The Fragrance Pharmacist

13/06/2026

My sincere congratulations to FragCom Meet headed by Ms. Judilyn JC Dixie Cruz for organizing this event. I attended the first day of this fragrance event.

What made this fragrance event special is that I did not have any photos, videos or any footage of this event.

I don't mean to be selfish about it but I just wanted to be an ordinary individual in this event who loves and enjoys fragrances without the pressure of creating a content. Sometimes, the best things in life are undocumented.

I just wanted to savor the moment where I get to have great conversations with people, meet old and new "fragheads" in the Philippine fragrance community and to discover our Filipino made fragrances on a deeper level.

This event featured beautifully made fragrances and I observed that these Filipino brands are all bringing up their "A' game when it comes to their creations.

You can still visit this fragrance event tomorrow (June 14, 2026) at Unbox Greenhills Promenade (2nd Floor) to experience why the Filipino fragrance community is already thriving and on its way to the international scene.

Please follow FragCom Meet for more announcements of upcoming fragrance events. Again, congratulations!

Mabuhay ang Philippine Perfumery! God Bless! :)

NOTE: The photo used below is credited to its original owner. No copyright infringement intended. The photo below is for illustration purposes only.

26/05/2026

𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗦𝗘, 𝗠𝗥. 𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗢 𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 "𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗗 𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡" 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗨𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗬 𝗪𝗥𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗥
(In Taglish with English subtitles)

This is my 2nd time interviewing Sir Renato E Lopena Jr. also known as The Filipino Nose, a Filipino perfumer who had his perfumery education in Grasse, France and created fragrances for infamous personalities such as Francis Libiran, Heart Evangelista and many more.

My interview with him in this video thoroughly discusses his newest creation in the Wren Atelier fragrance line up called “Acid Rain”

Wren Atelier is a Filipino niche artisan fragrance brand which features “out of the box” original and unique perfumes that transcends artistry, culture and creativity in a bottle.

Acid Rain is such a special fragrance because it is the world’s first “Sinigang” (Tamarind Soup) inspired fragrance. Yes, you read it correctly. The humble and beloved Filipino dish Sinigang has perfume version.

This literally doesn’t smell like the Filipino dish that makes you want to get that piping hot boiled rice on the side. This is a “deconstructed sinigang” in a bottle.

Meaning, Sir Renato used his crazy talent and took elements of the humble sinigang and utilizing the fragrance notes of tamarind, tomato leaf, petrichor, vetiver, aquatic and ozonic notes to create this unique perfume.

This interview was conducted at Yuchengco Museum during the exclusive launch of Wren Atelier “Acid Rain last March 14, 2026.

Thank you Sir Renato for sharing your quick insights regarding this avant garde masterpiece. To God Be the Highest Glory!

NOTE: The photos and videos involving the Wren Atelier brand were used with utmost permission from Sir Renato Lopena Jr. No copyright infringement intended. Photos and videos were used for illustration purposes only. Other videos are intended for public use and they were credited.

26/05/2026

The Mayon Volcano inspired Filipino niche fragrance is giving 🔥🔥🔥

25/05/2026

𝗦𝗜Á𝗚𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 (𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗘 & 𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖 𝗨𝗡𝗕𝗢𝗫𝗜𝗡𝗚 + 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦)

Siáge Fragrances is the debut Filipino fragrance brand of the infamous Filipino cosmetic company, Strokes Beauty Lab by Sir Momoi Supe, a brow artist and entrepreneur from Koronadal, South Cotabato.

I am very thankful to Siage for sending me their elegant PR box for my pharmaceutical analysis. The packaging itself was tastefully done and the contents inside says the same thing.

For the first time in The Fragrance Pharmacist history, I incorporated elements of chemistry, psychology and pharmaceutical sciences in my review. I haven’t done this type of review in my previous works. From now on, I will do my contents and reviews in the English language with of course the incorporation of pharmaceutical sciences.

Siage Fragrances are masterfully done because it taps not only to its exquisite profiles but it taps on emotions and memories. It comes from the French word “sillage” which means an unforgettable trail.

The debut fragrance brand features four new fragrances:

A.) Quiet Stay
B.) Petal Rain
C.) Still There
D.) First Bloom

Watch until the end on what makes these fragrances worthy of its name.

For more fragrance reviews, please visit The Fragrance Pharmacist on different social media sites.

To God Be the Highest Glory!

