Raquel Bouris
Raquel Bouris grew up in Sydney, where she spent her twenties behind a hotel desk, arranging meetings and smoothing logistics. A chance encounter with a desert‑scented booth at Coachella sparked a conviction that scent could rewrite personal memory. She quit her assistant role, enrolled in a short‑term perfumery workshop, and spent months testing accords in a modest kitchen lab. In 2020 she launched Who is Elijah, a boutique label that quickly earned a cult following for its unapologetically bold, gender‑free compositions. Within a few years the brand expanded from a single pop‑up stall to flagship stores across Australia, while Raquel kept the creative process hands‑on, overseeing everything from raw material sourcing to packaging design. Her rise reflects a blend of street‑smart entrepreneurship and a relentless curiosity about how scent shapes identity.
The hits
Notable creations
The signature
How Raquel composes
Raquel’s signature technique blends raw natural extracts with synthetically refined notes, creating a bridge between tradition and modernity. She often layers a bright top of bergamot or pink pepper with a heart of Australian wattle and a base of soft ambergris‑inspired musk. Her compositions favor a clean, linear structure that reveals new facets as the skin warms, encouraging wearers to discover hidden layers over time. She prefers sustainable sourcing, working directly with local growers to secure ingredients that carry a sense of provenance.
Philosophy
What drives Raquel
Raquel believes fragrance should act as a mirror, reflecting the wearer’s mood rather than dictating it. She favors ingredients that evoke place - Australian sandalwood, native pepperberry, and sun‑warmed citrus - paired with unexpected accents like smoked oud or metallic accords. Her work resists trends; instead she asks each formula to answer a single question: what feeling does this moment deserve? By keeping the creative loop tight - testing on herself, her team, and close friends - she ensures every bottle feels intimate and immediate.
The houses
Maisons Raquel composes for
In the same league