Niche Fragrances - My 3 Favourite Brands [Explained]

Niche fragrances are generally considered a cut above their designer counterparts. There are so many brands out there, it can be difficult to know where to start. In today’s article, I’m going over 3 of my favourite niche fragrance brands, and why they’re so acclaimed in my eyes. These are a good place to begin if you’re looking to dive into niche scents.

Table of Contents

1. Amouage

Amouage is the first brand that I believe makes some of the best niche fragrances on the planet.

The first Amouage cologne was released all the way back in 1983, which makes this the most historic brand on the list. Their fragrances have stood the test of time for several decades now.

What makes Amouage extra interesting is that they have a rich and unique history. The brand was literally established by Oman Royalty for the sake of furthering the art of Middle Eastern perfumery.

Amouage continues to be sustained by that prestige to this day, indicated by the characteristics of their scents. Here’s 2 reasons why I think the brand is excellent:

Statement Making

When I think of my experience smelling Amouage scents, words that come to mind include ‘daring’ and ‘fearless’. Amouage is all about creating aromatic compositions that turn heads in a crowded room. But I’ll be honest, their scent profiles won’t be to everyone’s taste.

However, those that do like them – will LOVE them. Once you try the robust scents of the Amouage stable, you’ll never go back.

Beast Mode Performance

Just about every men’s fragrance from Amouage is beast mode. Let me say that again – this house does NOT skimp on performance! They make some ridiculously potent niche fragrances, and I warn you not to overspray any scent from the house. The only exceptions are Amouage Beloved Man and Reflection Man, which are more moderate in that department.

2. Xerjoff

Xerjoff is the next house on this list. They’re an Italian brand that have been creating niche fragrances since 2007. The house is distinguished by its unique bottle design and distinctive caps. Although their scents are expensive, you won’t find any squabbling about that from me. Here’s some reasons why I think they’re worth the money:

Unique & Bold

Much like Amouage, Xerjoff scents are well-known for their bold identity, unlike what you’d find in the more affordable designer bracket. However, they still manage to retain mass-appeal, coupled with the use of high-quality ingredients.

To get an idea of what I mean, I encourage you to check out Xerjoff 40 Knots. It’s a woody, salty, marine-type cologne that consists of woods, salt, sea notes and green notes. Don’t let the scent profile fool you – this one has some seriously unrivalled character about it.

Citrus Surprises

Xerjoff also has a habit of creating some of the best performing citrus dominant fragrances on the market. As citrus heavy scents are notorious for poor longevity, that’s quite the feat.

Xerjoff Renaissance and Nio are two which immediately come to mind that perform very well for their scent profile. In fact, Renaissance is my favourite niche citrus scent on the market right now, partly for that reason.

3. Parfums de Marly

Finally, let us turn to the last entry on this list – Parfums de Marly (PDM).

PDM is a brand that originates from France. According to information online, PDM’s first fragrance was released in 2009. That makes the house the youngest of the 3.

This company is not only one of my favourite niche houses, but one of my top houses ever. I own several of their colognes – and there are several reviews of these on our blog. Here’s why I think you should check out this brand:

Rich & Aromatic

PDM colognes are frequently referred to for their rich and aromatic nature. Many of their scents are very dense, packed full of high-quality natural ingredients. Consequently, many fragrances from the brand are better worn in cooler/moderate weather, including PDM Herod.

Although their fresh scents don’t get as much widespread love, I find them equally as satisfying – I own PDM Percival and love it.

Value for Money

It’s not every day you stumble across a fragrance brand that doesn’t make you feel like you are overpaying. Niche fragrances don’t exactly have a reputation for being ‘value for money’.

That isn’t the case with PDM.

Admittedly, the prices are comparable to Amouage and Xerjoff. However, PDM scents typically come in whopping 125ml size bottles, which grants you an extra 25-75ml over its niche counterparts. Not bad if you ask me.

Mancera is another affordable niche fragrance brand that needs to be celebrated because of its affordability. I’ve reviewed a few of their colognes here.