It’s an exciting time in independent perfumery. In the past, the art of perfume making was closely guarded knowledge controlled by key industry players. Independent, or “niche”, perfume was a small and elite crowd, and most perfume was produced by a few large companies and sold through major luxury labels. Today, knowledge of perfumery is breaking out of its silo through new networks. Perfumers are teaching each other, and a wave of new perfumers are going it alone—setting up their own brands and experimenting with new ideas. For anyone interested in fragrance, or anyone who simply likes to have a signature perfume or cologne on their shelf, there’s a whole world of original scents waiting to be discovered.
Bara is intended to be a hub where creators and enthusiasts can explore, meet, and share. Where other retail shops in Toronto just scratch the surface, offering a small selection of fragrances or focusing on more established perfume brands, Bara intends to connect people to the latest developments in indie perfumery. Bara will combine a retail space showcasing the new generation of independent perfumers with a studio where aspiring perfumers in the GTA can practice and develop their own scents.