The future of fragrance: How AI is redefining the perfume industry

Launched in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman, the brand, Fans of Scents, is expanding every month in new MENA region countries.

The concept of the Fans of Scents project is a sophisticated artificial intelligence framework that expertly guides customers in selecting the perfect fragrance. This service elegantly offers the opportunity to experience a variety of scents in handy, travel-sized 5 ml mini bottles. Designed for effortless portability, they are the perfect accessory for both the daily sojourn to work and the globetrotter's escapades, ensuring that one's signature scent is always at hand.

The founder and CEO, Elena Petrova, shares how artificial intelligence aids the service's operation. Fans of Scents features renowned luxury and brand-name fragrances in convenient 5 ml mini bottles, perfect for travel, for instance.

Tell us about the project, why specifically small bottles.

I'm a perfume aficionado myself and love various scents, yet sometimes there's just not enough time to visit stores. With so many fragrances and only a couple of scent strips, it seems I can no longer discern anything, making it difficult to choose from the multitude of what suits me. Store sellers often promote certain brands, which makes it challenging to make a conscious choice.

Honestly speaking, until recently, I found myself sticking to the same perfumes for a long time, simply because there was no opportunity to try something new.

So, for myself and millions of other women and men, our team developed a service that allows trying different perfumes, both luxury and niche, in small 5 ml bottles. You visit the website, go to the Catalog, select the perfumes you want to try and receive a beautiful box of fragrances. You can then try the scents in a calm setting. After all, a fragrance doesn't reveal itself immediately but unfolds gradually, note by note. Then you can decide what you like more.

And if you're new to the world of perfumery or just want to try something new – fill out a questionnaire and our artificial intelligence-based algorithm will begin to form your perfume profile and suggest fragrances that suit you. We create beautiful boxes and customers can receive new perfumes every month, try them in a peaceful environment, and make an informed choice. We have conducted and continue to conduct consultations with perfume specialists and work with data analysts to create a service that truly benefits people.

What perfumes will come, and where do you source them from?

We work with official distributors and major suppliers in the region. Our perfumery is genuine and we value our reputation.

What does a client do if a fragrance doesn't suit them?

Our primary task is to provide clients with the opportunity to evaluate a variety of scents. We ask buyers to provide initial information to understand their individual preferences, then we compile a list of fragrances the client will receive. Yes, it happens that perfumes don't suit, usually when the client either hasn't answered the questionnaire, provided incorrect information, or has an initial aversion to a certain perfume or note. Of course, perfumery is somewhat associative. Advertising creates a specific image that may or may not appeal to certain individuals.

Amalesh Das is a freelancer content writer.