To celebrate our abundance of wonderful Australian fragrance houses at Lore Perfumery, we started a QnA series to get to know all of the people behind the brands a bit more.
Today, Jules – one half of the duo behind the local niche fragrance brand, Mihan Aromatics. As a couple, Josh and Jules created Mihan Aromatics in 2017. One of the first brands that we took on as Lore was also born, Mihan and Lore have always had a special bond. Our neighbours in North Fitzroy, we have always loved that the Mihan Aromatics range tells stories of Melbourne’s North, particularly the surrounds of Fitzroy.
What is your first or most powerful non-perfume scent memory?
The smell of mangos instantly transports me to Far North Queensland, where we’d holiday every September to visit my grandparents and extended family. As kids, we’d climb trees, feast on mangos, and play tiggy and hide-and-seek through the sugarcane fields. It was pure freedom, barefoot, sun-drenched joy.
What inspired you to start Mihan Aromatics?
Josh and I came to perfumery with two very different backgrounds. I’m a neurophysiotherapist, and he’s a hairdresser and barber but both paths are rooted in a deep connection to people and experience. I’ve always been fascinated by the olfactory system, especially its powerful link to memory and emotion. While living in London, we felt a strong sense of nostalgia for home. We wanted to bottle that feeling. To create a curated collection of parfums that could instantly transport someone to their favourite memory or place. That was the beginning of Mihan.
What would you say are the core tenets of Mihan Aromatics, what defines it?
Design-forward. Gender-neutral. Intimate. Poetic. Lustful. Inspiring. Innovative. Grounded. True.
How do you approach the creation of a fragrance? Do you start with a story/concept and then make a fragrance that embodies it, or do you start with the fragrance and write its story from there?
The creation process is where Josh and I have the most fun. We usually begin with a theme and a few hero ingredients. From there, we build a story. Exploring emotions, memories, colours, even seasons and ask ourselves how those feelings might manifest in scent. We always create a visual mood board, and often anchor the concept with a song. For example, Sinful Rose was inspired by Where the Wild Roses Grow by Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue. Haunting, romantic & a little dark.
Are there any materials or ingredients you especially love to use in your fragrances?
Sandalwood. Its creaminess and earthy depth centre a parfum beautifully. It brings a grounded sensuality that we’re really drawn to.
Is there a fragrance from Mihan Aromatics that you feel particularly passionate about or connected to?
That’s a hard one. Like choosing a favourite child! But if I have to choose, I’d say Sienna Brume. I wore it on our wedding day, so it will always remind me of love, connection, and the partnership Josh and I share, not just in life, but in building this brand together.
What’s something that people may not know about Mihan Aromatics?
We’re moving our factory and business down to the coast! It was bittersweet saying goodbye to our beloved northside neighbourhood, but at our core, we’re ocean people. Nature grounds us and it feels right to start the next chapter on the coast.
What does it mean to you to be an Australian fragrance house?
It’s something I’m incredibly proud of. The Australian fragrance community is small but mighty. When you see Australian brands holding their own on the global stage, not just making ripples but creating real waves, it’s inspiring. We’re educating consumers, redefining standards, and carving out something uniquely ours.
What fragrance are you wearing today and why?
Mikado Bark. I’m currently living in the countryside with my family, preparing for a coastal move while juggling work and life’s beautiful chaos. I needed something to keep me focused, grounded, and calm. Mikado Bark does exactly that. It completes me right now.
