Meet the Filipino Finalists of the Asia Perfume Awards 2026

Jessica Rodriguez’s inclination toward scents first emerged when she was just eight years old. That early interest eventually found an outlet in Moonsteria, which she founded in 2025. Her nomination in the Emerging Perfumer category comes specifically from Aninocturna, an extrait de parfum inspired by the shadow of the night. With notes of yuzu, anise, dark chocolate, incense, and leather, the fragrance is smoky and herbal, with a distinctly melancholic character.

NEW/DNA Laboratories may be a newcomer, having launched in the Philippines only early this year, but Bionic Grass has already earned perfumer Edd Pinto a place among the finalists. The fragrance explores the idea of nature infused with electricity, opening with an energy drink accord that seems to fizz in the air. Its nature-inspired profile pushes beyond the organic, with a heart of hemp, black pepper, and sweet flag, followed by a base of vetiver, guaiacwood, ambroxan, and cashmeran.

Claire Mavreen Carlos works across diverse fragrance families but is best known for her gourmand creations. A Coat of Pastel Purple Clouds is a fitting example, opening with aldehydes, salt, and cotton candy. A soft heart of marshmallow and orris follows before the fragrance settles into a base of ambroxan, amyris, Iso E Super, sandalwood, and white musk. It’s their take on a scent that’s clean and simple, but not at all boring.

Olfaction Parfums is also nominated in the Emerging Perfume Brand category for Two Scoops, Please. True to its name, the fragrance evokes the experience of enjoying ice cream through its layers of notes. The extrait de parfum opens with white chocolate and ice, followed by butter, milk, and green florals. Its dry-down brings together amber, cream, vanilla, and white musk. And just like ice cream, the scent makes for a fitting companion on hot and humid days.

Dilettante Perfumery is a finalist in both the Emerging Perfume Brand and Niche Perfume Brand categories. Representing the brand in the former is Kids on the Slope, an eau de toilette where bergamot, jasmine, and incense come together to paint the image of children laughing as they run through a field of citrus trees.

Creature Feature, meanwhile, represents Dilettante Perfumery in the Niche Perfume Brand category. A whiff of the fragrance transports you to an ancient forest, where animalic musk looms. As dawn breaks, an elusive presence draws you closer, leaving you to wonder whether you might encounter a man or a monster. This mysterious atmosphere comes through in a fragrance profile featuring petrichor, queen of the night, tobacco, and spices.

Hello, Silence is Tadhana’s official entry to the Asia Perfume Awards, a fragrance rooted in moments of calm, with mindful focus and the chance to reset at its core. Tadhana interprets French perfumery techniques through a distinctly Asian lens, as seen in the fragrance’s hero ingredient, almaciga resin, locally harvested from the native conifer tree. The scent opens with juniper berry, lemon, and black currant, which lend warmth and depth. At its heart, almaciga is joined by black tea and a papyrus accord. As the fragrance wears on, smooth leather, vintage vanilla, and warm sandalwood emerge.

The finalists are currently being evaluated by an expert panel, which will assess each entry based on the perfume’s technical performance, the expertise of the perfumer or brand behind it, and how well the scent represents the Asia-Pacific region. The winners will be announced at the Asia Perfume Awards, taking place from November 11 to 13, 2026, at Cosmoprof Asia in Hong Kong.