Fragrance industry shifts toward bespoke and mood-based scents

The luxury fragrance market is shifting from a model of single signature scents toward personalized and mood-based scent wardrobes. While the twentieth-century approach focused on consumers identifying with one consistent fragrance, modern enthusiasts are increasingly seeking variety through niche and independent perfumery.

Sue Phillips, founder and CEO of Scenterprises, is a prominent figure in this movement. Known as “The Queen of Fragrance,” Phillips specializes in creating bespoke scents for celebrities and luxury tastemakers. Rather than utilizing mass-market designer perfumes, her clients collaborate with her in New York to develop custom compositions that reflect their unique personalities and lifestyles.

This evolution is driven by a growing interest in fragrance as a category of exploration rather than a static product. Independent brands like Aerre are part of this shift, offering compositions designed to match different moods and characters, moving away from the traditional blockbuster designer model.