Heritage
A house, in its own words
The Lab Fragrances emerged from Singapore's growing niche fragrance scene in 2017. The house was founded by Taylan Torin, who positioned the brand as an artistic alternative to commercial perfumery from the outset. Rather than aligning with the established heritage houses of Europe, Torin built The Lab Fragrances as an independent voice in the niche segment, drawing inspiration from both Eastern and Western aromatic traditions. The brand's first collections included Oud, Agarwood, Pepper and Tobacco, and Ginger, establishing a foundation of bold, characterful scents that prioritized depth over conventional appeal. By 2018, the house expanded its offerings with Lavender, Bergamot and Musk, and Rose Oud, demonstrating a willingness to explore contrasting fragrance families within a single catalog. The house maintained its independent identity while participating in Singapore's broader emergence as a hub for fragrance experimentation in Southeast Asia. The commitment to vegan formulations distinguished The Lab Fragrances from many competitors in the niche space, appealing to consumers seeking both ethical production and distinctive scent experiences. The brand continued releasing new work through subsequent years, with notable additions including Black Tea in 2024 and Citrus and Lavender the same year, showing an ongoing engagement with both familiar and unconventional aromatic materials. The Lab Fragrances operates on principles of ingredient transparency and artisanal craft. The house positions itself against the opacity common in mainstream perfumery, choosing instead to highlight the quality and origin of materials used in each composition. This approach reflects a broader philosophy that perfume buyers deserve to understand what they are wearing, rather than simply trusting brand names or marketing narratives. The emphasis on transparency extends to the brand's acknowledgment of its vegan status, a choice that influences both ingredient selection and production processes. Taylan Torin has reportedly approached fragrance creation as an exercise in material respect, allowing individual ingredients to express their character fully rather than forcing them into predetermined aesthetic boxes. The house does not position itself as redefining perfumery or challenging industry conventions through rhetoric. Instead, the approach manifests in concrete choices: the selection of specific natural materials, the construction of fragrances around distinct aromatic themes, and the maintenance of a catalog that rewards exploration rather than encouraging repeat purchasing of familiar favorites. The brand's output suggests a belief that niche perfumery succeeds not through spectacle but through consistent quality and genuine distinctiveness in scent composition.