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There’s power in a woman’s scent. It enters the room before she speaks and lingers long after
she’s gone. For Black women, fragrance isn’t just about smelling good; it’s about identity,
energy, mood, and memory.

Whether you’re walking into a pitch meeting, headed to brunch with
the girls, or taking a solo stroll through your favorite store, the right perfume doesn’t just say
you’ve arrived, it announces it. And now, more than ever, Black women are not only curating signature scents, but we’re creating them.

The luxury fragrance industry has long been dominated by European fashion houses, but that’s changing fast. According to NielsenIQ, Black consumers spend over $152 million annually on fragrance, yet for decades, Black perfumers and entrepreneurs were underrepresented in the
market. That gap sparked a new wave of founders, black women, who decided to stop waiting
for inclusion and instead built their own olfactory empires.

From niche blends that smell like nostalgic joy to seductive florals with staying power,
Black-owned perfume brands are offering scents that feel personal, powerful, and deeply
intentional.

6 Black-Owned Perfume Brands to Add to Your Vanity

1. Moodeaux

Founded by Brianna Arps, Moodeaux is fragrance with feeling. Their cult-favorite scent Worthy

is a warm, floral, skin-hugging blend designed to ground you and lift you up.

2. Ourside

Created by Keta Burke-Williams, Ourside offers intentional, genderless fragrances rooted in

memory and identity. Every bottle is a story, and it smells like luxury.

3. Chris Collins

This former Ralph Lauren model brings timeless masculinity and elegance to fragrance with

bold, layered scents like Harlem Nights and Renaissance Man.

4. The 125 Collection

Known for its statement candles and lifestyle products, The 125 Collection recently expanded

into personal fragrances that are as bold and empowering as their mantras.

5. Savoir Faire

Founded by Chris Classic, this luxe fragrance line is moody, warm, and made to leave a mark.

Soul Café, with notes of tobacco, vanilla, and coffee, is a best-seller for a reason.

6. Pink MahogHany

Black-owned and Texas-based, this indie brand crafts scents with high-end sophistication.

From soft florals to spicy woods, there’s something for every vibe.

 

How to Find Your Signature Fragrance

1. Know Your Notes

Start by exploring what scent families you’re drawn to: florals (rose, peony), gourmands (vanilla,

caramel), woods (cedar, sandalwood), or citrus (lemon, bergamot). If you love warm desserts,

you might lean toward sweet or amber scents. Fresh and airy? Try citrus and water notes.

2. Try It on Skin

Fragrance changes when it hits your body chemistry. Always spray on your skin, not just a test

strip, and give it a few hours to develop before judging it.

3. Follow the Feeling

How does it make you feel? Confident, cozy, feminine, powerful? Your signature scent should

match your energy, or the one you want to channel.

4. Keep It Seasonal

You can have more than one signature scent. Light florals and citrus work beautifully in spring

and summer, while spicy woods and deep gourmands shine in colder months.

5. Don’t Rush It

Finding the perfect scent is like dating, it’s okay to sample until something sticks. When you

know, you know.

 

Wearing a Black-owned fragrance is more than a style statement, it’s an act of empowerment.

It’s a way to support creativity, legacy, and ownership in an industry that once didn’t make space

for us. It’s self-care that lingers. Soft luxury that speaks volumes. And it’s a reminder that we

don’t need validation to take up space, we bring the presence. So the next time you’re getting dressed,

don’t forget your fragrance. Spray it on like armor. Likeart. Like a love letter to your future self.

Because you don’t just walk in the room. You scent the room, and you own it.

References:

NielsenIQ (2023). Black consumer spending insights – beauty and fragrance.

https://nielseniq.com

Moodeaux: https://www.moodeaux.com/

Ourside: https://www.ourside.com/

Chris Collins Fragrance:https://www.worldofchriscollins.com/

The 125 Collection: https://www.the125collection.com/

Savoir Faire: https://www.savoirfaire.store/

Pink MahogHany: https://www.pinkmahoghany.com/

Photo Credit: Freepik