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7 Black-Owned Perfume Brands You Should Know and Support

Explore the finest Black-owned perfume brands redefining the fragrance industry with inclusive stories, artistry, and innovative scents.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 30, 2025

Explore the finest Black-owned perfume brands redefining the fragrance industry with inclusive stories, artistry, and innovative scents.

If you’ve browsed the fragrance aisles lately, you may have noticed a striking lack of diversity. While the shelves overflow with familiar designer labels, Black-owned perfume brands are often missing from the conversation. This imbalance is more than cosmetic — it reflects who has a voice and legacy in the scent world. By discovering and supporting these innovative brands, you help diversify the narrative and enjoy some truly spectacular fragrances.

Why Representation in Fragrance Matters

In the broader beauty industry, Black-owned brands have transformed haircare and cosmetics, bringing inclusion, innovation, and authenticity to the forefront. Yet, the fragrance world remains a tough space to crack. Access, tradition, and the deep roots of old European perfume houses present substantial barriers. When Black entrepreneurs break through, their unique perspectives and cultural stories bring new life to the art of perfumery. Supporting their scents is a chance to shape the future of the fragrance market.

Few Black-owned perfume brands have achieved mainstream recognition, despite broad success elsewhere in beauty.
The fragrance industry’s traditions have historically kept out marginalized voices.
When you support Black-owned scents, you help tell diverse stories and challenge old norms.

A Closer Look: 7 Black-Owned Perfume Brands to Experience

Below, we highlight seven trailblazing Black-owned fragrance brands. Each brings a distinct style, from green formulas to bold storytelling, and each has much to offer scent lovers looking to expand their collection.

Kimberly New York

Kimberly New York is a leader in clean, vegan, and cruelty-free fragrance. The brand’s scents don’t just smell luxurious — they’re made with sustainable ingredients and designed to last a full eight hours on your skin. For those looking to indulge while minimizing their environmental impact, these perfumes strike the perfect balance.

Signature: Green, vegan, and cruelty-free fragrances
Must-Try Scent: Artsy Eau de Parfum: An expressive, inspired scent ideal for creative spirits

Maya Njie Perfumes

Maya Njie captures the perfumer’s Swedish and West African heritage in every bottle. Artistic, small-batch, and exquisitely handcrafted, Maya Njie’s fragrances use a palette of nostalgic, natural ingredients to tell personal stories. These perfumes are both unique and highly wearable, appealing to those who want a scent with heart and a global sensibility.

Signature: Inspired by family photography, blending memory and modernity
Must-Try Scent: Vanilj Eau de Parfum: Warm vanilla with a twist of cardamom and musk

World of Chris Collins

Chris Collins brings a refined sense of storytelling and culture to his fragrance line. The former model and creative director turned perfumer crafts bold, luxurious scents steeped in personal history, nightlife, and jazz influences. Each perfume is an olfactory journey — sophisticated, seductive, and always memorable.

Signature: Sensual, evocative scents that blend tradition and modern edge
Must-Try Scent: Renaissance Eau de Parfum: A celebration of Harlem’s golden era in a bottle

Nick Ricardo Collection

Nick Ricardo Collection is a fresh voice in the luxury fragrance world, offering a genderless approach with contemporary, attention-grabbing ingredients. Clean lines and bold notes define the house’s creations, which are vibrant, dynamic, and unmistakably modern.

Signature: Sleek, innovative unisex perfumes
Must-Try Scent: Midnight Dream: Deep woods, ripe berries, and a hint of mystique

Moodeaux

Moodeaux is a groundbreaking brand that treats fragrance as an extension of self-love and mindful living. With eco-friendly packaging and vegan formulations, Moodeaux’s scents empower wearers to express themselves fully. This is fragrance for those who want mood-boosting, boundary-pushing composition.

Signature: Bold packaging, transformative scents, and sustainable philosophy
Must-Try Scent: PunkStar Eau de Parfum: An audacious blend of citrus, woods, and spice

Ourside

Ourside is all about cosmic, boundary-dissolving scents. The house approaches perfumery as both an artistic experiment and a ritual of wellness. Their creations lend intrigue and depth to everyday moments, reflecting a distinct cultural perspective in every drop.

Signature: Experimental, emotionally resonant fragrances
Must-Try Scent: Dusk Eau de Parfum: Smoky florals and soft resins for day-to-night wear

Harlem Perfume Co.

