Heritage
A house, in its own words
The story of TOBBA begins with Jasper Li, a painter who expanded his creative practice into fragrance composition. Li founded the house in Hong Kong in 2021, reportedly drawn to perfumery as another medium for artistic expression. His transition from canvas to fragrance formulation represents an uncommon path in an industry where few creators arrive through fine art backgrounds. Adrian Yu joined as co-founder, bringing complementary expertise to the enterprise. The house made its first international impression at Esxence, one of Europe's prominent niche fragrance exhibitions, where it introduced itself to buyers and press outside its home market. This European debut marked a pivotal moment for a young house seeking to establish credibility beyond regional boundaries. Following the Esxence appearance, TOBBA participated in NOTES Shanghai in April, further cementing its presence in the Asian fragrance circuit while reaching new audiences. The brand later expanded into the United Kingdom through Boots Fragrance, marking a significant retail milestone. A UK Companies House filing confirms TOBBA FRAGRANCES LIMITED as a registered entity, suggesting ongoing formalization of the business structure as the house scales internationally.
TOBBA approaches fragrance as an extension of visual art, applying the sensibilities of a painter to olfactory composition. Jasper Li reportedly treats each fragrance like a canvas, building layers and contrasts with deliberate attention to how individual notes interact and evolve. This painterly perspective influences not just the scent profiles but also the conceptual framing of each release. The house names its fragrances using bilingual or multilingual titles, suggesting an intentional bridge between Eastern and Western aesthetic vocabularies. Rather than following seasonal release patterns common in mass-market perfumery, TOBBA develops fragrances based on conceptual readiness, releasing them when the artistic vision feels complete. The brand positions itself within the niche segment, appealing to collectors and enthusiasts who value distinctive, artistically-motivated compositions over mainstream accessibility. This approach reflects a belief that fragrance should function as a form of personal expression, not merely a grooming product.