PAÑPURI: Elevating Scent to Artisanal Wellness in Hong Kong:

Since opening its first international flagship at K11 MUSEA in Tsim Sha Tsui in August 2024, PAÑPURI has expanded with sensorial boutiques at ifc mall (Central) and Harbour City. These elegant spaces offer an immersive experience far beyond conventional fragrance retail. I went down there to experience the multitude of novel scents. And sensibility. It's... in a word... divine. 

PAÑPURI stands in a league of its own - comparable only to the most revered names in niche perfumery and wellness, such as high-end artisanal houses that prioritise heritage, purity, and multi-sensory rituals. Rooted in ancient Thai traditions of oil craftsmanship and ancestral healing practices, the brand transforms pure botanicals into profound olfactory experiences.

For those of Asian and Hindu heritage who have wandered through ancient temples across the region, certain fragrances carry an irresistible pull. Encapsulated in beautifully refined bottles at the IFC store are familiar scents - distilled essences of jasmine, frangipani, and Tulsi - aromas so pure and evocative that they transcend time.  Some are so mesmerising that a single breath can transport you instantly back to sacred ceremonies, to half-remembered rituals and perhaps even to past lives. Scent remains one of the most powerful portals, capable of carrying us back to forgotten eras with startling clarity.  I was utterly captivated by one such jasmine elixir in particular - its delicate, luminous aroma held within the bottle like liquid memory, offering a direct sensorial journey through time.

What sets PAÑPURI apart is its unwavering commitment to natural purity and ethical formulation. PAÑPURI adheres to its rigorous ZeroList™, which bans over 7,200 harmful or questionable ingredients. Products are vegan, cruelty-free, free from animal-derived components, microplastics, and synthetic irritants. Instead of alcohol bases that can dry or irritate the skin, they often use nourishing natural oils such as moringa. Ingredients are hand-picked from sustainable sources across Asia and beyond - Thai botanicals, rare absolutes like Bulgarian rose, and responsibly harvested essences - ensuring exceptional quality and environmental respect.

This natural ethos shines through in their EXTRACT Perfume Oils, highly concentrated (25-30%) alcohol-free pure perfume extracts. These deliver superior longevity and skin-friendliness compared to traditional alcohol-based colognes, Eau de Parfums, or perfumes, which often rely on synthetic chemicals, fixatives, and potential allergens. 

PAÑPURI’s oils blend seamlessly with the skin’s natural chemistry for an intimate, evolving scent that feels personal and therapeutic rather than overpowering. Mass-market fragrances laden with questionable synthetics are cheaper - deliberately so - and cause harm in the long run. PAÑPURI offers a safer, more luxurious alternative that nurtures body and spirit.

Latest and Signature Scents highlight the brand’s sensory storytelling. Andaman Sails, a standout best-seller and crowd favourite, captures the essence of emerald waves and endless summers with uplifting bergamot, crisp green tea, nutmeg, and grounding sandalwood. Available across body care, candles, diffusers, and solid perfume balms, it evokes serene coastal escapes. 

Other popular profiles include Siamese Water, Indochine, Eternal Sunshine, Oolong Ritual, along with newer offerings such as Memoria Mimosa, Peony Absolute, Enlightened Berry, and Figtionalism.

Collections like “Journey to the Peak” and limited editions (including Hong Kong-specific Extract Perfume Oils) keep the range fresh and culturally resonant. A Bespoke Sensorial Bar allows customisation with over 40 notes and rare essences.

Best-sellers in Hong Kong mirror global favourites: Andaman Sails leads for its versatile freshness, followed by warming orientals and lush florals. Home scents (ambience diffusers, candles, sachets) and body rituals (oils, lotions, cleansers) perform strongly, perfect for creating personal sanctuaries. 

Accessible luxury in its truest sense, the Extract Oils offer outstanding value given their concentration and quality. Choosing PAÑPURI over conventional colognes and perfumes is an act of self-care, its natural, clean formulations minimise risks while maximising sensory pleasure and wellness benefits. Whether layering  the essential oils (its not sticky an ick in Hong Kong's humidity), for daily vitality or indulging in a full ritual set, PAÑPURI delivers scents that ground, uplift, and connect you to nature’s purest essence.

