8 of the Best British Fragrance Brands

Started in London in 1991, Jo Malone London remains one of the most recognisable brand names in the fragrance world. Now owned by Estée Lauder Group, the brand has a whole host of scents utilising ingredients from across the globe (such as Myrrh & Tonka and Oud & Bergamot) – however, it is steadfastly rooted in Britishness, leaning into it for limited-edition collections and some of its bestselling perfumes. Jo Malone London has created scents inspired by canal hedgerows and blustery beaches, wildflowers and home-grown fruits, most recently dedicating the new Sea Salt & Bergamot Cologne to the untamed, British coast. But perhaps its most beloved British-inspired fragrance is English Pear & Freesia, a crisp and comforting depiction of autumn in the countryside.

A fragrance brand that is, impressively, still standing the test of time is Penhaligon’s, born in London the late 1860s. It was founded by William Penhaligon, a barber based in a Turkish bath institution on Jermyn Street who began creating bespoke products for clients before blending his first ‘signature’ Penhaligon’s perfume, Hamman Bouquet (which is still sold today!). Today’s library of creations is influenced by both the Turkish and North African roots of hammams and luxurious grooming rituals (included in the brand's Trade Routes collection) and old-fashioned Britishness. Nowhere is the latter more evident than in the Portraits collection, which celebrates the scandalous exploits of a fictitious Victorian aristocratic family. Recently, four of the most recognisable characters (The Tragedy of Lord George, The Coveted Duchess Rose, Changing Constance and The Blazing Mister Sam) have been given a deeper twist with unexpected notes to make up the Portraits Intense collection. Then there's The British Tales, a range which draws upon more classical notes such as the gin-inspired Juniper Sling, Highgrove Bouquet and a popular favourite, Halfeti: a unisex, spicy, blend of oud, fruits, jasmine and rose.

If it’s home-grown super-luxury you’re looking for, look no further. Inspired by Boudica (Boadicea is the Latin spelling), queen of the ancient British Iceni tribe and icon of justice and strength, Boadicea the Victorious launched in 2008 boasting quintessentially British, original and creative scents. Every gender-neutral creation is housed in hand-crafted bottles, filled with the highest-quality ingredients. Valiant, for example – part of the Zodiac collection and attributed to the Year of the Horse - blends orange blossom, neroli, amber and an orris note (amongst others) to make a bright, indulgent and memorable perfume. Nothing says British quite like a decent cup of tea – which is why, when the brand recently collaborated with Harrods to create a bespoke fragrance, the obvious inspiration for a new scent was tea, of course. The result is the wonderfully smoky but utterly comforting, The House Blend Pure Perfume.

An icon in the world of perfume, both here in his home country and internationally, Roja Dove started his career at Guerlain before taking his love of fragrance and setting up a perfume PR house in the UK. In 2004, he opened Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie in Harrods, stocking scents from luxury and niche brands such as Tom Ford and Xerjoff. His own brand Roja followed, crafting scents that use the finest-quality raw materials he can find. Pour Femme, made in collaboration with Harrods, is enticing, sweet and – unsurprisingly – truly opulent. Oud is one of the ingredients that Roja is most known for, and he’s always looking to use it in unexpected ways. His latest iteration, Espresso Aoud, combines oud with coffee beans for an imaginative take on the raw material.

Floris was founded in 1730 (staggeringly, that means they’re approaching their 300th anniversary) when Juan Famenias Floris and his wife began selling fragrance – alongside other grooming products – from their Jermyn Street store. The store still stands today, and includes the brand's prized perfumes alongside bodycare products, a selection of shaving must-haves and a counter offering the opportunity to create your own bespoke scent. To honour the iconic home of Floris, the Jermyn Street fragrance was created: with green notes nodding to the plane trees that line the famous St James’s Street and fresh cotton notes in homage to the shirtmakers that flank the store on all sides.

It may not be able to boast about being hundreds of years old, but Escentric Molecules can, without doubt, show off about having a profound impact on the fragrance industry. Created in 2006 with the idea to challenge the way we think about and create scent, the brand's inaugural Escentric 01 blend centred around the Iso E Super molecule, a synthetic aroma created in 1973 that most commonly used in perfume as an additional, small dose. The Escentric 01 uses the molecule as its main player, making it smell different to different people – in fact it's imperceptible to some – making the blend truly unique, not just in the industry but to the wearer too. The brand's second creation, Molecule 01 was even more radical: a pure, single E Super scent. Today there are over 15 scents, all with the special molecule at their heart.

Founded by the ever-curious Linda Pilkington, Ormonde Jayne is a quiet force in luxury fragrance — understated yet unforgettable. Since the early 2000s, this London-born house has made a name for itself with rare, unexpected ingredients inspired by Pilkington’s travels around the world and speciality oils that add a signature touch of mystery. Take Ormonde Woman, a hypnotic blend of black hemlock, violet, jasmine and amber. It’s the kind of scent that makes people stop and wonder “what is that?” Consider Ormonde Jayne your calling card if you prefer to set trends rather than follow them.

The history of the House of Creed can – according to the brand – be traced back to 1760. Back then the company was a tailoring business in London, within which there were dabbles in fragrance via scented gloves and spritzed hems. Known today for producing blockbuster scents, Creed became internationally known in the mid '80s with Green Irish Tweed and even more established in 2010 with the infamous Aventus. Keeping things in the family, Olivier Creed and son Erwin Creed sit as creative masters of the house today, and have cleverly navigated it toward huge popularity across multiple generations (and social media platforms like TikTok too).