Written by Ally Santos

ScentXplore 2024, the 6th edition of the annual fragrance convention, marked a milestone by expanding to a three-day event, held on December 5th-7th. This year’s gathering almost coincided with the iconic lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a signal of the festive season in New York City. Set at Chelsea Industrial, the same venue as last year, the event showcased a revamped layout and a smoother check-in process. However, improvements are still needed—hopefully, future editions will provide a larger venue to allow attendees to wait indoors, away from New York’s infamous cold winds.

This year’s event was elevated by the presence of some of the biggest names in niche perfumery, alongside their visionary creative directors. The much-anticipated return of Parfums de Marly, with Yvan Jacqueline, the brand’s head, present to unveil their luxurious new home fragrance collection. Amouage hosted an exclusive private event led by Renaud Salmon, where attendees were treated to a preview of the house’s latest release, Essences. Another standout moment was the presence of the legendary Roja Dove, founder of Roja Parfums. As one of the most celebrated figures in the industry, his attendance brought an extra layer of excitement to the event. For many, meeting Mr. Roja Dove was the highlight of the weekend, further solidifying ScentXplore as a must-attend gathering for fragrance enthusiasts and professionals alike.

To capture the essence of this year’s event, we asked attendees—ranging from beloved influencers and content creators to devoted fragrance enthusiasts—to share one fragrance that truly stood out to them.

Each participant chose a scent that caught their attention amidst the ocean of olfactory masterpieces, offering a brief yet personal description of what made it so memorable. From a bold new release, a hidden gem, or a timeless classic.

Favorite picks from the visitors of ScentXplore 2024

Arabian Tea House by Azha is the cozy smell of chewy dates, green cardamom, elegant saffron, and soft woods. All complimented by cocooning elements of vanilla, coffee beans, and a hint of rose. Arabian Tea House has an enticing yet elegant gourmand factor, while still smelling like a smooth, creamy, and warm fragrance. A must have cold weather fragrance for me this season. - @kristinfragrances

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With the plethora of fragrance options available at 2024's ScentXplore, the one fragrance that really stood out to me is Lavender Milk Tea by Elysian. The lactonic richness of the milk accord in conjunction with the aromatic heartiness of the lavender is what makes this such a noteworthy composition. Touches of cacao and tonka bean in the base of the fragrance whisper a delicious melody long after the spiced tea accord has initiated its decrescendo. This composition is altogether delicious, beguiling, enticing, and unquestionably unique! - Steven Gavrielatos/ @redolessence

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A perfume and a moment really caught me at ScentXplore this year. Day Three's Aylan was smooth and bright at the same time. One that made my eyes glow. There was also a moment at the award ceremony when Day Three won a peoples choice award, and Michael's father looked immensely proud. -Nir/ @perfumology

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As I was walking around Scentxplore the Arquiste booth caught my eye. I’ve been wanting to get my nose on the rest of the fragrance line after smelling Indigo Smoke which I was set on buying. The Lovely LC (@nearlynoseblind) took me through an olfactory rollercoster with the entire Arquiste line up. Once I got my nose on The Architects Club on paper then on skin, it was love at first sniff. The Architects Club is a smooth smoky woody vanilla fragrance. Its understated but present, direct but not too direct, and left me feeling giddy for some reason. Rarely do fragrances give me this exhilarated feeling but The Architects Club from Arquiste did that and as they say in wicked I have been changed for good.- Jess/ @jessescentials

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The most memorable perfume at ScentXplore 2024 was PASSION ISLAND by Mes Bisous. An explosive blend of memorable tropical scent profiles which transports me to Paradise.  Be it Caribbean, French Isles or Asiatic islands, Passion Island provides an immersive olfactive escape. Notes include my favorite fruits like Passionfruit, Mango & Pineapple which I get with the opening. The dry down is ambery & woody with the tropical elements smoothed out so it’s not overwhelming; but, still ever present.  - Pamela Jordan/ CommonScents & Luxury

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From the house Dara Caro I would have to say Oud Coffee was my overall favorite. The blend between hot brewing coffee beans, combine with sweet and creamy undertones, surrounded by a wonderful warm, soft spices, ending off with a subtle but equally gorgeous wood/oud vibe. This had me checking my bank account. If I had the money that day, I would have purchased it on the spot. -Romaun Leggitts/ @hesmellslikerome

