In case you couldn’t make it to Milan, here’s another look at the 15th edition of Esxence. Remarking on the fact that 38 countries were represented, this article focuses on the global nature of the show and highlights a few brands that caught the author’s attention.

BORNTOSTANDOUT has no shame when it comes to shocking names and slogans, but is there substance behind the brand? Founder Jun Lim talks about his transition from investment banker and fragrance collector to brand builder where creativity and originality are the driving forces, helped along with a little bit of luck.

Etat Libre d’Orange is renowned for being one of the first disruptive fragrance brands, and nearly twenty years after it’s launch, it continues to be so. In this interview, brand founder Etienne de Swardt is candid about the brand’s growth, it’s need for freedom, and it’s ability to renew itself and innovate.

In 2023 a class-action lawsuit was filed by consumers and other buyers against four major international oil houses alleging illegal price-fixing. An anti-trust investigation is ongoing, however a US judge has dismissed some of the state-based allegations.

In answer to the demand for organic fragrances, several oil houses are finding ways to produce the ingredients while abiding by the criteria of the Cosmos Organic label certification. By reinterpreting traditional methods such as enfleurage, and using new technologies, the perfumers’ palette expands while respecting the planet.

Scent, like sound is a intangible but ever present. With this commonality, what happens when AI is thrown into the mix? Liquid Sound is a start-up who is creating scents based on sounds. They’ve developed a highly specialized analysis tool from which an algorithm then concocts the fragrance formula. A curious and interesting concept.

AI is becoming more the norm than the exception when it comes to fragrance creation – at least in the big houses, as a slew of creative tools are now available. But if perfume is about emotion, which these tools lack, the perfumer shouldn’t be at risk of going the way of the dinosaur? The latest thing? Pairing AI with neuroscience.

BORNTOSTANDOUT, a Korean luxury perfume brand, has completed a Series A funding round led by the U.S.-based consumer-focused venture capital firm Touch Capital and BOLD, L’Oréal’s corporate venture capital fund.

Bois de Jasmin’s Victoria Frolova recently recorded a one on one interview with master perfumer and fragrance advocate Christophe Laudamiel. She also shares Laudamiel’s newly created classification system and his descriptors which should be mandatory vocabulary for fragrance lovers. Please note there is a fee to listen to the recorded interview.