Perfumes are having a moment right now, especially indie and niche fragrances. What was once a nearly impossible industry to enter, has blossomed in recent years thanks to more accessible information and peer to peer knowledge sharing. Among the companies making waves at events like Fumed Chicago, are several queer-owned brands, some that only launched a few months ago.
Check out our list of LGBTQ+-owned perfumeries and perfumers you can support this Pride season and be the best smelling person at the festivities.
This juggernaut of a fragrance brand was founded in 2020 by longtime friends Bryan Edwards and Phil Riportella. This gourmand-heavy brand has scents like the newly launched Milk and Cereal collection, the boozy-fruitcake inspired Naughty Nonna and the cherry and amber forward, Tart Deco. In addition to their successful online shop, Snif’s full fragrance line can be found across the country in ULTA stores.
Perfect for: Gourmand lovers, in-store testers
Stand out scents: Coco Shimmy, Golden Ticket
Don’t let the name fool you – Boy Smells is all about the genderless fragrance experience. Based in Los Angeles, Boy Smells rose to fame for their quality, long-lasting fragrances and playful releases like the poppers-inspired Citrush. Their unique bottles are popping up in more and more stores across the country, but you can try out samples and buy directly from their online store as well.
Perfect for: Wearers looking for an all-day scent with personality
Stand out scents: Coco Hinoki, Cowboy Kush
Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz have been building their fragrance and skincare brand since the early 2000s and are one of the few brands on this list you can find at luxury fragrance counters in department stores across the country. The duo also own stand-alone apothecaries across the country and in Hong Kong. The fragrances often lean into main notes, with a thoughtful supporting cast.
Perfect for: clean-scent lovers
Stand out scents: Dark Rum eau de parfum, Vetiver eau de parfum
A newbie to the perfume scene, self-taught perfumer Marty Schissler is dialing into nostalgia with the brand’s three debut fragrances. From sipping from the water hose on a hot day, to sick days at home with someone you love, these unique blends have put the Chicago-based perfumerie on the map.
Perfect for: People who love their perfumes to stir up emotions
Stand out scents: Yard
This queer and Black-owned fragrance studio is a rising star in the perfume world. Perfumer Bryson Ammons is one of a collection of self-taught perfumers taking the indie fragrance industry by storm with unique blends that aim to tell stories through scent. Ammons, along with partner and artist Eddie Hodges, started Alloy Studio in 2024 and is now available in a dozen perfume shops around the country.
Perfect for: People who want to get stopped on the street and asked “what are you wearing?”
Stand out scents: Luster, Faux
Self-taught perfumer Ember Bennett hasn’t only created a popular fragrance brand – they’re helping prepare the next generation of aspiring perfumers with her free “Introduction to Perfumery” guide, considered a key text of indie perfumery. Hoshi Gato specializes in fruity gourmands, but is known for thinking outside the box when it comes to notes and blends.
Perfect for: Folks looking for well-made, affordable gourmands with a story
Stand out scents: Frooty, Strawberry Milkcake
Perfumer Brianna “B.A.” Arps is a former investigative journalist who started studying perfume in 2018 and received formal training at the School of Aromatic Studies. She debuted Moodeaux in 2021 and has been only gaining traction since. Right now the brand has four fragrances and while several are sold out online, you can pop into your local Credo Beauty and see if they have what you are looking for in stock.
Perfect for: powerful note lovers (Oud, pepper, incense)
Stand out scents: Brand New, Avant Garden
Married couple Bree and Megan Elliott founded Fantôme (French for “ghost”) back in 2017 and are inspired by the “often-forgotten, overlooked, and feared thread of magic that weaves through the ages of human history.” Their collection includes close to 50 fragrances, including those inspired by Slavic folklore and time spent in small boutiques and incense shops in Japan.
Perfect for: folks who like an international perfume adventure
Stand out scents: Lorelei, Finist the Falcon
OSM, which stands for Our Scent Memories, first dazzles with their stunning bottle art, then hits you with its “intricate melding of personal narratives with evocative scents.” Kyle Mott-Kannenberg is the perfumer behind OSM, and uses his degree in chemistry to create perfumes that translate memories into scent. OSM has teamed up with drag star Manilla Luzon for the honey and floral dripping fragrance Diva Behavior and collaborated with Jinxx Monsoon on the Bulgarian rose and cherry forward, Hera.
Perfect for: people who like their fragrances to be art
Stand out scents: Disco Nap, Foreverness
