Heritage
A house, in its own words
The company traces its origins to the partnership of brothers JK DeLapp and Kyle DeLapp, who launched the label in the early 2010s after years of collecting rare raw materials and studying historic perfume archives. Their first public releases appeared in 2013, a year that saw the debut of Phoenix Fougere, Green Velvet, Preda, Poisoned Fig and More Beauty Than Beast. Those early scents introduced a signature approach: a reverence for vintage perfume ingredients—such as old‑world sandalwood and classic Coty bases—combined with a modern, experimental nose. In 2015 the house expanded its portfolio with Musk Rose and City Oud, signaling a deeper engagement with Middle Eastern oud traditions. By 2017, the launch of Sheikh Khalifa Attar marked a milestone that highlighted the brand’s growing expertise in crafting high‑purity attars for a global audience. Throughout its development, the DeLapp brothers have maintained a small‑batch production model, sourcing raw materials directly from suppliers in India, the UAE and the United States. The brand’s evolution has been documented in independent blogs, fragrance forums and a series of video interviews where JK DeLapp discusses his role as a “mad archaeologist of scents.” While the company does not disclose a precise founding year, the chronology of its releases and public interviews places its establishment firmly in the early 2010s. Over the past decade, The Rising Phoenix Perfumery has cultivated a niche following among collectors who value the blend of artisanal attar techniques and contemporary perfumery storytelling.
The house describes its creative vision as an exploration of scent history through a modern lens. In interviews, JK DeLapp explains that each fragrance begins with a research phase that examines archival perfume formulas, vintage trade journals and the chemistry of traditional raw materials. The brand emphasizes transparency about ingredient provenance, preferring natural extracts that can be traced to specific farms or distilleries. Sustainability appears in the selection of responsibly harvested sandalwood and oud, and the company avoids synthetic substitutes when a natural counterpart is available. The DeLapp brothers view perfume as a narrative medium; they aim to evoke a specific place or moment, whether that is the aroma of a historic market stall or the memory of a forgotten perfume bottle. Their values include craftsmanship, curiosity and a respect for the cultural contexts from which their raw materials originate. Rather than chasing trends, the brand follows a principle of “slow creation,” allowing each formula to mature over months before release. This patient approach reflects a belief that true olfactory depth emerges from careful layering and time, not from rapid market cycles.