Heritage
A house, in its own words
Craig Andrade launched The Raconteur in early 2019 after years of experimenting with native Australian botanicals in a small Sydney studio. The brand’s name reflects Andrade’s love of storytelling; each perfume is intended to narrate a fragment of the country’s natural heritage. Within the first year, the house released Lord Lamington, a scent that referenced the iconic confection and quickly attracted attention from niche‑fragrance collectors. By late 2020 the operation had moved part of its production to a 2,000‑square‑metre farm in Hobart’s suburbs, a step that allowed direct access to wild‑harvested ingredients such as macadamia oil and Tasmanian pepperberry. The farm also serves as a research plot where the team trials new extraction methods under the guidance of local horticulturists. 2021 saw the debut of the brand’s first functional line, a series of light, skin‑compatible sprays designed for everyday wear. In 2023 The Raconteur introduced No‑Tell Motel and Dirty Gold Digger, two fragrances that combined urban narratives with outback botanicals, reinforcing the label’s reputation for juxtaposing place‑based storytelling with contemporary scent structures. The following year, Namedrops and Foul Play arrived, each accompanied by limited‑edition packaging that referenced Australian typography and cartography. 2025 marked a technical milestone when the house launched Killr Vanillr, a vanilla‑centric composition that employed a cold‑extraction technique to preserve the volatile notes of native vanilla orchids. Throughout its growth, The Raconteur has remained independent, avoiding large‑scale distribution deals and instead curating a small network of boutique retailers across Australia and a handful of overseas partners. The brand’s evolution reflects a steady commitment to place‑specific perfumery, a practice that continues to shape its releases and collaborations.
The Raconteur treats scent as a bridge between environment and emotion. Its creative brief begins with a field trip: perfumers walk the eucalyptus groves, collect seed pods, and note the way wind carries aroma across the landscape. Those observations become the backbone of each brief, which is then translated into a functional fragrance that can be worn at work, at home, or on a hike. The house emphasizes transparency; ingredient lists are published on the website and the sourcing story is shared on social media. Sustainability is woven into the brand’s values: wild‑harvested plants are gathered under permits that limit impact, and any leftover material is composted on the farm. The Raconteur also seeks to honor Indigenous knowledge, consulting with local custodians when selecting plants that hold cultural significance. Rather than chasing trends, the brand follows a seasonal rhythm, releasing new scents in alignment with the Australian calendar – a summer citrus in December, a warm spice in June. This approach keeps the portfolio fresh while respecting the natural cycles that inspire it.