Niche fragrance is the term used to talk about scented delights offered by small companies, independent perfumers, and just plain olfactory artists. Most perfume sold in this country is produced by large manufacturers. Now contrary to a lot of people, I have nothing against big manufacturers or small manufacturers or anybody out to make an honest buck. But the deal with a big company making perfume is that they have to appeal to a broad range of consumer tastes.
A niche perfumer does not have the strength or distribution network to stock the shelves of every company across the country. Avon can get into a lot of houses, Estee Lauder can get on every department store perfume counter, but a small perfumer ... well, he or she has to struggle to stay in business. But the benefit of these niche purveyors is that they are more artistically free. They don't have to make a perfume that everybody from your 87-year-old great-grandmother to the bored teenager in science class can all agree on.
That's what happens in commercial industries. It's not so much that everyone loves your product. It's just that you hit on the product that the fewest people hate. You create something that is acceptable.
Niche perfumers, on the other hand, create things that a handful of people can love. But niche perfume is a bit tricky. Since niche perfumeries do not go for mainstream tastes, they can come up with some real odd stuff. You may not want a man's cologne that smells like lilacs or a woman's scent that is made with coffee.
The element of discernment adds a real appeal to the connossieur. Not only do niche perfume mavens find niche perfumers who make exquisite and rare fragrances, they get to sharpen their nostrils (so to speak) by deciding what they like and what they don't.
Interested in niche perfumes? There are lots of companies out there. You can share your own favorites with me. It seems like there are new ones to discover all of the time. Some of my favorites are Neil Morris (nielmorrisfragrances.com) and Bond No. 9 (bondno9.com) but there are tons more!