For the finest natural fragrances in Hong Kong, visit one of the PAÑPURI Sensorial Boutiques today to experience the difference in person. Discover the full range, receive personalised recommendations, and create your signature scent.

Key stores in Hong Kong:K11 MUSEA (Shop 215A, B2 Floor, Victoria Dockside, Tsim Sha Tsui) — the flagship. ifc mall (Shop 1091A, Podium Level 1, Central). Harbour City (Shop 3002A, Level 3, Tsim Sha Tsui). 

Official website: https://panpuri.com/

Instagram: @panpuriofficial

An abridged version of this feature out now in Lifestyle

Eastern Fragrance, Honouring the City of Her Making: Pioneering Fragrance Brand To Summer Opens Its First Hong Kong Store in Causeway Bay

China’s pioneering Eastern artistic fragrance brand, To Summer, has unveiled its first Hong Kong store at 52 Yun Ping Road. Though it opened in September 2025, we finally went To Summer, the brand's flagship in Causeway Bay, which marks the brand’s first step beyond the mainland, following 15 stores across eight cities. More than a retail space, it embodies the brand’s signature “One Store, One Story” philosophy, translating local culture into immersive olfactory and aesthetic experiences. Having lived a life under the aegis of "One country, two systems," the embrace of the ethos is easy enough. 

A quick recap, founded in Beijing in 2018, To Summer draws inspiration from the mountains, rivers, poetry, books, and paintings of the Orient. It collaborates with world-renowned perfumers and a leading fragrance house with over 170 years of expertise to craft pure, advanced Eastern botanical scents. The brand reinterprets traditional Eastern wisdom through contemporary lenses, creating art perfumes, home fragrances, and body care that feel both timeless and deeply personal. Its “local culture translation” approach revives historic architecture, turning each store into a narrative vessel of “New Life from Old Soil.”
For Hong Kong, To Summer honours the unsung women of the 1960s manufacturing golden era. As the city industrialised, women stepped away from homes into factories, offices, and storefronts, thereby shaping textiles, plastics, printing, and publishing with their hands. These “invisible hands” built Hong Kong’s backbone. The Causeway Bay store, housed in a 1958 shophouse with original mosaic tiles, rekindles that legacy. It pays tribute to their resilience, transforming memories of labor and craftsmanship into a sensory journey of Eastern beauty and local pride.
Stepping inside feels like entering a living scrapbook. The space divides into four poetic zones: the Eastern Ingredients Studio, Changwu Pavilion, Study Room, and Bathroom.
In the Eastern Ingredients Studio, visitors can view rare raw materials and essential oils displayed like an olfactory exhibition. Vintage cameras and archival images from the brand’s city journal sit beside shelves of botanical records and perfumers’ notes. Fine mosaic floors from the building’s origins soften the urban bustle, while a dense bookshelf evokes the era when Hong Kong women balanced books and tools. Here, the scent journey begins; a time-honoured greeting rooted in Eastern ingredients.
Turning left, the Changwu Pavilion offers a serene pause. Collaborating with renowned Hong Kong designer Alan Chan, To Summer infuses the space with “Made in Hong Kong” details: echoes of Hakka “Hard-on-Hard” metalworking, silks from Sham Shui Po, and movable type stamps. Floral note cards and furoshiki wrapping cloths, designed with local sentiment, celebrate craftsmanship. Guests can sip kombucha, pen notes, stamp, and wrap by hand, reconnecting with simplicity amid the city’s pace.
Lifting a beaded curtain reveals the Study Room, a quiet sanctuary of rare books and archival volumes on Hong Kong’s women and craft history. It traces the city’s East-meets-West elegance and pays tribute to female writers’ unrestrained thoughts, preserving emotional ties to streets and shops.
The Bathroom, inspired by women’s grooming rituals, presents bath and body collections in a timeless, serene atmosphere, completing a multidimensional expression of contemporary Eastern beauty.

