The Heritage
The Story of Paul Smith
Paul Smith began as a menswear shop in Nottingham in 1970 and grew into a global label known for bright colour, witty detailing and a signature multicolour stripe. The brand extended its creative reach into fragrance in the late 2000s, releasing a series of scent collections that echo its playful yet refined aesthetic. Today the house offers men’s and women’s eau de toilette, limited‑edition seasonal releases and a home‑fragrance line that includes candles and diffusers. Each scent reflects the designer’s belief that style should surprise, delight and feel personal.
Heritage
Sir Paul Smith opened his first shop on Beeston Road in Nottingham in 1970, offering tailored shirts and bold patterns that challenged the British tailoring tradition. The shop’s success allowed him to launch a full ready‑to‑wear line in 1976, and the distinctive multicolour stripe appeared on his first collection that year. By the early 1990s the label operated stores across Europe and Asia, and it celebrated its 25th anniversary with a retrospective exhibition in London. The brand’s first fragrance, Sunshine Edition for Men, arrived in 2008, followed by Rose Summer Edition in 2010 and a series of limited‑edition rose scents that highlighted seasonal florals. In 2013 Paul Smith introduced Portrait for Men, a scent that combined classic British notes with contemporary spice. The fragrance portfolio expanded to include Sunshine for Women (2011) and a series of rose‑focused releases through 2017. In September 2022 the house launched its inaugural home‑fragrance collection, offering candles and diffusers housed in reusable two‑tone glass vessels. Throughout its history the label has kept a focus on colour, humour and a commitment to quality that resonates across fashion, fragrance and home products.
Craftsmanship
The fragrance development process begins with a brief that references a colour palette or a seasonal theme. External perfumers then draft accords using raw materials sourced from established growers in France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Paul Smith selects ingredients that meet strict purity standards, and each batch undergoes laboratory testing for stability and scent consistency. The final formula is diluted to the appropriate concentration for eau de toilette or candle wax. For the candle line, the brand partners with a specialist wax manufacturer that uses a blend of paraffin and soy to achieve a clean burn. The two‑tone glass vessels are produced by a glassworks in the United Kingdom, then hand‑finished and packaged in recyclable boxes. Quality control includes blind scent panels that compare each batch against a reference sample, ensuring that the consumer receives the intended experience every time. The brand also documents ingredient provenance, allowing it to trace each note back to its farm of origin.
Design Language
Paul Smith’s visual language revolves around the multicolour stripe, a motif that first appeared on a 1976 shirt and now appears on packaging, advertising and store interiors. Fragrance bottles carry a minimalist silhouette, often a clear or frosted glass that showcases the liquid, while the label features the stripe in a subtle gradient that hints at the scent’s colour story. The home‑fragrance vessels echo this approach: a sleek two‑tone glass body with a contrasting metal lid, designed to sit on a mantel as a decorative object as well as a scent source. Marketing imagery frequently pairs the product with bright backdrops or playful typography, reinforcing the brand’s reputation for humour and colour. In retail, the fragrance displays sit alongside clothing, reinforcing the idea that scent is part of a complete personal style.
Philosophy
Paul Smith treats scent as another canvas for storytelling. The creative team starts with a colour or a mood, then translates that feeling into olfactory ingredients that can be worn or experienced at home. The brand values authenticity, so it avoids trends that feel fleeting; instead it chooses ingredients that have a clear heritage, such as English rose or Mediterranean citrus. Collaboration with external perfumers ensures technical expertise while the in‑house design team guides the narrative. Sustainability informs the process: the home‑fragrance vessels are designed for reuse, and the company favours suppliers that demonstrate responsible farming practices. The overall vision is to make fragrance approachable, witty and unmistakably British, without sacrificing refinement.
Key Milestones
1970
Paul Smith opens his first shop on Beeston Road in Nottingham, offering tailored shirts and bold patterns.
1976
The signature multicolour stripe debuts on the brand’s first ready‑to‑wear collection.
2008
Paul Smith releases its inaugural fragrance, Sunshine Edition for Men.
2010
Rose Summer Edition launches, marking the start of a seasonal rose fragrance series.
2013
Portrait for Men is introduced, expanding the house’s scent portfolio.
2022
The brand unveils its first home‑fragrance collection, featuring candles and diffusers in reusable two‑tone glass vessels.
At a Glance
Brand profile snapshot
Origin
United Kingdom
Founded
1970
Heritage
56
Years active
Collection
1
Fragrances released
Avg Rating
4.7
Community sentiment
Release Rhythm