I’ve gone from sticking with the constants to wandering the world of fragrances a lot more over the years – going for scents I typically wouldn’t, and even finding myself enchanted by them. And like many other impulse buys due to encouragement from social media platforms, Chinese perfume brands have recently gained prevalence on my feeds. It was during one of my late-night scrolls that I stumbled across a wave of buzz about Chinese perfume brands. Intrigued by their unique blends and poetic inspirations, I knew I had to explore further!
What’s so interesting about these Chinese perfume brands?
All I knew about perfume was the same few Western brands. Be it Byredo, YSL, or Dior, these were always the mainstay. But these few months, my socials have been flooded by Chinese perfume brands. And it doesn’t help that I’ve been thinking about tea scents, which explains my blossoming obsession with Chinese perfume brands.
These brands blend cultural heritage with modernity – think elegant perfumes infused with jasmine, osmanthus, Sichuan bergamot (fo shou) and even Pu-erh tea. From sleek minimalist bottles to poetic inspirations, Chinese perfumers are redefining what a signature scent can be. Not only are they capturing the imaginations of locals, but they’re also intriguing scent lovers worldwide with their oriental twists and inventive notes.
1. Chasense (茶香师)
Tea-inspired serenity in a bottle
Chasense is a niche perfume house built entirely around China’s rich tea culture, infusing fragrances with notes of green tea, oolong, pu-erh and more. Chasense’s scents favour light, natural aromas and Zen-like Oriental moods, where each scent is designed to evoke a calm, poetic atmosphere. That, along with its focus on tea notes, was what hooked me. I wound up getting a total of 6 different scents and even managed to sample another 4, with one already discontinued (unfortunately).
I first got 1 perfume, Spring Tea. And that ended up being my downfall. It was as if I had walked into a bubble tea store. The tea scent was so strong, it ended up convincing me and I wound up buying another 5. You’ll just have to read my review of Chasense perfumes to find out more!
Price range: Budget to mid-range.
Relatively affordable for niche perfumery. A 50ml bottle generally costs around ¥228-289 (approximately SGD45-60), making it easy to start collecting multiple tea-inspired scents. Coupled with quality ingredients (Chasense even partners with top fragrance houses like Firmenich and Givaudan to source natural essences), the scents here are worth every dollar.
Star products:
- Zentea Spring Tea: My first and favourite. The tea scent is unmistakable. Clean and fresh notes that’ll remind you of something like Pokka Green Tea.
- Osmanthus Oolong Tea: Slightly sweet and just a little musky – great for those who can’t really stand musk but still want something lasting.
- Zheng: Might be more masculine a scent, but unique, dark, smoky vibes, with a peppery top note that does fade with a little time.
2. To Summer (观夏)
Poetic scents inspired by Chinese nature
To Summer is arguably the best-known Chinese niche fragrance brand and a cult favourite on social media. It draws inspiration from traditional Chinese landscapes and botanicals, incorporating notes like bamboo, osmanthus blossom and tea leaves for a distinctly Eastern character. Each perfume feels like a serene journey – imagine misty mountain forests, tranquil gardens and ancient tea ceremonies distilled into scent.
The brand excels at distilling nature into elegant fragrances, as seen in bestsellers Osmanthus Rain and Mountain Bamboo, which are delicate yet complex. To Summer also weaves beautiful storytelling into its products, often giving them poetic names – one perfume translates to “Boiled Snow from Kunlun Mountains,” evoking romantic imagery.
Price range: Premium
Small bottles (~30ml) can be about ¥500, while larger bottles would be around ¥1,500 (~SGD100-300). While it’s not cheap, the price tag isn’t exactly that different from those of luxury Western niche perfumes.
Star products:
- Osmanthus: A slightly sweet, fruity osmanthus fragrance that’s perfect for daily wear (and far from cloying).
- Rambler Rose: Fresh, modern rose that never veers “grandma”.
- Leisure: For something truly unique, a blend of angelica root, woods and florals,
- Ink: An intriguing woody scent that incorporates an inky accord – a nod to Chinese calligraphy.
3. Documents (闻献)
Minimalist fragrances with conceptual storytelling
Sleek, edgy, and proudly niche, Documents is a Chinese perfume house blending heritage with modern minimalism. Everything from its matte black packaging to conceptual scent names screams ultra-cool. What sets Documents apart is its storytelling ethos – visiting a Documents boutique feels like entering a “scent gallery” or even a ritual space rather than a shop. In Shanghai, they even opened a concept bookstore alongside fragrances, underscoring the brand’s artistic vibe.
The brand is known for gender-neutral compositions and an experimental approach: many fragrances are based on abstract concepts or emotions. For example, their signature perfume Dystopia layers deep earthy notes with a whisper of spice, creating a moody, contemplative aura. Another popular scent, Amber Wood, offers a refined twist on oriental warmth, perfect for those who love woody and resinous notes.
Price range: High-end niche
Expect to pay about ¥950-1,500 for a 30-50ml bottle (~SGD180-290), similar to upscale Western artisanal brands. It’s an investment for sure – in fact, the brand deliberately avoids mass-market channels and has a penchant for exclusivity.
Star products: The line has a series of intriguingly named scents like Feather, Tree, Naive, Shy and Snake, each meant to capture a distinct mood or idea.
- Snake: Launched in the Year of the Snake, this perfume cleverly contrasts bitter cocoa against sweet vanilla to represent the creature’s dual nature.
- Sensitive: Largely floral scent with iris and chamomile notes, while being elevated by woody base notes.
