Heritage
A house, in its own words
Scent Trunk was established in 2015 by William Yin and Richard Smale, two long-time friends who met while studying in Toronto. The founders set out with a stated goal of democratizing bespoke perfumery, aiming to make niche fragrance creation accessible beyond traditional industry gatekeepers. The company launched commercially with a small Capsule Collection in 2019. That same year, one of their commissioned perfumers, Tyler Monk, saw his work Pennyroyal selected as a finalist for the Indie fragrances Outstanding (IAO) Awards, bringing early recognition to the brand. By 2020, Scent Trunk began pioneering new approaches to fragrance distribution. The company has since expanded its roster of collaborating perfumers, working with independent creators who bring diverse backgrounds to olfactory composition. Yosh Han, for example, brings experience as a certified super taster and former tasting judge for the International Chocolate Salon to her fragrance work with the brand. Scent Trunk maintains its headquarters in Scotts Valley, California, where the subscription model serves as the primary distribution channel for their Original Editions.
Scent Trunk operates on the principle that fragrance should be an exploratory experience rather than a predetermined purchase. The brand commissions Original Editions from indie perfumers, selecting creators whose work they find inspiring and conceptually distinct. Rather than adhering to traditional seasonal marketing cycles, the company frames its releases around sensory journeys, inviting subscribers to experience different olfactory perspectives through each shipment. The subscription structure itself reflects a philosophy of discovery: subscribers receive regular access to new fragrances without committing to a single signature scent long-term. This approach treats perfumery as a living, evolving practice rather than a static product category. The emphasis on indie perfumers suggests a preference for singular artistic vision over mass-market appeal, positioning Scent Trunk as a platform for perfumers who might otherwise lack distribution channels for experimental work.