Signature fragrances anchor the experience. Void evokes Chinese tea rituals and Eastern philosophy with bergamot, sage, mate, Sri Lankan tea, jasmine, rose, amber, and musk—delivering clarity and stillness. Cedarwood (a personal favourite), captures the Kunlun Mountains’ essence: bergamot, juniper, cypress, rose, jasmine, Atlas and Chinese cedarwood, guaiac wood, and pine, offering a profound, embracing woody depth. Nude feels like a pure second skin; cotton accord, pear, magnolia, waterlily, violet, ambrette, ambergris, and amber. Embodying the ethos natural self-love. Her, created with perfumer Véronique Nyberg, blends fo shou, mandarin, rosemary, narcissus, calamus, orris, white musk, fir balsam, and vetiver. Bold yet gentle, it celebrates the untamed complexity of modern women.
Beyond fragrance, culture takes center stage through “Wandering Her City,” a special journal and city guide. Written in the first person, it invites readers on two curated walking routes exploring women’s craftsmanship and cultural spaces. Discover Ho Sau Mei, Hong Kong’s sole female master of hand-carved mahjong with over 70 years of expertise; Chan Chau Fung preserving letterpress traditions at Chan Man Carving Workshop; and elder seamstresses in Po Ling Arcade threading generational resilience. Cultural stops include Lily Bookshop’s teak shelves, The Shophouse gallery’s textured spaces, and Asia Art Archive’s knowledge constellation. The journal traces footsteps of literary figures like Eileen Chang and Xiao Hong, reconstructing Hong Kong as a “Her City” of self-possessed lives and hidden ateliers.
To Summer’s Causeway Bay store aspires to be more than retail - it is a cultural translator. It merges Eastern aesthetics with Hong Kong’s industrious soul, proving fragrance can preserve memory, honour labour, and spark connection. As co-founder Shen Li has noted, scent becomes a profound way to safeguard stories and invite reflection in a fast-moving world.
With this milestone, To Summer positions Hong Kong as a gateway for global expansion while deepening its commitment to inclusive, experiential Oriental beauty. One hopes that visitors leave not just with a bottle of scent, but with a renewed appreciation for the hands that shaped a city, and the quiet elegance of Eastern fragrance that now carries those stories forward.

In Causeway Bay’s vibrant streets... that's PR spiel, in the traffic-filled, over peopled, cacophonous, billboard studded lanes, To Summer invites you to wander, breathe, and remember: every era saves a seat for its women, and every scent can honour the city of her making.

Timothee Chalamet is the Face of Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif: A Fragrance from Chanel for the Boys to Men

Experience the intensity and elegance of Chanel’s latest aromatic release.

In the world of luxury fragrances, Chanel Number 5 is a behemoth beyond compare. With its storied heritage and unwavering commitment to excellence, the brand continues to redefine the boundaries of perfumery. The latest addition to its illustrious lineup is Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif, a fragrance that transcends mere scent to embody an ethos of audacity, sophistication, and innovation. This remarkable creation not only challenges conventional masculinity but also invites wearers to embrace their own limitless potential.

Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif emerges as a bold statement, a radical colour that evokes a sense of depth and intensity. It is described as a fragrance that knows no limits; a blend that encapsulates desires and visions, much like the horizon it seeks to engulf. The essence of this new blue is an invitation to explore the uncharted territories of one’s character, blending the impulse of daring acts with the triumph of achievement. Here, the fragrance becomes a companion on a journey of self-discovery, pushing wearers to look forward, focused and unwavering.

Crafted by Olivier Polge, Chanel’s Perfumer-Creator, Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif is a masterful concoction of notes that reveals its complexity with every application. The fragrance is anchored by a remarkably potent amber-woody trail, showcasing the richness and depth that Chanel is celebrated for. At its heart lies majestic sandalwood, a key ingredient sourced ethically from the island of Maré in New Caledonia. This sustainable sourcing reflects Chanel’s commitment to environmental responsibility and respect for local communities, ensuring that only the finest heartwood, laden with essential oils, is used.

The allure of Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif is not merely in its composition but also in the story it tells. It is a narrative steeped in mastery and tradition, where each bottle is a testament to the exceptional savoir-faire of the House. Every fragrance is born from a meticulous process — from the cultivation of perfume plants to the final refinement of the bottle. This dedication to craftsmanship ensures that each spritz is imbued with pure emotion, a sensory experience that resonates on a deeply personal level.

