Arquiste

Arquiste was founded in New York in 2011 by Mexican-born architect and historic preservation specialist Carlos Huber. Drawing on his training in restoration and his work with conservation projects, Huber built the brand around the idea of reconstructing specific historical atmospheres through scent. According to the brand, each perfume is tied to a documented time and place, developed after research into original sources, materials, and contexts.

Arquiste works closely with perfumers such as Rodrigo Flores-Roux, Yann Vasnier and Calice Becker to translate these narratives into fragrances. The line debuted in 2012 and has continued to expand, with compositions like Él and Ella exploring 1970s Acapulco nightlife and Sydney Rock Pool referencing coastal Australia. Many of the scents emphasize naturalistic accords and unexpected materials, from the cannon ball tree flower (Couroupita guianensis) to Mediterranean evergreens.

The company states that all fragrances are manufactured in the United States in a USDA-certified facility and are formulated without sulfates, parabens or phthalates, while complying with IFRA and other safety standards. Arquiste also positions its range as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients and no animal testing. In 2013 the brand received the Fashion Group International Rising Star Award in the Beauty/Fragrance Entrepreneur category, and individual releases such as Ella have gone on to win industry recognition, including the Olfactorama Prix de l’Emotion in 2017.

Beyond personal fragrances, Arquiste produces room scents and candles that extend its historical concepts into home fragrance. These products typically revisit locations or interiors already explored in the perfumes, offering a cohesive collection for those interested in historically anchored scent stories.