perfume

Whether it’s deodorant or perfume, scented candles or infusers – scent and fragrance sales have traditionally not found a huge market in China. However, in recent years, international brands have launched into China with gusto, and a number of successful Chinese brands have sprung onto the market with much fanfare. So why has smell suddenly become so important in China, and which brands are making the most of it? Tom …

Huang Xuelei, a senior lecturer of China Studies at Edinburgh University, recently published the book Scents of China: A Modern History of Smell (Cambridge University Press), which tells the history of China through smell and scent. Here, she talks to CBBC’s Antoaneta Becker about how Mao used smell to his advantage and the rise of the perfume market among China’s Gen Z consumers. How did you end up writing a …

International luxury brands like Chanel and Dior have traditionally dominated China’s perfume market, but as Chinese consumers show an increasing preference for “Eastern” scent notes, companies like L’Oreal are choosing to invest in local Chinese perfume brands, writes Qing Na from Dao Insights Despite a relatively late start, China’s perfume and fragrance market has been catching up with the global market at full speed in recent years. In 2021, retail …