Retrospect
Parfum
Merit
Favourite
Merit
Minimalist U.S. beauty brand with one clean, vintage-leaning extrait built for everyday wear.
About Merit
Merit is a U.S. beauty brand founded by Katherine Power and launched in January 2021, initially focused on what it calls minimalist, clean, luxury makeup. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles and quickly built distribution through its own website and an ongoing partnership with Sephora, later expanding its range into skin care in 2022.
In October 2024 Merit extended its concept into fragrance with Retrospect L’Extrait de Parfum, developed with perfumer Fanny Bal of IFF over more than two years and refined through over 200 trials, according to interviews with the brand. Retrospect is an extrait concentration built with nearly 30% fragrance oil, which Merit positions as roughly double the strength of many standard perfumes. The scent is described by the brand and reviewers as modern and clean but deliberately shaped with vintage-inspired materials such as aldehydes, rose, jasmine, vanilla, and moss.
The official note structure lists aldehydes, bergamot, pear, and ambrette at the top; rosemary, orris, jasmine, and rose in the heart; and a base of vanilla, musk, and moss. Critics often highlight its soft opening, a floral core, and a warm, skin-like drydown, with several reviews noting that while the composition is more affordable than many luxury perfumes, it may require reapplication to maintain presence throughout the day. As of now Retrospect is the brand’s sole fragrance, sold via Merit’s website and Sephora in North America.
At a Glance
The Brand
Founded
2021
Founder
Katherine Power
Country
United States
Category
Indie
Scent Personality
Worth It?
Scent DNA
Soft floral
musk
vanilla
mossy
aldehydic
- Merit’s fragrance work so far centers on a single, tightly edited extrait that favors a clean, polished style with a vintage nod rather than loud, syrupy accords
- The brand prioritizes skin-like drydowns, relatively subtle projection, and an emphasis on feeling put-together rather than overly perfumed
Typical Performance
Longevity
Moderate
Projection
Soft
Positioning
A indie, premium house known for soft floral compositions.
How It Compares
- → Positioning similar to Glossier
- → A bit more subtle than Maison Margiela
- → Cleaner and less sweet than Yves Saint Laurent
- → Less experimental than Byredo
Who It's For
Best For
- Office and professional settings
- Everyday casual wear
- People who dislike overly sweet perfumes
- Mild climates and indoor use
- Fragrance newcomers wanting something polished but not loud
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Very streamlined offering that is easy to understand and shop
- Polished, everyday-appropriate scent profile with minimal risk of offending
- Clean-positioned formula and cruelty-free brand story
- High oil concentration for the price point
Weaknesses
- Only one fragrance so far, so little variety or room to explore
- Soft projection and moderate wear time may disappoint those expecting beast-mode performance from an extrait
- Styling leans safe and crowd-pleasing rather than boundary-pushing
- Availability currently focused on the U.S. and Sephora network
Brand Evolution
Merit began squarely as a minimalist makeup brand and is only just translating that philosophy into fragrance, starting with a single extrait. Retrospect suggests a careful, slow-burn approach: years of development for one launch, a focus on wearable structure over shock value, and tight alignment with the brand’s makeup and skin-care aesthetic. Future releases, if they follow this pattern, are likely to remain edited, everyday-leaning, and in conversation with the brand’s existing customer base rather than chasing niche collectors.
Quick Verdict
Merit’s fragrance arm is young but coherent: one carefully tuned, soft-spoken extrait that fits its makeup-first audience. If you want variety or high-drama perfume, look elsewhere, but for a single, polished daily scent it delivers solid value.
Perfumers
Merit Fragrances