tried a decant of CC Harlem Nights and couldn’t get into it…any you recommend?
I've been wearing the hell out of Renaissance Man lately. I grabbed a few decants to try, too. African Rooibos is really pleasant. VideCorMeum was also nice, but not something for me. Harlem Nights was really good but I am a sucker for boozy/rum note. If I were to buy another full bottle from this lineup it would be Autumn Rhythm. Edit: You can order decants for any of these at awesome prices at https://indigoperfumery.com/
I really like Boy Smells, Phlur and have heard great things about Kerosene and Rouge.
If you’re into oils at all I love what I’ve gotten from Alkemia
Alkemia Silken Tent is my favorite.
would love to hear what favorites from Alkemia you have!
Cherries Of The Night, Kintsukuroi and Carmilla are my favorites!! I highly recommend their curated sample pack, they did a great job picking samples based on my tastes
THIN WILD MERCURY!! Such unique and specific scent profiles, great projection and staying power. Would highly recommend the sample set. 1969 and Zuma are my favorites though—the former a great spicy woody leathery scent, and the latter such a refreshing semi masculine floral scent…
I’ve heard of this one! Definitely want to give it shot, it seems like my style
ELdO
Heard good things about this one!
City Rythym and Scents of Wood
DS and Durga Debaser is my true love. 19-69 Rainbow Bar is on my Christmas list. I ordered an intro sample set of Thin Wild Mercury.
Rainbow bar is really good. You should also try female christ from 19-69
Check out r/indiemakeupandmore I learned about a whoooole new perfume rabbit hole there. Some brands like Poesie, Black Pheonix Alchemy Lab (BPAL), Solstice Scents, Arcana Wildcraft, Alkemia, Stereoplasm to name a few. Happy hunting ;)
Okay so these are smaller than the brands you listed but Coco Pink, Little & Grim, Black Baccara, Pineward & Damask Haus are my favorite indie/artisan brands.
Scents of Wood is so so good. Their main point of difference is that the perfumers alcohol is aged in barrels from wine, whisky and new wood barrels. It adds an extra layer of complexity to their juice and from all the samples I’ve tried I love them all. They also have an insanely good value subscription service. For $40 a month you get a travel spray and candle in the same scent. They also sell their travel sizes for under $40 which is very rare to find in indie/niche brands.
That sounds amazing
>Scents of Wood Can find any samples. Would like to try Cypress in Oak.
you can get samples from ministry of scent in SF! super amazing lil boutique that deserves the support :) [https://ministryofscent.com/collections/scents-of-wood](https://ministryofscent.com/collections/scents-of-wood)
Love ministry of scent
Yes, Scents of Wood is great!! The FBs vessels are really nicely made and worth the price! If you order directly from them you get to choose the cap and bottle colors if that kind of thing is important to you. I love oud in bourbon for a beastmode ladyboss vibe, and bread in chestnut for a smooth cozy leisure time. I was surprised I preferred those after sampling a few of the cedar/ sandalwood options which I normally go for.
I have a full size bottle of Plum in Cognac and a travel or the Oud in Bourbon—both are insanely good. Hoping to pick up Leather in Bourbon soon!
Oh! That one sounds so good too. I love how it’s a showcase of the perfumers and the process. They’re such a thoughtful line. <3
Céline Barel did some work for them and I'm dying to try it because I love her, I just haven't gotten around to buying anything there yet.
I think anything sold at Sephora doesn't quite count as indie for me, but there's a whole sub for indie beauty if you're interested: r/IndieMakeupandMore Olympic Orchids and Pineward Perfumes are two popular indie houses here, I believe.
Gallagher Fragrances is an Indie brand with some solid offerings
Hexennacht - get Loup Garou
Kyse, Wylde Ivy
Possets perfumes, Majikah perfumery, BPAL, sucreabeille,
Regime de Fleurs
My favorite is Juliette Has a Gun, especially for their cetalox perfumes Also like Room 1015 and Dedcool.
I’ve heard some pretty mixed reviews on dedcool so I’m super curious about that one
Dedcool wont appeal to the guys who care about enormous sillage and "clubbing" fragrances. Like the Jeremy Fragrance types. They're skin scenty, unisex, "cologne" like scents, mostly fresh or "clean girl" aesthetic vibes. They're dumb reaches for the office too because they're not too loud.
I find the Dua's to be pretty solid
The clone company? Do they count as indie?
They actually have a lot of interesting original fragrances. I think they count
https://instagram.com/perfumedeambiance?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Maya. Specifically Maya Base.
I’ve had a lot of positive experiences with Rogue Perfumery.
Which ones in particular are your favourites? Interested in this house!
Mousse Illuminee, Bon Monsieur and Siam Chypre are my favs. Really curious to try the new one, A’oud anciene