Why this Cebu-based brand is making waves in the perfume community

Luxury perfumes do not come cheap. Some celebrity-favorite imported luxury perfumes even go up to almost P15,000 a bottle. I understand the high price range because aside from branding and marketing, creating scents is an art and requires a special talent. But for those of us who want to experience these scents, there are options that won’t burn a hole in our pocket.

When I dived into the perfume-collecting rabbit hole, I discovered some homegrown perfume brands with a more affordable price range. They smell really good and are, to me, comparable already with imported brands. It’s great to know that we have some very talented noses right here in the Philippines. One of these brands is called Maison Phillipe.

Maison Phillipe is a perfume company based in Cebu. I found them as they have such amazing reviews in a perfume collector Facebook group that I follow. They specialize in creating perfumes inspired by hard-to-find niche perfumes such as those from Byredo, Kilian, Memo, and MFK. They constantly improve their formulas so their products are constantly evolving.

What I love about them most is their customer service. As buying perfumes is difficult online (since you really have to experience the perfume to know if it actually suits you), they can help you choose based on your personal perfume preference and current perfume choices. I’m new to the perfume world and more so with the niche perfumes. They were patient with all my questions as to what perfumes are bestsellers, which perfumes are sweet and fruity (my personal preference), and when restocks happen.

As they are inspired by luxury fragrances, Maison Phillipe’s perfumes aren’t exactly a carbon copy of luxury fragrances. From the reviews of those who experienced the OG fragrance, they said that the accuracy and similarity is on the average 88-90%. Pretty soon, Maison Phillipe will have their own original blends which I am looking forward to.

The price point isn’t bad too. A full-sized 30-mL bottle costs P1,499 and a trial 10-mL bottle is P549. They also have 3-mL platinum oils which come in roller bottles for P299. That 3 mL bottle is great for starters on a budget and even though 3 mL is such a tiny bottle, since the formulas are potent, it already goes a long way. Another bonus is that these tiny bottles can fit a coat breast pocket or tiny evening bags. 

Their fragrances are mostly unisex when I asked but there are also some fragrances leaning towards more masculine or more feminine. I got two fragrance oils based on the description on the website. The first one I got was Divine Attraction (inspired by Initio). This one is leaning more to the masculine side with notes of leather, vetiver, and cedarwood so I was expecting a very earthy, heavy, scent.

It’s very sexy and masculine when worn by a man. Just like the website says, “it’s a fragrance that feeds fantasies.” The smell reminds me of fire because I smelled tobacco, like a smoky type of scent.  However, a woman can also still wear it in the right occasio. I would personally wear this if I want to feel powerful and have that girl boss vibe, like I’m about to sign a contract for a big project.

Amyris Femme is a very pretty scent that’s floral and woody and the scent of it just made me smile like I was already in love. I got this because it is based on an MFK fragrance of the same name and the very positive reviews. KC Concepcion also has the OG version and she loves it a lot! If you’re in the hunt of an “amoy-mayaman” scent that you could wear to a wedding, a date, or formal event, this is definitely it. It’s a mature scent, but it won’t age you. It’s the type of scent that says that you have graduated from the body splashes of your high school and college days.

The fragrance notes of Californian orange, Jamaican amyris, Florentine iris, Haitian vetiver, and musky amber create that beautiful floral scent. This is an evening scent for me, although I can also easily wear it in an air conditioned room.

With perfumes like these, especially those that are very potent, less is more. Just dab the  oil roller on pulse points and allow it to mix with your natural body chemistry and do its magic. Don’t rub or massage since this disrupts the fragrance molecules. You may also want to put this after you put on jewelry or accessories so you can keep the perfume from touching your jewelry. 

I’m actually looking forward to trying the perfume sprays. I’ve heard good reviews with Elixir Pour Femme Essence with its fruity-floral-powdery mix that’s said to transform you into a goddess with a single drop. This is also a daytime scent, which can be worn during summer.  I’m also looking forward to Sintra and the BR 540 x DP gold line spray, which has a hint of almond in it. 

Their products are only available online in their website at https://maisonphillipeperfumery.com/shop/ . They also have a Facebook page where you could chat with them should you have any questions.