The bottle itself is an artwork of chiaroscuro, its design mirroring the elusive essence of the fragrance within. Its radical, taut lines and perfect square silhouette evoke an infinite variety of visions, encapsulating the complexity of the scent. The deep blue hue is a striking contrast, symbolising both the vibrant shades of the sky and the profound depths of the sea. This visual representation of intensity is not just a container but a statement piece that resonates with the values of the modern man.

What truly sets Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif apart is its ability to blur the lines of convention and audacity. The fragrance invites men to explore their own identities, to embrace a multifaceted existence where confidence and vulnerability coexist. It captures the essence of a man who is ever-moving, ever-seeking — a figure like Timothée Chalamet, whose very presence embodies the spirit of this fragrance. He is a man of infinite possibilities, charting a path toward new horizons, driven by an insatiable desire for intensity.

As wearers embark on their journey with Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif, they are enveloped in an intriguing warm embrace that reveals a new geography of audacity. It stirs anticipation, inviting them to connect with the richness of the moment, to be present without compromise. The fragrance serves as both a shield and a catalyst, encouraging exploration into the uncharted realms of personal expression.

In today’s fast-paced world, the act of wearing a fragrance transcends the superficial. It becomes a ritual, a moment of self-affirmation. Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif is not just about scent; it is about embodying a philosophy of life. It encourages men to step beyond the familiar, to embrace their instincts, and to revel in the unknown with unwavering fervour. It is a fragrance that demands to be experienced, a sensorial journey that captivates the senses and awakens the spirit.

Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif is more than a fragrance; it is a celebration of the audacious spirit inherent in every man. With its rich composition, ethical sourcing, and exquisite craftsmanship, it stands as a testament to Chanel’s legacy of excellence. For those in search of a scent that challenges the status quo and invites introspection, Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif offers not just a fragrance, but a profound experience of elegance and intensity.

 

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Pañpuri Sensorial Boutique Opens in K11 Musea With Launch of Hong Kong-Exclusive Range

The famed Thai wellness brand unveils its new holistic destination complete with a bespoke scent station and elite products.

Pañpuri’s sensorial boutique is now open at K11 Musea, and for fans of divine aromas, it’s heaven-scent news. Within the Perfumist’s Chamber concept, a curated smorgasbord of aromatic vessels is in full view, with magical potions and elixirs studiously placed in jars and housed in spaces carved in the walls.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

This Box Set of Haute Perfumes by Henry Jacques Can Be Yours For HK$75,950

 

For a discerning nose, decanters of rosy elixirs are ripe for the picking.

In the esoteric world of refined haute parfumerie, Henry Jacques has a mantle all on its own. Last year, the brand teamed with Rafael Nadal to launch a limited-edition series, In All Intimacy, which sold for a whopping HK$328,100. Now, Henry Jacques’s scents have a distinctly rosy sensibility as the Collection de L’Atelier is in stores, featuring a trio of coveted crystal flacons featuring the Rose Trés Rose, Rose Soleil, and Rose Azur fragrances. As the names indicate, top notes of exquisite Damask roses envelope each bottle.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

3 Coolest Fragrances For the Summer

 

Call it “Scents and Sensibility”—the heat is on, but these spritzes will keep you cool.

Gifting colognes, perfumes, and fragrances is a tricky business. It can be taken in the spirit of generosity and a whiff of kindness… or it’s an unsubtle hint.

Like all matters of taste, the olfactory is peculiar to the individual. One man’s amber and woody musk is another’s gag reflex trigger, so tread lightly, we say. But there are some recent drops that have caught our eye—well, nose—and we at Robb Report Hong Kong are swooning on the heady colognes and concoctions of Tom Ford, Francis Kurkdjian, and Henry Jacques, whose options cover the top notes of the aroma profile, with designer packaging that seals the deal.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

On the Scent of Perfume

From ancient Greeks to A-list celebrities, P.Ramakrishnan looks at the role fragrances have played throughout history.


In 1953, Marilyn Monroe said the only thing she wore to bed was Chanel no:5, igniting sales public-relation machines can only dream of. Since then, perfume sales have taken many a welcome boost from well-paid celebrities – there’s nothing like a whiff of stardust to mingle with concoctions of essential oils and chemical compounds.

