This week our Indie Perfume Brand Spotlight shines towards Australia (via Hungary), where we speak to John Domjam of ÖröK Fragrances.
Tell us who you are?
My name is John, I have a background in fine art am obsessed with Sci-Fi, Fantasy and the avant garde and reside in Melbourne, Australia.
How did you get into the perfume industry?
I have always believed that fragrance is an artform akin to installation work in fine art. Fragrance creates a space around the user that transports emotions, thoughts, and conjures imagination. For many years I had the idea of utilising fragrance in this manner, painting with scent. In the end, I created ÖröK Fragrances to capture queer narratives and share our stories of diversity, joy and resilience allowing people to share their own stories through scent and connect.
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What was the first perfume you ever purchased?
It may be no surprise but my very first fragrance was the original Dior Homme – I remember being so captivated by its scent profile – it was transportive! It allowed me to don this shield of confidence and allure like a second skin amplifying my own personality.
What is your favourite meal?
I simply cannot go past Japanese food – its so elegant and well put together both visually and taste wise – I am obsessed.
Where is your favourite place?
I grew up fishing and camping in the Snowy Mountains of NSW in Australia – its incredible how imposing the mountains are, how beautiful the scenery is and how fresh and green it smells – especially in the summer.
Do you have an interesting party trick or any hidden talents?
I can speak three languages and adore learning about more.
Who would play you in a film of your life?
Dan Levy! We look similar (so i have been told haha)
About your Brand
Describe your brand in one sentence.
ÖröK Fragrances are narrative-driven scents that transport users to places where identity is fluid, and boundaries dissolve.
Where does the name of your brand come from?
“ÖröK” in Hungarian (my background) is a word that means “inherited”. I choose it as i believe these narratives we experiences are inherited through our culture, our friends, our daily lives. We all share the same narratives no matter who we are and these are what connect us in the rich tapestry of life.
Who are your perfumes for?
Whilst we don’t target a specific audience, they are quite avant garde and different – those who like interesting scents, artistic and different will love our range. Those who wants to celebrate their stories, share their joys, their experiences and their diversity will also love the range.
Tell us about your latest perfume.
We released 5 different fragrances at launch with 5 different stories. Whilst they are all different and unique, overall they share the same ÖröK Fragrances DNA.
If someone wanted to try your fragrances, which one would you recommend they try first and why?
Thus far the most popular Fragrance on our list has been 5AM! It tells the story of the world waking up, and walk home from an event with friends discussing the joys and connections experienced during the night as you can smell the night flowers blooming into the day, and the slightly damp atmosphere, ozonic and captivating. It is such a joy.
What challenges do you want to overcome for your brand?
Possibly the most difficult thing is how to plan out the marketing campaigns for a small brand post launch. When you don’t have unlimited funds, you want to make sure that you are utilising the most effective content to drive our story.
What is unique about your brand?
Our fragrances encapsulate a unique experience within the perfume landscape. They are artistic, crafted uniquely for each narrative and offer something very different! They are for those who want to stand out, celebrate their diversity and with 25% parfum concentrate they are long lasting throughout the day.
You can find out more about ÖröK Fragrances on their website, here.
