The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Renome sits inside Alan Bray's sprawling catalogue of more than ninety scents, a masculine aromatic-aquatic built by the house's namesake perfumer himself. The perfumer behind the brand has built a body of work that pulls from a wide range of influences and moods, and Renome belongs to the older guard of that catalogue, a discontinued men's release that leaned into the aquatic-woody territory. Lime, bergamot, and mandarin lead the charge into a freesia-cyclamen heart, then cedar, patchouli, moss, and musk anchor the bottom. The top notes are crisp and citric, almost sharp enough to cut, but they settle into something rounder as the minutes pass, never fully losing that initial brightness.
What makes Renome interesting isn't any single note but the way the citrus opening refuses to behave like a typical freshie. The lime and mandarin burn off fast, leaving bergamot's slightly bitter edge hanging in the air for longer than expected. Coriander enters the heart with its curious split personality, floral one second, almost savory the next, which keeps the composition from tipping into the boring herbal-water territory. Then comes the cyclamen and freesia pair, a slightly powdery floral that bridges into cedar and patchouli without any visible seam.
The evolution
First 15 minutes and Renome announces itself the way cold tile feels under bare feet. The bergamot, lime, and mandarin triangle pops sharp, almost fizzy, with a dusting of black pepper underneath that keeps the citrus from reading as a soda commercial. Pepper fades faster than expected. The citrus gives way as the freesia and cyclamen take the wheel, and this is where the fragrance starts to earn its reputation. The florals here are cool, a little watery, with coriander threading through them like a spice cabinet opened next to a window. No sweetness, no obvious powder. The coriander in particular keeps the heart from collapsing into something too soft or generic, its herbal edge adding a savory counterpoint to the cooler florals around it. As time passes, cedar has made its move.
Cultural impact
Renome holds a specific place in the Alan Bray catalogue as an older masculine release that has since been discontinued. It's an aromatic-aquatic built around lime, bergamot, mandarin, freesia, cyclamen, cedar, patchouli, moss, and musk, and it represents a particular approach to men's fragrance. The composition leans on restraint rather than excess, using its aquatic elements atmospherically rather than as the main event, and letting the cedar and patchouli handle the heavier structural work. The base notes do the quiet lifting here, the moss and musk creating a damp, skin-close finish that grounds the brighter materials above.
The House
Alan BrayAlan Bray is a niche perfume house that builds a catalogue of more than ninety scents since the early 2000s. The brand releases fragrances that often pair unexpected ingredients, such as cherry and almond in its Canelé Flambé (2024) or the bright floral accord of Spring Flowers (2013). Each launch arrives with a distinct personality, inviting collectors to explore a spectrum that ranges from the masculine L'Homme Noble (2025) to the daring High Society L'Imperatrice (2024). The label operates out of Paris and reaches a global audience through specialty retailers and online platforms.
The Creator
Alan BrayBray’s signature technique rests on a single, bold accord that dominates the composition. In Cherry Almond he pairs bright, fermented cherry with warm, nutty almond oil, letting the two notes intertwine for twelve hours without fading.