It wasn’t always this way. Reports are mixed on when and where perfumes – from the Latin per fumus, “through smoke” – originated but popular theories lead to findings made about 4000 years ago, when incense, made from resins and woods used in religious ceremonies are described by Mesopotamians (modern-day Iraq). Bodies were rubbed down with water and oil that were soaked in fragrant woods as they embalmed the dead with these perfumes.

Egyptian tombs holding embalmed bodies, clearly display hieroglyphics of incenses which were prolifically used from 3000 BC. Botanical gardens, herbs and incense trees were seen as valuable commodities then as incense and perfumed oils were used in rituals from birth till death – and in the after-life. The tombs of Egyptian pharaohs were enriched with gold artifacts and aromatics, through the scents had evaporated with time, the vessels that held them have been left behind as evidence to their significance.



It’s hard to strip away the myths that have built up around Egyptian ruler - Cleopatra courtesy of Elizabeth Taylor – whose own White Diamonds remains one of the most successful perfumes yet - and a multitude of books and films, legend has it that Cleopatra, well versed in the power of scent, was lavish in her use of perfume. When she greeted Mark Antony, she arrived on a ship with perfumed sails, the Roman politician fell under her spell before she even came into view.

David Pybus, a chemist who works with perfumers and specializes in recreating scents of ancient times, proposes that Cleopatra might have bathed in Nenufar, a blue lotus extract with hallucinogenic properties – which may explain her many conquests. By the first century AD, Rome was burning it’s way through 2,800 tonnes of frankincense and 550 tonnes of myrrh a year and Nero, the Roman emperor in 54 AD, is believed to have spent the equivalent of a modern-day US$100,000 to scent just one party.

In the eastern hemisphere the first Mughal ruler of India, Babur introduced Persian-style fragrant gardens to the region, as the variety of climates in India provided a wealth of aromatic plants for perfumery and pharmacy. From Brahmins, Buddhists to Jains that lived from north to Southern India, bathing and ritual washings all included scented oils, powders and pastes applied after cleansing. Hindu rites using sandalwood date as far back as records permit and rituals with jasmine and rose water have trickled down over centuries and are used even today.

Through various trade routes, the scented Indian and Arabian goods travelled by land and sea into China as well, which exported flowering trees; apricot, citrus, camphor, and peach. As delectable as the smells were, they originally played greater parts in medicine. China's contributions to the scented world included fine porcelain with non-porous, glass-like glazes that increased the lifespan of fast-evaporating perfumes. The distillation process, of cooling aromatic condensers with cold water inspired the perfection of the distillation process by Europeans during the Renaissance.

During the T'ang dynasties (618-907) the Chinese upper classes made lavish use of fragrance. Nothing was spared - from bodies and baths, to clothing, homes and temples. The mentions of perfumes can also be found in the Bible. In the New Testament, the three wise men carried gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus. It also depicts how God commanded Moses to take sweet spices and make it a perfume. Frankincense, an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, is used primarily in making incense and perfumes that are burnt even now in customs in Catholic and High Episcopal churches.

Albeit for less ethereal reasons, today Christmas is a "make or break" time for perfumiers as brands of all shapes and size pray for (no pun intended) record sales on and around the winter solstice.

Oddly enough, a great scent isn't enough to ensure sales. Ignited with the glamour quotient provided by actresses, singers, rap stars and sportsmen, women and men's perfume sales see an ebb and flow according to their spokesperson's popularity each year. In 2007, at the tail end of the success of Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely saw record sales (over US$25 million). Meanwhile, Jennifer Lopez is still raking it in courtesy of sales of Glow, and her famous ex, Sean Jean (aka Puff Daddy) holds the men's record as his cologne Unforgivable saw a sale of more than US$48 million.

But not every celeb-utante has translated their moment in the spotlight into six-figure sales. Paris Hilton's Can Can, Britney Spears' Curious and reality TV star Kim Kardashian's eponymous perfume saw middling results on the cash counter. Even the popular Jennifer Aniston's eponymous perfume broke a surprisingly unfriendly record; as the lowest seller. Which goes to show that it takes more than A-list status and a good-girl rep to summon the sweet scent of perfume sales.





Note: In Style magazine, published by South China Morning Post. Out yesterday! woop woop