Formerly known as Harlem Candle Co., Harlem Perfume Co. infuses all their scents with the glamour and history of Black cultural icons. Fragrances are inspired by legends like Langston Hughes and Josephine Baker, and special collaborations such as their ‘Eartha’ perfume with Eartha Kitt’s daughter stand out for their richness and storytelling.

Signature: Fragrances celebrating Black artistic heritage
Must-Try Scent: Speakeasy Eau de Parfum: Toasts the nightlife and jazz legacy of Harlem with spicy, seductive notes

Why Aren’t There More Black-Owned Perfume Brands?

Despite the beauty industry’s growing diversity, the perfume space is still fraught with structural obstacles. Here’s a look at the main barriers:

Eurocentric traditions: Major fragrance houses are rooted in a system dominated by exclusive training schools and European legacies.
Lack of Black perfumers: Very few Black “noses” exist in the industry, limiting representation in both creation and leadership.
Capital requirements: Accessing the necessary funds and connections for launching a perfume brand is much harder for marginalized founders.
Dependence on celebrity: The rare Black-owned brands that break through often have celebrity power behind them; for indie and grassroots founders, the path is less clear.

Still, the brands highlighted here have begun to shift the narrative, showing that the fragrance world can become more inclusive—and more creative—through their contributions.

The Impact of Supporting Black-Owned Perfume Brands

Empowering marginalized entrepreneurs: Buying from these brands gives founders the resources to grow, innovate, and inspire others.
Shaping industry trends: Consumer demand can push major retailers to carry a more diverse array of scents, benefiting all customers.
Expanding scent storytelling: Each Black-owned brand brings new stories, sensory histories, and olfactory artistry to an industry that has long been homogenous.

Quick Table: Featured Black-Owned Perfume Brands

Brand	Signature Scent	Key Features	Founder(s)
Kimberly New York	Artsy Eau de Parfum	Vegan, sustainable, long-lasting	Kimberly Walker
Maya Njie Perfumes	Vanilj Eau de Parfum	Artistic, multicultural inspiration	Maya Njie
World of Chris Collins	Renaissance Eau de Parfum	Sensual, bold storytelling	Chris Collins
Nick Ricardo Collection	Midnight Dream	Genderless, modern luxury	Nick Ricardo
Moodeaux	PunkStar Eau de Parfum	Eco-conscious, expressive	Brianna Arps
Ourside	Dusk Eau de Parfum	Cosmic, experimental	Desiree Verdejo
Harlem Perfume Co.	Speakeasy Eau de Parfum	Cultural glam, storytelling	Teri Johnson

How to Find and Support Black-Owned Perfume Brands

Visit brand websites directly for full collections and authentic information.
Check curated marketplaces specializing in Black-owned businesses.
Ask your favorite beauty retailers to stock these brands and feature their scents.
Share your finds on social media to spread the word and help build a more inclusive industry.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is it important to support Black-owned perfume brands?

Supporting these brands helps create a more inclusive fragrance market, amplifies underrepresented voices, and fosters greater diversity in scent innovation and storytelling.

Are Black-owned perfumes as high-quality as mainstream brands?

Yes. Many Black-owned perfume brands offer exceptionally high-quality fragrances with long-lasting formulas and unique artistic visions comparable to or exceeding those of established labels.

Where can I buy Black-owned fragrance brands?

You can purchase directly through brand websites, select online retailers, and some boutique stores. Increasingly, major retailers are also beginning to carry more diverse collections.

Are these fragrances suitable for sensitive skin?

Several brands, like Kimberly New York and Moodeaux, focus on vegan, clean, and hypoallergenic ingredients. Always check individual product descriptions for specifics.

Can I find both niche and mainstream options among Black-owned fragrance brands?

Absolutely. The brands featured offer a spectrum from niche artisanal scents to those with broad mainstream appeal, so there’s something for every preference.

Conclusion: A New Chapter in Scent

The world of fragrance is finally beginning to reflect broader shifts toward inclusion and self-expression in beauty. Each of these Black-owned perfume brands proves that stories, artistry, and innovation from underrepresented voices not only enhance the industry but also enrich our everyday rituals. As you search for your next signature scent, let your purchase be a statement — supporting the change you wish to see, one spritz at a time.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

Read full bio of medha deb