Heritage
A house, in its own words
The House of Somens emerged from Barcelona's contemporary creative community, with founder Georgina Ripollés bringing her background in public relations and brand communication to the world of fragrance. Ripollés, who works under the name Gio, transitioned from her primary profession to establish the perfume house, applying strategic communication principles to fragrance development. The brand's first documented fragrance releases appeared in 2020, including Arena, Seda, Aria, and Jade, suggesting the house's debut collection arrived during a period when Barcelona's artisan fragrance scene was gaining international attention. Unlike heritage houses with centuries of history, Somens represents a newer generation of perfumers who build their identity through contemporary design thinking and direct engagement with fragrance enthusiasts. The name Somens itself carries connotations of light and luminosity, a thematic thread that appears to run through the brand's various scent offerings. Each release from the house, from Onice in 2021 to Capriccio in 2022 and Atlantis in 2023, demonstrates an evolution in olfactory exploration while maintaining a coherent creative direction. The brand operates within Barcelona's Eixample district, a neighborhood known for its architectural grandeur and creative businesses, placing Somens among the city's cultural producers rather than industrial fragrance manufacturers.
Somens operates with a philosophy centered on bold self-expression through scent. Founder Gio Ripollés approaches perfumery with the conviction that fragrance should function as a form of personal declaration, much like the statements made through fashion or art. The brand name itself reportedly derives from a wordplay on luminosity and daring, reflecting an intent to create perfumes that illuminate rather than merely scent. This guiding principle translates into fragrances that tend toward confident, assertive compositions rather than safe or universally approachable profiles. The house appears to reject the notion that niche perfumery must remain inaccessible or intellectual, instead pursuing scents that communicate clearly while maintaining complexity. Somens fragrances often carry evocative names that suggest narratives, inviting wearers to construct personal interpretations around each scent. The brand maintains that fragrance serves as an extension of identity, a belief that shapes both the creative process and the way the house presents itself to the public. This perspective reflects Ripollés' communications background, treating each perfume as a message to be received and interpreted.