You know a fragrance has reached icon status when you can instantly recognize the brand just by looking at its bottle. Think Jo Malone, Diptyque, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Maison Margiela's Replica, and more. Notably, there's another perfume dominating our Pinterest mood boards: Byredo. With its signature domed top and squat glass bottle, it’s a fragrance that would look good on any vanity. But there's so much more to this Swedish fragrance brand than its cool, clean, and minimalist packaging.
What is Byredo?
Byredo is the brainchild of Ben Gorham, a Swedish-Canadian perfumer, who founded the luxury fragrance and beauty brand in 2006. Before Ben became a renowned perfumer, he jumped between several career paths, from business school to politics and then interior design, before finally deciding to leave college to play professional basketball. When that didn’t work out for him, he studied fine arts. After graduating from the School of Arts in Stockholm, Ben thought he would pursue painting until he met Swedish perfumer Pierre Wulff. That’s when his journey in perfumery began.
With the help of Pierre, Ben was able to transform his personal memories and experiences into one-of-a-kind fragrances. Moving forward he collaborated mostly with renowned perfumers like Olivia Giacobetti, who has created fragrances for brands such as Diptyque and Hermès, and Jerome Epinette, the nose behind several fragrances from high-profile brands such as Anna Sui, Van Cleef & Arpels, and L'Occitane en Provence.
Each perfume was an ode to places, emotions, or specific scents, such as Palermo, inspired by the Sicilian city, and Bal d'Afrique, which pays homage to 1920s Paris and its fascination with African culture, art, and music. They created a sensory journey that extended beyond just the olfactory experience.
His fragrances became a trigger that would teleport his customers to a specific time or place. To achieve that, he didn’t use a whole mix of raw materials. While most perfumers would use between 20 to 40 raw materials, Ben preferred to use only around 10. It’s what set him and his brand apart. By using fewer notes, he was able to deliver complex scents, and yet they would leave very clear images in the minds of his consumers.
Byredo became known for their unique, minimalist fragrances made with only the finest ingredients. This earned them a cult following, and would later establish itself as a prominent figure in the world of perfumery and beauty. In fact, several local celebrities have also added Byredo to their collection of fragrances.
Get to know what local celebs had to say about their favorite Byredo scents below:
Local Celebrities and Their Favorite Byredo Scents
1. KC Concepcion
In one of her vlogs, KC Concepcion revealed her go-to power scent: Byredo's Sunday Cologne, which she described as her "boss babe" or "girl boss" fragrance, perfect for significant moments like signing a contract.
2. Dimples Romana
Dimples Romana loves Byredo's Gypsy Water for its distinctiveness. "Pag dumaan ka alam mo 'ay naka Gypsy Water siya,' sure ako," she said in her vlog.
3. David Guison
Content creator David Guison, in a TikTok video, named Byredo's Black Saffron as his top-one fragrance for men. He describes it as a "very oriental, spicy fragrance with, of course, saffron notes."
4. Bella Racelis
Bella Racelis adores Byredo's Mojave Ghost as her top fresh scent, even though she usually leans toward sweet scents, saying, "This is my top [one] favorite."
5. Sue Ramirez
Fun fact: Sue Ramirez used Byredo's La Tulipe to help embrace her inner kontrabida character in the teleserye The Broken Marriage Vow, showcasing the scent's transformative power.
The 10 Best Scents from Byredo
1. Bal D'Afrique
Bal D’Afrique is one of the most popular scents by Byredo. This perfume starts with a vibrant citrus note that mellows into a creamy fruitiness, similar to that of a piña colada.
Bal D'Afrique, $205 to $290 (approximately P11,605 to P16,415), BYREDO, byredo.com
2. Mojave Ghost
Inspired by the captivating beauty of the Mojave Desert, Mojave Ghost is one of Byredo’s top-selling scents. Its top notes are ambrette and sapodilla, offering a fruity and slightly pear-like scent. The powdery violet then emerges, leading to a sandalwood heart that provides a warm, earthy dimension. It’s perfect for those who prefer a light and fresh floral option with a touch of sweetness.
Mojave Ghost, $205 to $290 (approximately P11,605 to P16,415), BYREDO, byredo.com
3. Gypsy Water
Ben Gorham's debut fragrance that has become a cult favorite for its fresh and free-spirited composition. It pays tribute to Romani culture, capturing the essence of nomadism with woody pine needles and sandalwood notes, intensified by amber and zesty citrus, almost as if you were walking through a forest. A touch of vanilla and juniper adds complexity to the scent, making it slightly sweet and predominantly feminine.
Gypsy Water, $205 to $290 (approximately P11,605 to P16,415), BYREDO, byredo.com
4. Rose of No Man's Land
Rose of No Man's Land honors the selfless nurses of World War I with a cool, subtle rose fragrance. It combines delicate rose notes with white amber for a rich, but nonoverpowering aroma. This versatile scent is suitable for everyday wear, offering a balanced blend of freshness and depth.
Rose of No Man's Land, $205 to $290 (approximately P11,605 to P16,415), BYREDO, byredo.com
5. Blanche
Blanche evokes the feeling of slipping into fresh sheets or the scent of laundry. Aldehydes soften into delicate roses, while sandalwood and musk impart a comforting, human touch. It's a super clean and upbeat perfume with fresh and soapy qualities, making it a simple, safe, and versatile option for any occasion.
Blanche, $205 to $290 (approximately P11,605 to P16,415), BYREDO, byredo.com
6. Bibliothèque
Picture walking into an old library filled with leather seats and books with yellowing pages, that’s what you’ll get from Bibliothèque. It exudes an expensive, earthy patchouli aroma, balanced with blackcurrant and tea, creating a complex and intriguing fragrance. Bibliothèque first came out as a candle and developed a cult following, but because of its popularity, it was finally turned into a fragrance.
Bibliothèque, $205 to $290 (approximately P11,605 to P16,415), BYREDO, byredo.com
7. La Tulipe
La Tulipe is a straightforward floral, tulip perfume. Everything from the petal to the stem of the tulip is perfectly captured within this fragrance. It’s perfect for those who enjoy a simple, everyday floral perfume that doesn't overpower but leaves you smelling good.
La Tulipe, $205 to $290 (approximately P11,605 to P16,415), BYREDO, byredo.com
8. Mixed Emotions
True to its name, this scent elicits mixed emotions among wearers, with some loving its complexity and others finding it off-putting. It's worth trying on your skin to see how the blend of notes interacts with your chemistry.
Mixed Emotions, $205 to $290 (approximately P11,605 to P16,415), BYREDO, byredo.com
9. Flowerhead
An ode to Ben’s Indian heritage, Flowerhead celebrates the explosion of color and scents in traditional Indian weddings. It's a floral fragrance with a strong focus on pink tulip notes. Initially dewy and green, it transitions into a fresh, soapy scent, making it an easy-to-wear option for people who love floral scents, particularly in spring and summer.
Flowerhead, $205 to $290 (approximately P11,605 to P16,415), BYREDO, byredo.com
10. Slow Dance
Slow Dance captures the essence of the slow dance, a rite of passage between innocence and experience. It combines feminine and masculine elements, offering a rich blend of blackcurrant, tea, violet, and woodsiness. This fragrance is ideal for those who prefer warm and slightly sweet scents, making it a versatile choice for day or night, year-round.
Slow Dance, $205 to $290 (approximately P11,605 to P16,415), BYREDO, byredo.com
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