Vanilla Waves V2
EDT
Lost Tribe
Acquired
Lost Tribe
Artisanal New York perfume house specializing in bold, all natural, animalic and oud-forward extraits.
About Lost Tribe
Lost Tribe is a natural perfume house based in New York City, founded in 2022 by perfumer and fragrance collector Mathew Schmuelian. Before launching the brand, Schmuelian spent several years collecting artisanal, all natural perfumes featuring materials like musk, oud and ambergris, eventually moving into sourcing his own raw ingredients and macerating animalic notes to create original blends.
The brand focuses exclusively on all natural compositions, using florals, woods, oud and animalic materials such as musk, ambergris, civet and castoreum, with an emphasis on small batch production and rare ingredients. Lost Tribe’s catalog is built around extraits and perfume oils that lean into rich, tactile raw materials, often highlighting animalics and resins in prominent roles rather than smoothing them out with synthetics.
Schmuelian has described the mission of Lost Tribe as drawing attention to a niche corner of perfumery and educating people about the benefits and aesthetic of all natural fragrances. Many releases are produced in limited quantities, and the brand engages directly with an online community of enthusiasts through social media and interviews, where the creative process and material choices are discussed in detail.
Lost Tribe’s early output includes scents like "Hope You Like It" in a tiny initial run, followed by more developed compositions such as Fiber and collaborations like Lost Tribe x Yaaseen Day, each built around specific natural accords and distinctive musk and oud facets. This positions the brand firmly in the artisanal, animalic-forward niche of contemporary natural perfumery.
At a Glance
The Brand
Founded
2022
Founder
Mathew Schmuelian
Country
United States
Category
Indie
Scent Personality
Worth It?
Scent DNA
Animalic
Oud
Resinous
Musky
Woody
- Lost Tribe fragrances are defined by dense natural materials, prominent animalic notes and an unapologetically intense style that favors musk, oud and ambergris over safe, crowd-pleasing blends
- Compositions tend to be complex, textured and raw, often pushing animalics, resins and woods to the forefront with minimal use of airy synthetics
- The result is a line that feels closer to artisanal tinctures and macerations than polished designer perfumery, appealing to enthusiasts of natural, challengi
Typical Performance
Longevity
Very Long
Projection
Strong
Positioning
A indie, luxury house known for animalic compositions.
How It Compares
Who It's For
Best For
- Animalic and oud lovers
- Natural perfumery enthusiasts
- Cold weather wear
- Evening and special occasions
- Collectors of limited small batch scents
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Very distinctive all natural compositions with heavy use of rare materials
- Strong performance and lasting power typical of concentrated extraits
- Clear creative vision centered on animalics and oud with an educational, community driven approach
- Small batch artisanal production that appeals to niche collectors
Weaknesses
- Challenging animalic style can be polarizing and difficult for mainstream tastes
- Limited distribution and small batches can make certain releases hard to sample or purchase
- Higher price points driven by rare natural ingredients
- Lower versatility for office or high heat daytime wear due to intensity
Brand Evolution
Lost Tribe began with very small runs such as the first release "Hope You Like It," built from personal experiments macerating musk and other animalics. As the brand has grown, it has expanded into a more structured catalog, adding collaborations and refining its all natural approach while retaining an emphasis on rare animalic materials and oud. The communication around the brand has also matured, with a stronger focus on educating the community about natural perfumery through interviews and social media. Future development appears oriented toward deepening the natural portfolio rather than moving toward mainstream synthetic compositions.
Quick Verdict
Lost Tribe is an uncompromising choice for fans of natural, animalic and oud-heavy fragrances, delivering strong performance and distinctive compositions. If you want polished, easygoing designer-style scents, this is not the right house; if you crave raw, challenging naturals, it is one to seek out.
Perfumers
Lost Tribe Perfumes