The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
The Scent Of Pula was launched in 2018 by Croatian Perfume House, with Tomislav Vrbanec composing the fragrance. Its name points toward Pula, a Croatian city. The composition takes Pula through contrast: green ivy and violet beside licorice, anise, and artemisia, then rum, almond, carnation, and tonka bean over a woody base of oak, cedar, and labdanum. The result feels less like a postcard and more like a remembered place, with spice, sweetness, and polished wood doing the work. On skin, the opening gives way to a sweet, spiced center before the woody base becomes clearer, leaving a composed trail that moves between herbal notes, rich sweetness, and polished woods.
What makes The Scent Of Pula interesting is the handoff between contrasting materials. Licorice and anise establish a bittersweet herbal character, while violet and ivy introduce a floral-green layer. The heart shifts decisively toward rum, almond, and tonka bean, bringing warmth without losing the darker opening. Praline adds to the sweetness, giving it a rounded dessert character. Oak, cedar, and labdanum anchor the composition, turning a dessert-like scent into something more composed.
The evolution
The opening begins with a sharp, bittersweet exchange. Licorice and anise create a dark herbal sweetness, violet softens the edge, and ivy adds a leafy greenness. Soon, rum and almond move into the center, warming the composition with boozy, creamy sweetness. Carnation gives the heart a floral accent, while tonka bean deepens its sweet, spiced character. As the scent settles, praline and vanilla take over with a rounder dessert warmth. Oak, cedar, and labdanum then provide the anchor, leaving a woody, ambered trail. The progression moves from a pronounced herbal opening into a sweeter, more enveloping center, with the woody base becoming clearer as the fragrance wears.
Cultural impact
The Scent Of Pula belongs to Croatian Perfume House's place-led catalogue, a collection built around Croatian cities and regions. The fragrance connects Pula with a layered note structure: ivy and violet beside licorice, anise, and artemisia, followed by rum, almond, carnation, and tonka bean over oak, cedar, and labdanum. Its character comes from the interplay of herbal, floral, sweet, and woody notes, inviting exploration of the collection through a distinctly place-inspired name.
The House
Croatian Perfume HouseCroatian Perfume House translates the coastline’s breezes, historic towns and sun‑kissed vineyards into a line of modern fragrances. Based in Čakovec, the house operates under the European Perfume House umbrella, itself part of the Aroma Fragrance Lab network. Its catalogue, launched between 2017 and 2018, includes city‑inspired scents such as The Scent Of Split, The Scent Of Hvar and the playful Just Wow series. The brand positions itself as a bridge between Croatia’s regional character and contemporary olfactory trends, offering a curated scent journey for curious noses.
The Creator
Tomislav VrbanecVrbanec favors a straightforward, layered approach. He starts with a clear top note, builds a heart of locally sourced botanicals, and anchors the finish with a modest dose of natural amber or musk.
