In this exploration of essential perfume notes, we’re beginning with vanilla.

Vanilla is the most searched note on Perfumology.com, and that kind of demand doesn’t happen by chance. But vanilla is far more than the sweet base of a cake-like gourmand perfume. It’s a quintessential building block in modern perfumery, shaping compositions that range from airy citruses to resinous ambers. Its presence is often subtle, sometimes structural, and frequently misunderstood.

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Watching the fragrance industry evolve from the perspective of a retailer has given us a front row seat to how much it has grown, fractured, and rebuilt itself. Nearly fifteen years of daily exposure has given us a perspective and the ability to find patterns and shed light on what’s coming before it becomes consensus.

Niche perfume has been building momentum for years, and a huge part of that is the steady rise of people sharing personal experiences with niche perfumery. We’ve seen it firsthand. Our customer base has grown as they share what they love, what they wear, and what they discover at our shop.

From where we stand in the perfume industry, 2026 feels like a pivotal year. It comes back to progress and direction. How do we lean into that momentum without losing the human side of things? How do we make sure whatever comes next doesn’t replace connection, but actually deepens it? Progress should move forward, and it should also move toward authenticity.

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Nick Steward offers answers to our questions about building an independent niche brand and shares what he wants people to know when buying perfume. Continue reading