NOTE: The official videos of Siage Fragrances used in this fragrance review were used with utmost permission from the owner. No copyright infringement intended. For illustration purposes only.

30/04/2026

READ THIS IF YOU FEEL LEFT OUT (As A Fragrance Content Creator)

Words by Paul Christian Santos RPh (The Fragrance Pharmacist)

I don’t talk about this often but it needs to be addressed because this is my real experience. But if I’m being totally honest, there were moments that I felt left out.

Not angry, not bitter. Just aware.

Aware of the groups, events, rooms I wasn’t invited into. (The conversations that moved without me. The recognitions that didn’t come my way.)

And for a while, I really questioned it. Until I realized something –

Not every space is meant to hold you. Some are too small for who you’re becoming. Some are simply not aligned with your particular direction.

So instead of forcing my way back in, I went back to what really matters.

I focused on what I can control: My craft, my discipline, my consistency.

And slowly, the noise faded. I’m still on the journey. Still refining. Still learning.

Now, I no longer measure my progress based on someone else’s timeline.

If you’ve been feeling this way too, always stay grounded.

YOU’RE NOT BEHIND. YOU”RE BEING BUILT.
ALWAYS TRUST GOD’S TIMING, EVEN WHEN IT IS SUBTLE.

25/04/2026

In perfumery, identity is not merely a label—it is the soul that gives a fragrance its voice.

A scent without a name drifts through the air unnoticed, its beauty fleeting, its story untold. It may be pleasant, even captivating in the moment, yet it leaves no trace in memory, no signature to recall, no legacy to admire. It exists, then vanishes, like a whisper lost to time.

By contrast, a fragrance with a true identity carries intention, artistry, and presence. It announces itself with quiet confidence, inviting recognition and remembrance.

Its name becomes inseparable from its character—the notes, the emotion, the experience—all woven into something distinct and enduring.

Such a fragrance does not simply pass by; it lingers, leaving behind an impression that is both refined and unforgettable.

In this way, identity transforms scent into story. It elevates perfumery from a fleeting sensory pleasure into an art form that resonates, connects, and endures.

21/04/2026

Lancôme Peach "N Roses Soiree (Greenbelt 5, Makati City Philippines ; April 18, 2026)

My sincere gratitude and thanks to Lancôme .tasani and to the official photographer of this event .photo_ (follow his Instagram account)

Lancôme's newest addition to the Idole line is "Peach 'N Roses" which is a youthful, fruity, succulent and vibrant fragrance that is truly a summer staple. Lancôme always incorporate "rose' as its signature note. In this fragrance, the rose is combined with juicy berries and succulent peaches.

I got the opportunity to attend this exclusive event together with its fragrance masterclass where we had the opportunity to smell this exquisite perfume. Peach 'N Roses is a bright, sunny, fruity fragrance that will surely make your day bright.

16/04/2026

𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗨𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 (𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟰) 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗩𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗚. 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗢𝗦 "𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗘𝗡" (In Taglish with Subtitles)

Claire Mavreen Go Carlos is a Filipina perfumer and she is known as the “Gourmand Queen” because her fragrance creations are mostly composed of sweet desserts that smell delectable.

She is well known for having the defunct fragrance brand “MVRN” and her current brand is “Claire Olfaction”. Both these fragrance brands have a gourmand touch to it.

As part of my “Perfumer Interview Series”, Claire is definitely not to be missed. She is the first female perfumer I’ve interviewed in my series and the fourth one overall.

Claire Mavreen is currently a student of Centro Escolar University, Manila and she is taking up Bachelor of Science in Cosmetic Science. As an Escolarian alumni myself, this makes Claire my long lost schoolmate.

I had the chance to interview her because I was one the participants of her research project which deals with the comparative study of 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢 (Carabao mango) fragrances. I am truly honored to be part of her journey as a student.

After the research, this was the perfect moment to have an interview with this creative and eclectic perfumer. She talked about her aspirations, dreams and plans regarding her brand and being a future educator of fragrances in this formidable university.

Special thanks to my fragrance brother Brylle Go for his assistance in the video recording. My audiences included my co-participants in the research: Ms. Angel Tasani, Edriel Basinang and Rochelle Lubao of Parfums Astraux and Claire’s classmates.

My sincere thanks to all the people who made this memorable interview a big possibility.

𝙽𝙾𝚃𝙴: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚘𝚜 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚘 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢. 𝙽𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚙𝚢𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍.

08/04/2026