1. Perfume as art, and not just a product
Mainstream fragrances aim to get a “Like” from as many people as possible. They avoid being too bold or too unfamiliar. As a result, you end up with the same predictable scents, over and over again from all the major fashion brands’ releases. Niche perfumes, on the other hand, are made for “that one special person.” We value originality over mass appeal, creativity over trends. We don’t shy away from crazy combos or raw materials that other brands deem “too expensive” or “too weird.” Every bottle of niche perfume is infused with the creative director and perfumer’s personality and philosophy, which makes it feel more like a piece of art than just a ok-smelling product. At BORNTOSTANDOUT®, there’s no limit on the cost of ingredients. Whether they’re pricey, rare, or hard to source, it doesn’t matter (we actually prefer pricier ingredients). We only focus on one thing: a fragrance that starts from inspiration, not from a budget. We don’t want to create something that everyone merely likes (and has no opinion about it), we want a perfume that moves a single person’s heart. While big brands are pouring millions into ad campaigns or celebrity endorsements, niche perfume houses invest that money back into the fragrance itself. “Which new material should we explore this time? What if we use more of that rare note to get extra depth? What can we do to make this more artistic and crazy?” That’s where all our passion flows. Niche perfumes live on the intersection of highest quality ingredients + small-batch production + craftsmanship + creative experimentation. Just like there’s a difference in value between an original painting and a printed copy, a single bottle of artistic perfume holds a unique beauty and emotional resonance that can’t be replicated.
2. Not just a “good scent,” But a “memorable” One
Mass-market scents are usually safe and pleasant, something just about anyone can wear. But that’s where it ends. It doesn’t really speak about you. Niche perfumes are different. Sometimes they’re strange, maybe even uncomfortable. Yet one day, that odd scent suddenly pops back into your mind. “I need to smell that again…” That’s what we aim for: a fragrance you can’t forget. It’s like meeting a person you don’t fully get at first, but you keep thinking about them. Our perfumes lean more toward emotion than mere aroma. They start a dialogue through scent, and leave an impression that lingers. That’s how we see perfume as an art form: it’s about the conversation and the memories it sparks.
3. Not mass-produced, but handcrafted
Niche perfumes don’t roll off an assembly line, where the juice is filled with robots or machines. They’re blended and filled by hand (well at least in our case), with soul and intuition. BORNTOSTANDOUT® ages its fragrances for months in Korean pottery jars (onggi). We can’t stand just mixing and bottling it right away. Give it some time, and the notes develop a softer, richer depth. We didn’t get into perfumery to chase money. We earn just enough to keep ourselves going, and then pour the rest back into our mad obsession with scent. We search the globe for better raw materials, obsess over details instead of mass production, and when we get funds for marketing, we spend it on more precious materials instead of big ads. We just hope that when we make a product so good, our fans will do the marketing for us (please!?). We’re kind of crazy about fragrance, and that’s our pride.
4. So, we’re not fans of the word “Niche” either
We hate the term “niche”. The term “niche” has started to feel a bit overused. Everybody claims it these days, yet few truly embody its spirit. That’s why we prefer to call ourselves artistic perfumery. We’re not here to sell just a scent—we’re here to create stories, to leave behind art. BORNTOSTANDOUT® doesn’t exist to be loved by everyone. We exist for those who see fragrance as art, not just an accessory. A bottle of perfume is like a collectible piece, just like hanging a painting on the wall. And for those people, we craft scents every day. We do it because we love it, and nothing else.
CULT JOURNAL vol.01
“Why are niche perfumes more expensive?”
We’ve all asked it at least once: “Why is this tiny bottle so pricey?” It’s the first honest question you have when you stumble upon a niche perfume. You can’t help thinking, “For that money, I could buy three bottles of regular perfumes!” But a few months later, you find yourself clutching that same bottle, saying, “This is my signature scent forever.” So where does that hefty price tag come from? And why are people willing to choose ‘niche’ over everything else? The reason is simpler than you think: we create perfume as an art, not just a product. And with art, there’s no right answer, no compromise. In this article, we’re going to break down why niche perfumes have (tend) to be more expensive, and why that fact only makes people crave them more, through three key words: Art, emotion, and a touch of madness.