Tales from Zanzibar
Eau de Parfum
Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector
Acquired
Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector
London-based niche house creating travel-inspired perfumes with destination-linked materials.
About Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector
Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector is a British niche perfume house founded in London in 2021 by co-owners Akbar Hayat Khan and Ahmed, as documented in a Fragrantica brand feature. The concept grew out of their shared habit of linking important life experiences and travels with specific scents, which became the backbone of the brand’s narrative "collector" character.
The house builds each fragrance around a particular place and time, with compositions inspired by destinations the founders have visited and plan to visit. Both the official brand site and Fragrantica note that the company sources part of its raw materials from the locations that inspire each perfume, reinforcing the travel theme. The fragrances are formulated and assembled in London, maintaining the brand’s connection to its home city, which they describe as the birthplace of both the founders and the brand itself.
According to Fragrantica’s database, Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector released its first perfumes in 2021 and had expanded its catalog to multiple scents by 2023, working with perfumers such as Harry Sherwood, Shadi Samra, and Dario Fini. Collections like Zanzibar and Origins Of The Collector (also referred to as London in at least one review) illustrate the focus on warm, textured blends that try to reflect specific journeys and memories rather than generic themes.
At a Glance
The Brand
Founded
2021
Founder
Akbar Hayat Khan and Ahmed (surname not specified)
Country
United Kingdom
Category
Niche
Scent Personality
Worth It?
Scent DNA
Amber
gourmand
woody
spicy
- Scents typically lean rich and textured, with an emphasis on resinous, gourmand and woody accords over airy freshness
- Many compositions use coffee, balsamic resins and sweet notes layered over woods or amber, giving them a dense, travel-journal feel rather than a minimal style
Typical Performance
Longevity
Long
Projection
Moderate
Positioning
A niche, luxury house known for amber compositions.
How It Compares
- → Storytelling approach comparable to Amouage
- → Generally less fresh than Acqua di Parma
- → More gourmand-leaning than Diptyque
- → Price-positioned below many lines from Creed
Who It's For
Best For
- Evening wear
- Autumn and winter
- Collectors who enjoy story-driven scents
- Niche-oriented buyers
- Travel-inspired fragrance rotations
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Clear narrative concept linking each scent to a specific place or memory
- Solid performance for extrait and EDP concentrations in richer blends
- Good quality-to-price ratio compared with many niche peers at higher price points
Weaknesses
- Portfolio skews heavy and sweet, offering fewer options for those who prefer very fresh or minimalist scents
- Limited retail distribution, largely online or via niche stockists
- Smaller catalog and shorter track record compared to established niche houses
Brand Evolution
Since its launch in 2021, Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector has moved from a small initial lineup into a broader range of destination-based scents, adding new locales and olfactory themes every year. The early focus appears to be on warm, resinous and gourmand compositions, and later releases continue this direction while experimenting with different geographies and ingredient pairings. As the brand grows and collaborates with multiple perfumers, its style is likely to diversify slightly while still circling back to travel and memory as the core brief.
Quick Verdict
Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector is a young London niche house with a consistent travel narrative and a bias toward rich, ambery-gourmand styles. If you enjoy story-heavy perfumes with weight and sweetness, it is worth exploring; if you want crisp daily office scents, this line will feel limited.
Perfumers
Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector Perfumes