We're a nation of shopkeepers. Thoughts on niche perfumery from one of our retailers ...
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One of favourite retail partners ( Soliflore - a must-visit when you're in Brighton!) gave an interview with her reflections on the perfume world and trends - which I'm pleased to share here :
"It's no secret that niche fragrance is having a real moment - I am often asked for my smokiest, dirtiest, weirdest fragrance; the more off the wall the better. My customers are drawn to Soliflore because they no longer want heavy hitters from Chanel, Gucci et al. The smaller the fragrance house the better, too. The move towards tiny artisan producers whose heart and soul and artistry is evident in the bottle is really exciting.
Within the fragrance space, for sure the trend in 2026 will also be around service -: tiny boutiques are not only where you'll find the most interesting, hard to find fragrances, but where the service is extremely personal. Those of us that have these boutiques have worked exceptionally hard to curate and create really immersive spaces for customers; I see a real hankering for it and the fun / human connection that it brings. I have very loyal customers who love it in here and I have many who have upwards of 20 fragrances from me in their collections. Old-fashioned service will be where it's at - being guided by someone who knows your name, knows what you bought last time, knows what your husband bought you and can therefore help you fill in the gaps in your fragrance wardrobe. Lovely, old-fashioned service where you're given someone's time and expertise. We are a nation of shopkeepers after all."
