6 Homegrown Indian Perfume Brands

A scent stays with you longer than sound, a touch, or even a breathtaking sight. Even a faint swift of jasmine in the air is enough to take someone back to their grandmother’s garden, while a trace of oud could recall late night functions. In India, perfumery has always been a part of the cultural fabric, working almost like a time capsule, they take you back in instant.

Today a new wave of homegrown brands is now capturing hearts with scents that tell an Indian story. These emerging labels blend age-old traditions (like attar-making and Ayurvedic distillation) with modern perfume artistry, proving that Indian perfumery can stand proud on the world stage. Here are six Indian perfume brands redefining what luxury smells like, one bottle at a time.

Bombay Perfumery
Bombay Perfumery set out in 2016 to prove that a scent can evoke powerful memories. Founder Manan Gandhi, whose family worked with essential oils, returned to India to build a modern fragrance house that intertwines Indian heritage with global influences. Sourcing rare botanicals from around the world, he crafts perfumes and even scented candles that feel intimate yet universally relatable. Each Bombay Perfumery creation whisks you to a specific moment or place making personal stories the soul of its scents.

Naso Profumi 
Naso Profumi is reinventing India’s ancient attar tradition through a contemporary lens. Founded by Aastha Suri (a fourth-generation perfumer), the brand uses authentic attar oils distilled from flowers and herbs as the base for its perfumes, but presents them in sleek, modern formulations. The result is a range of gender-neutral scents that feel both nostalgic and new. Imagine the comforting warmth of rose, sandalwood, or earthy ‘mitti’ (wet soil) attars, reimagined with unexpected notes like bergamot or tamarind for a fresh twist. Naso’s commitment to sustainability runs deep: ingredients are ethically sourced from Indian farmers, and the packaging is minimalistic and recyclable.

The Perfumatory
The Perfumatory (launched in 2022) was born from perfumer Jay Vira’s dream of making head-turning scents for Indian noses. Vira noticed that many international perfumes faded quickly in India’s climate, so he formulated his own blends with extra-high oil concentrations for maximum longevity. The debut collection featured striking concoctions like ‘Tobacco Vanilla Intense’ and ‘Citrus Leather,’ each packed with character and depth. Despite their niche appeal, these perfumes come with a promise of transparency and approachability - the brand prides itself on sharing its creative process openly and pricing its creations accessibly.

All Good Scents 
All Good Scents, helmed by master perfumer Rajiv Sheth, is one of India’s pioneering contemporary perfume houses. After honing his craft in Grasse and Paris, Sheth returned to India to make fine fragrances that are both luxurious and cruelty-free. The brand’s creations focus on elegant simplicity: think light, refreshing florals like Love & Joy for everyday wear, alongside deeper notes of musk, vetiver, and jasmine that nod to India’s rich aromatic heritage. All Good Scents proves that perfume need not be extravagant to feel special – all their offerings are vegan and reasonably priced, inviting more people to indulge in perfumery daily rather than just on special occasions.

Forest Essentials
Known first for its luxury Ayurveda-based skincare, Forest Essentials brought the same philosophy to perfumery with a collection of single-note floral fragrances. Each perfume centers on a flower revered in India, from the Kashmiri nargis (narcissus) to the Madurai malligai (jasmine), extracted using traditional methods to preserve their pure aroma. The brand’s founder, Mira Kulkarni, grew up around classical Ayurvedic rituals and wanted these perfumes to smell like the fragrant moonlit nights of her childhood. Indeed, one whiff can transport you to a tranquil palace garden under the stars. Forest Essentials’ scents are natural and heady, yet never overpowering; they carry a sense of peace and nostalgia.

Olfa Originals 
Olfa Originals is a passion project that reaches back in time. Founder Pallavi Bhatia drew inspiration from her grandfather’s perfumery journals and the old attar shops of Delhi to create a brand steeped in heritage. Olfa’s launch collection was a tribute to the royal scent of oud, five distinct oud-based fragrances, from Oud Noir to Oud Roséate, each crafted to honor classic formulas while enchanting today’s audience. By weaving stories of Mughal-era perfumers (like Empress Nur Jahan, famed for her rose attars) into a contemporary label, Olfa Originals has turned nostalgia into niche luxury. The perfumes themselves are rich and opulent, yet wearable, allowing modern wearers to experience a slice of timeless Indian artistry. In every bottle, one can sense the echo of an ancestor’s workshop and the warmth of a legacy being carried forward.

Words Harita Odedara 
Date 28-8-2025