Each week in Indie Perfume Brand Spotlight, we question different brands to find out more about their brand and the people behind it. This time we question Darren Alan from Darren Alan Perfumes.
About you
Tell us who you are?
I’m the perfumer, brand owner and sole employee of Darren Alan Perfumes. I do everything from extracting many of my raw materials, to creating the perfumes, designing the packaging & labels, preparing, filling & shipping orders as well as the upkeep of the brand websites & social media accounts. Like many indie perfumers I wear many hats!
How did you get into the perfume industry?
I started by studying aromatherapy & was hired by a local shop to create aromatherapy blends & products. Then I started creating natural perfumes & it all snowballed from there.
What was the first perfume you ever purchased?
4711
What is your favourite meal?
Sushi
Where is your favourite place?
Toronto, CA
Do you have an interesting party trick or any hidden talents?
Yes I read tarot cards
Who would play you in a film of your life?
Dan Levy
About your brand
Describe your brand in one sentence.
Olfactory experiences that help to transport your mind to a different place & time.
Where does the name of your brand come from?
From my name
Who are your perfumes for?
My perfumes are for those who desire bolder fragrance choices and wish to smell something outside the box
Tell us about your latest perfume.
My latest perfume is a soon to be released Fougere called Dorian’s Fougere. It’s a vintage style Fougere based on my interpretation of the fragrance I think Dorian Gray would have worn.
If someone wanted to try your fragrances, which one would you recommend they try first and why?
I would suggest they try Chypre No.1. It was my first venture into replicating vintage style chypres and is a good balance of classic Chypre architecture combined e with a slightly modern twist so it doesn’t smell old or dated.
What challenges do you want to overcome for your brand?
I would love to overcome the challenge & limitations of international shipping. As a small indie brand, shipping to the EU is impossible for me right now. I’m working on the red tape slowly, but would love to be able to ship to the EU.
What is unique about your brand?
One of the most unique things about my brand is that I create many of the raw materials I use in my fragrances. I tincture, distill and extract my own absolutes.
You can find out more about Darren Alan Perfumes at his website
