Heaven ‘scent’

The biggest fashion icon of the 20th century once said, “No elegance is possible without perfume”. Today, Chanel is one of the most popular fragrance brands in the world. So, Coco Chanel definitely knew what she was talking about more than 50 years ago. A scent can uplift your mood or sour it; and a good cologne can also “transform a man into a gentleman” according to another fashion designer Tom Ford. So, when people ask “The Master Tailor of Scent” Roja Dove what he is wearing instead of “How are you”, he does not mind. He has even decided to make a small quantity of his personal perfume available each year. Apart from the scent-maker’s favourite ingredients such as rose, cedar wood, ginger and patchouli, the perfume also has pure gold flakes, which is surprisingly the cheapest ingredient in it. Called Roja Haute Luxe, the 100 ml bottle costs a whopping Rs.250,000. And, if you wish to get your hands on it in India, Scentido and Splash Fragrance can help you out.

Both websites offer a bouquet of niche and designer perfume brands, for anywhere between Rs.2,000 and Rs.250,000, for the ultimate olfactory experience. Shishir Mehta, founder of Scentido says, “Indian clients have been evolving and are now open to a wider range of experiences and luxuries, not limited to just the established brands but also the unexplored, niche ones.”

Mehta claims to have his finger on the pulse of the Indian market’s taste. He personally curates the brands that are available on the website. These include Roja Parfums, Ormonde Jayne, Escentric Molecules, Jovoy Paris and Masque Milano, among many other brands. One of Mehta’s favourites is The Spirit of Dubai collection. “The fragrances from this collection are an education in hand-crafted perfection. Each perfume contains pure, rare and natural extracts,” he says. But that perfection comes with a hefty price tag — a 90 ml bottle of The Spirit of Dubai - Narjesi is priced at Rs.91,500 whereas a 50 ml bottle of the Dubai Oud costs Rs.60,500 on Scentido’s website.

Splash Fragrance boasts of a similar collection with luxury brands from all over the world such as Xerjoff, Amouage, Areej Le Dore, Bortnikoff and Boadicea The Victorious, to name a few. One of the most exclusive perfumes on the platform is The Night by Frederic Malle, which will engulf you in a woody fragrance with hints of rose and amber. Named after a celebrated “nose” from a family with a historic legacy in the industry, the fragrance doesn’t come cheap, and will set you back by Rs.90,000 for 100 ml. “When we started in 2012, most of the luxury brands were struggling in the market. So, our main aim has always been to create awareness about them in India through our social media posts and unique offerings,” says Gaurav Verma, founder of Splash Fragrance. The website works on an order-basis model, which means the fragrance is procured as and when the customer orders an item.

To ensure user-friendly experiences, both the websites have a Live Chat option, which is closely monitored by their teams to help customers make the best selection as per their requirements. But, how can someone buy an intangible product like perfume from a website without trying it? Verma explains that they started selling decant samples of 2.5 ml, 5 ml and 10 ml to customers. “So, they didn’t have to buy the retail pack blindly. This has also helped us attract more customers,” he adds.

In Scentido’s case, consumers can walk into their retail stores, one in Mumbai and one in Delhi. The flagship boutique stores with Art Deco interiors lend the perfect setting to accustom a client with rare scents. “A lot of our clients come into the boutiques and try the fragrances. They later visit our website to make subsequent orders,” explains Mehta.

Verma claims that they have been getting more orders over the past few years with many affluent consumers looking to experiment. “These perfumes are luxury buys, but they are definitely worth the investment. We have been seeing new visitors and repeat clients on our website, which is pretty exciting for us as a brand,” says Mehta. After all, to smell like a million bucks, you have to shell out a million bucks!