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Fervo Intenso by Granado was the very first fragrance I sniffed at this year's ScentXplore, and from that moment I could think of little else! The unexpected melange of notes left quite an impression... Pomelo, Cachaça (Brazil's national spirit), Iris, Cacao, Myrhh & Woods... The blending presents an intense but yet balanced experience from start to finish! It's never too much or too little. It warms me up and calms me down!- Nick/ @scent_remix

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The fragrance that caught my attention the most at ScentXplore was A Grove by the Sea by Arquiste. It’s a gorgeous Mediterranean experience with notes of dry, aromatic herbs, olive oil, and fig.- Erin / @erineaufraiche

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Jasmine White Leather was probably my favorite standoff fragrance of the event. I smelled some other good ones, but this one was so sensual and made me feel like I was actually wearing a fresh white leather coat, walking into a board meeting for my business. I absolutely loved it! Felicia Kearse/ @mrskearse

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One standout fragrance from the ScentXplore event that truly captivated me was the Memoire Line under the Azha fragrance house. The line’s ability to weave olfactory stories tied to cherished memories was remarkable, making it difficult to pick just one favorite! Two fragrances, however, stood out for me: Baklava and Arabian Tea House. Baklava is an absolute delight—a photorealistic tribute to the iconic dessert. It’s sweet, buttery, and warmly spiced, yet it maintains an air of elegance that keeps it grounded as a perfume.- Dr. Janelle/ @thedrjanellerx

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Our standout fragrance was Vanilla Siren from Blackcliff.  With notes of Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Caraway Seed, Palo Santo, Prune, Vetiver, Moroccan Damask Rose and Benzoin, this unique vanilla really differentiates itself from your typical gourmand vanilla.  It’s perfectly unisex, with a slightly powdery feel and a warmth from the Tonka bean.  It’s a really cozy fragrance.  We definitely recommend checking this one out.~Delmark & Marisa/ @hisnherscents

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I had so many beautiful moments at ScentXplore but above all hearing the stories and connecting with founders and perfumers on their creations was one of my favourite moments. One such moment was connecting with Scentologia who heartily embraced my “homework”. Earlier on in the year, I had researched the website and picked my preferred fragrances to try once there. It had been some time since then so I forgot the notes. Wass and I went through my list without sharing the notes and just immersed ourselves in the scent journey. He even detoured a bit to show me ones I would likely also enjoy. We even ended up layering certain fragrances and were blown away by how stunning the combinations were. Overall the experience stood out to me for its authenticity, for being truly a representation of what makes ScentXplore so special; amazing fragrance and the wonderful community.- Shauntel Bailey/ @sctheworldcitizen

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Attending ScentXplore in NYC for the first time was a sensory revelation. Among the sea of captivating fragrances, discovering J-Scent felt like unearthing a hidden gem. Their exquisite citrus notes struck a perfect balance of freshness and elegance, making them an instant must-have in my collection. It’s a reminder that the world of fragrance is as boundless as the imagination itself. -GREIVY/ @greivy 

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During Scentxplore, my favorite and stand out of the show was from the Brazilian house Amyi. This is the perfect tomato leaf and garden fragrance. What makes it stand out is that it's not just a tomato leaf fragrance, it smells like you're walking through a garden in full bloom. As someone who grew up in a very Portuguese household, this brought me back to my childhood gardening with my mom. -Melissa Gandarinho / @melissa_gandarinho

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Day Three Fragrance had easily the most impactful fragrances to me on a personal level. Whether it was Ámbar Dominicano taking me back to the first time I tried Mama Juana in the Dominican Republic, Del Mar transporting me to the beaches in Colombia, or Escándalo reminding me of the guava candies I had as a child, they all had me feeling nostalgic. However the most impactful one was La Tacita de Café. As a Colombian, I very much appreciate coffee, and not only was this easily one of the best coffee fragrances I have ever smelled, it gave me such nostalgia. The orange and cream mixed with the rose and brown sugar took me back to how my parents prepared their coffee, and we would drink it in the garden in the backyard that grew flowers and fruits.In regards to the scent alone, the fragrance is not overly sweet, the citrus and rose are not overpowering, and the coffee and other notes just blend beautifully together, creating one of the most memorable, photorealistic coffee fragrances, that you can feel came from the heart. It was not meant to just be an tantalizing smelling fragrance, it tells a story, and one that I feel many, particularly Latinos, can really resonate with.- Colitaly Fragrance