4. Melt Season (融季)
Modern minimalism meets East-West fragrance artistry
Ultra-chic and contemporary, Melt Season is a perfume brand from Shanghai that embodies East-meets-West cool. At first glance, you might not even guess it’s Chinese – the minimalist packaging with barely any Chinese text exudes a hip Scandi or Korean aesthetic. But Melt Season takes pride in layering classic perfumery notes with Chinese ingredients or concepts, resulting in gentle, harmonious blends that are light and clean. Imagine delicate florals and woods with a subtle twist: for example, Revoir is a popular pick that adds punchy yuzu citrus and pink pepper to a woody base for a fruity-spicy kick.
Price range: Prestige niche
Melt Season’s prices are similar to high-end Western niche brands. It’s around ¥800-1200 for a 50ml bottle (approximately SGD150-230). It’s a splurge, but one that has attracted serious backing: Estée Lauder Companies acquired a stake in Melt Season, a clear sign that this brand is one to watch.
Star products:
- Revoir: Refreshing yet spicy profile, as mentioned above.
- Roaming Wind: Prairie-inspired scent that launched alongside Chinese drama series To the Wonder.
5. The Beast (野兽派)
Florist-born perfumes with chic oriental flair
A lifestyle brand-turned-perfume sensation, The Beast began as a chic florist shop that evolved into a trendy concept store selling everything from home décor to fashion – and now, fragrances! The Eastern influence in The Beast’s perfumes is unmistakable: many scents pay homage to Chinese tea, flowers and folklore. Yet they’re packaged in beautifully modern bottles, making them instantly covetable.
For instance, one of its star scents Oriental Beauty is named after a famous oolong tea. It’s a surprisingly complex blend of camellia, honeysuckle and orchid with aquatic and citrus accents – a floral fragrance with an energetic brightness. Another hit, Osmanthus Oolong, marries the beloved apricot-like osmanthus flower with earthy tea notes, plus touches of incense, almond and leather for depth.
Price range: Mid-range designer.
The Beast keeps its prices relatively accessible, with a 50ml bottle being about ¥400-800 (roughly SGD80-160). That’s more affordable than some ultra-niche brands, fitting The Beast’s positioning as a lifestyle label.
Star products:
- Oriental Beauty (东方美人): Fresh and feminine, but not too simple with its watery and citrusy notes
- Osmanthus Oolong (桂花乌龙): The perfect autumn scent with a comforting tea aroma, balanced by sweet floral and subtle smoky undertones.
6. Soulvent (所闻)
Fragrances that tell authentic Chinese stories
Soulvent may be a newcomer (founded in 2024) but it’s already carving out a niche as the storyteller of Chinese perfumery. Every Soulvent fragrance is inspired by a specific scene or memory of life in China, painted vividly through scent. For example, Crimson Snow captures a winter in Beijing: imagine strolling past street stalls selling tanghulu (candied hawthorn fruit) on a snowy evening. Fittingly, the fragrance features notes of hawthorn, dried tangerine peel, plum and Pu-erh tea, instantly evoking that celebratory scene.
Another scent, Northern, was inspired by traditional Chinese medicine ingredients from northern China and the stark beauty of northern winters. It’s a very atmospheric blend that stood out so much, it won the Art & Olfaction Awards 2025 (Independent Category), marking the first time a mainland Chinese fragrance took home this prestigious indie perfumery prize.
Price range: Artisanal niche.
Soulvent is positioned as a premium indie brand, with prices around ¥700-1000 per 50ml (approximately SGD130-190). Considering the creativity and small-batch nature, fans find it justified.
Star products:
- Northern: Blends notes like tangerine peel and hawthorn with woody, musky undertones; it’s often described as meditative yet powerful.
- Crimson Snow: A woody, sweet scent that’s another top pick for its nostalgic gourmand charm.
7. Chunfengshili (春风十里)
Budget-friendly scents inspired by Chinese poetry
Chunfengshili is a rising Chinese perfume brand that channels the romance of classical poetry and art into its fragrances. Focusing on letting users experience the beauty of nature and life through scent, Chunfengshili creates fragrances inspired by nature, literature and even traditional ink paintings. The perfumers emphasise delicate floral and herbal notes reminiscent of a classic Chinese garden. Think honeysuckle, jasmine, peony, lotus flower, vetiver and bamboo – very wearable scents!
The brand also adopts a poetic and artistic approach – each perfume name reads like a line of verse or an allusion to literature, and the marketing often features images of Chinese watercolour paintings and calligraphy. Despite the high-concept inspiration, Chunfengshili’s perfumes come with budget-friendly price tags, appealing especially to younger consumers.
Price range: Budget.
Perfumes are about ¥100-180 per bottle (~SGD20-35), depending on size. They even sell cute mini-size sets and samples, some as low as ¥20-30 for those who want to try multiple scents without splurging.
Star products:
- Gardenia (栀子花): Symbolising eternal love and faithful companionship, this perfume is so realistic that fans call nickname it a “walking gardenia”.
- Tipsy (微醺): Warm, gently-spiced floral that feels like a mellow evening.
- Into the Inkstone (入砚): Subtle woody undertones, reminiscent of ink and paper
Discover more with these Chinese perfume brands
Chinese perfume brands are no longer just a novelty – they’ve become serious contenders on the world fragrance stage, offering everything from wallet-friendly colognes to high-concept luxury perfumes. Each brand brings something special: be it To Summer’s botanical poetry, Chasense’s zen serenity or Soulvent’s storytelling magic. If you’re keen to further expand your scent wardrobe, don’t miss our roundup of the best women’s perfumes for every occasion, as well as the ultimate guide to the best men’s cologne in case you’re shopping for the gents (or yourself!).
