Cult Fragrance Houses Byredo and Penhaligon’s Are Coming to Manila

It’s a good time to be a fraghead in the Philippines.

Byredo and Penhaligon’s are undoubtedly on the radar of fragrance aficionados and casual wearers alike. Now, for the first time in their storied histories, both fragrance houses will officially be available in the Philippines.

Ahead of their arrival, get to know these two niche perfume brands.

The story of Penhaligon’s traces back more than a century. In 1869, Cornish barber William Penhaligon left Penzance for London, where he opened a barbershop at 66 Jermyn Street three years later. Well-to-do gentlemen flocked there not only for grooming, but also for provocative perfumes.

As he trimmed their tresses, Penhaligon found inspiration in the fumes wafting from the steam-filled Turkish baths next door. The idea eventually manifested as Hammam Bouquet, Penhaligon’s first fragrance.

A soothing yet spicy concoction of lavender, rose, and sandalwood, the scent caused a stir then and still captivates noses today. The rest, as they say, is history.

Throughout his career as a perfumer, William Penhaligon received four Royal Warrants, cementing his namesake brand’s place among London’s most prestigious perfumeries. Today, Penhaligon’s enthralls noses with over 40 scents made for the finest ladies and gents—and even the rebels of the future.

For those wondering where to begin, Penhaligon’s has a sprawling fragrance wardrobe filled with signatures old and new. Halfeti is among its most recognizable, a rich and heady blend built around rose, spices, woods, and oud, while Luna takes a brighter route with citrus, rose, jasmine, and fir balsam. There’s also The Favourite, a powdery floral centered on mimosa, violet, and freesia. And for a whiff of the house’s history, Hammam Bouquet remains part of the collection more than 150 years after William Penhaligon first created it.

Byredo traces its beginnings to 2006, when founder Ben Gorham set out to translate memories into tangible objects that could resonate with others. Two decades later, his multidisciplinary vision has evolved into a brand known and loved for fragrances that capture abstract emotions while remaining distinctly wearable.

The tension between Scandinavian minimalism and bold artistic expression has helped Byredo grow into a global luxury brand spanning fragrance, makeup, home, and crafted accessories. Together, its creations form a living library of objects that feel at once personal and universal. Today, Byredo’s sensorial world can be experienced across more than 40 countries—a roster that will soon include the Philippines.

The brand has amassed its own roster of cult-favorite scents. Bal d’Afrique is perhaps one of its most recognizable, balancing bright bergamot and African marigold with vetiver and woods, while Mojave Ghost offers an airier composition of ambrette, magnolia, sandalwood, and cedarwood. Those drawn to something crisp and clean can turn to Blanche, an ode to the scent and texture of fresh linen, while Gypsy Water blends citrus, incense, pine, and vanilla into a warm yet easygoing signature.

Penhaligon’s and Byredo will soon open at Greenbelt 5 in Makati City, beside Dior Beauty and across from Chanel Beauty.