Project 1945

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An Indonesian independent fragrance house translating places, history, and culture into mostly unisex scents.

Indie Official Website Also known as: Project 1945

About Project 1945

Project 1945 is an Indonesian fragrance brand founded in 2021 and based in Jakarta. LinkedIn identifies the company as privately held and lists its founding year as 2021, while a 2022 interview with Jak-One names Denny as one of the founders. A 2025 CNBC Indonesia report identifies Jeffrey as an owner and describes the brand's launch in December 2021.

The brand builds its collection around Indonesian history, places, culture, and natural references rather than generic international themes. Its early releases included The Great Batavia and Sunset in Sumba in 2021, followed by Waters of Maluku and Fields of Ubud in 2022, and Apresiasi in 2023. Parfumo records additional releases including Petruk, Symphony of Borobudur, and Velvet Toraja. The range is predominantly unisex, with profiles spanning green-aquatic, spicy, woody, floral, and other landscape- or heritage-driven directions.

Project 1945 is best understood as a locally focused independent house using perfume as a vehicle for Indonesian storytelling and national identity. Its main strength is the specificity of its references; its limitation is that the brand's public documentation and international availability remain less developed than those of established designer houses.

At a Glance

The Brand

Founded 2021
Founder Denny; Jeffrey
Country Indonesia
Category Indie

Scent Personality

Sweetness
Mild
Freshness
Moderate
Boldness
Moderate
Uniqueness
High

Worth It?

Price £££
Value
High
Accessibility
Moderate

Scent DNA

Green aquatic woody spicy floral
  • Project 1945's scents are recognisable for tying perfume names and concepts to specific Indonesian locations, historical periods, cultural figures, and natural materials
  • The collection is broadly unisex and covers contrasting green-aquatic, spicy, woody, and floral profiles rather than enforcing one narrow house accord

Top Notes

Citrus Citrus

Heart Notes

Clove Clove

Base Notes

Patchouli Patchouli Musk Musk Amber Amber

Typical Performance

Longevity
Long
Projection
Moderate

Positioning

An indie, premium house known for green compositions.

How It Compares

  • → Less minimalist and more place-specific Jo Malone London
  • → More narrative-driven and culturally focused Zara
  • → Less Parisian and more explicitly regional Diptyque

Who It's For

Best For

  • Unisex fragrance wardrobes
  • Wearers seeking Indonesian cultural references
  • Exploring independent Southeast Asian perfume brands
  • Green, aquatic, spicy, and woody scent styles

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

  • Distinctive Indonesian subject matter
  • Broad unisex selection
  • Clear connection between fragrance names and cultural references
  • Independent regional identity

Weaknesses

  • Limited international recognition and distribution
  • House style is broad rather than tightly unified
  • Public information about ownership and formulation is limited

Brand Evolution

The brand launched in 2021 with three eau de parfums connected to Indonesian stories and expanded into a broader collection of regional, historical, and cultural references. Later releases added themes associated with Borobudur, Minahasa, Toraja, and Indonesian characters, indicating movement from an initial launch capsule toward a larger storytelling-led portfolio.

Quick Verdict

Project 1945 is more interesting for its Indonesian point of view than for a single universally recognisable house style. It is a strong choice for cultural specificity and exploration, but its smaller footprint makes sampling and international access less straightforward.

Project 1945 Perfumes

Favourite - easy to wear anywhere · Statement - bold & distinctive · Acquired - bold, for fewer occasions