Photo of Trudon Mortel Noir perfume in black bottle with gold lettering, on a black background. Black liquid drips from the cap.Photo of Trudon Mortel Noir perfume in black bottle with gold lettering, on a black background. Black liquid drips from the cap.
Limited Edition

Mortel Noir

By Yann Vasnier for Trudon.
Learn More
Photo of a 50ml DS & Durga Pistachio perfume bottle on a pile of pistachios, on a pistachio green background..
DS & Durga

Pistachio

Who doesn't love an elegant nut?
Try a Sample
Photo of Zoologist Cardinal in red glass bottle with illustration of a cardinal bird in a vintate suit on the label. Bottle is on sheet music book next to a pine cone and wool planket.Photo of Zoologist Cardinal in red glass bottle with illustration of a cardinal bird in a vintate suit on the label. Bottle is on sheet music book next to a pine cone and wool planket.
The Bird Has Landed

Zoologist Cardinal

Limited Special Edition red glass.
Get It Now
Photo of an exploding Maison Tahité perfume bottle on a pink background, with steam floating above the bottle.Photo of a tilted Maison Tahité perfume bottle on a shadowy pink background.
Gourmand lovers take note

Maison Tahité

Celebrating vanilla, chocolate and coffee.
Dive In
Photo of Goldfield & Banks Island Lush perfume in rectangular gold bottle with dark orange label, juxtaposed over a photo collage of sandalwood and vetiver.Photo of Goldfield & Banks Island Lush perfume in rectangular gold bottle with dark orange label, juxtaposed over a photo collage of sandalwood and vetiver.
Goldfield & Banks

Island Lush

Leather-drenched sandalwood.
Sample Now

FEATURED COLLECTIONS

Photo of Disco perfume bottle by Zernell Gillie, on a glass cylinder pedestal in front of disco mirror balls.
New & Noteworthy
BEST SELLERS
Best Sellers
Photo of a Scents of Wood perfume bottle on a wooden slab, with a black background.
Winter Wears
ALL BRANDS
Photo of 3 bottles of Unknown Pleasures next to a photo of a woman with red lipstick and red eyeshadow holding a bottle of Cherry Punk by Room 1015.
Unknown Pleasures & Cherry Punk
top sellers of 2022
Sample the two standout scents of the year.
Unknown Pleasures Cherry Punk

NEW & NOTEWORTHY

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Image of DS & Durga's Pistachio 50ml eau de parfum with clear cylindrical bottle, green paper label and black metal cap
Image of two bottles of DS & Durga's Pistachio eau de parfum in 50ml and 100ml sizes. The bottles are clear glass and cylindrically shaped, with green paper labels with the word
Pistachio
Pistachio in the top, middle and base
Samples out of stock.
DS & Durga
$ 5.00 - $ 280.00
Cardinal
Rose and leather chypre with a crisp green start
Zoologist
$ 5.00 - $ 175.00
Image of Maison Tahité's Sel_Vanille 100ml eau de parfum with amber-colored cylindrical glass bottle with pink paper label and gold metal cap
Image of Maison Tahité's Sel_Vanille 100ml eau de parfum with amber-colored cylindrical glass bottle with pink paper label, gold metal cap, and pink and kraft cardboard box
Sel_Vanille
Sillage of vanilla carried by sea breezes
Maison Tahité
$ 5.00 - $ 120.00
Panettone
A perfect unisex "holiday fruit cake" gourmand
Milano Fragranze
$ 5.00 - $ 140.00
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171 products

get it on skin

Our perfume sample program

We're on a mission to bring independent fragrances into your wardrobe — the wild, weird and wonderful. The best way to learn what you love is to try scents on skin. Here's how:

1. Order $5 samples from our site (shipping is just $5).

2. Redeem the price of samples & shipping when you purchase full bottles of the scents you tried.

3. Wear your new fragrances with abandon.

Shop all brands

2023 trend alert

Smoky Winter Woods

It's no surprise to us that warm, cozy, smoky woods are hitting the perfect note this winter. Our customers have long been ahead of the curve in their love of smoldering fragrances that whisk you away to a cabin deep in the woods, fireplace crackling, nose-deep in a good book (and a great perfume). Try 23 of our favorites.

Explore smoky wood scents

Winter Wears

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Image of 30ml Eau de Parfum
Image of 1.5ml Spray Sample
Ummagumma
Fzotic
$ 5.00 - $ 135.00
Image of 100ml Eau de Parfum
Cherry Punk
Boozy cherry cola, leather and a whisper of ash
Room 1015
$ 5.00 - $ 145.00
Image of 75ml Eau de Parfum
Image of 1.5ml Spray Sample
Jaipur Chai
Ineke
$ 5.00 - $ 125.00
Image of 30ml Eau de Parfum
Image of 1.5ml Spray Sample
Fin De Siecle
Samples out of stock.
Libertine Fragrance
$ 5.00 - $ 107.00
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51 products
Photo depicting a range of materials: citrus, flowers, leaves, herbs, woods, cupcakes and spices
BROWSE BY STYLE OR BRAND
FIND YOUR FAVORITES
Florals, spicy, woods and more — so many scent styles to explore.
STYLES BRANDS

PERFUMER & FOUNDER INTERVIEWS

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Victor Wong on Zoologist's 2023 release, Cardinal.
Victor Wong on Zoologist's 2023 release, Cardinal.
DJ Zernell Gillie tells us about his first music-genre inspired fragrance... Disco.
DJ Zernell Gillie tells us about his first music-genre inspired fragrance... Disco.
Checking in with Chris Collins about his latest releases for the Anima Collection.
Checking in with Chris Collins about his latest releases for the Anima Collection.

VISIT OUR STORE

973 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

(between 20th & 21st Streets)

Mon: 11 – 6 pm 
Tue:   11 - 6 pm
Wed: 11 – 6 pm
Thu:   11 – 6 pm
Fri:     11 – 7 pm
Sat:    11 – 8 pm 
Sun:   11 – 6 pm

info@ministryofscent.com

415.896.4665

Get directions

Hear from our vibrant community

★★★★★

The online store and service is superb... Shipping was amazingly fast and the perfumes came nicely protected, but also beautifully presented.... I'm incredibly satisfied with my experience, I'll be doing my perfume shopping here.

Michael B.
★★★★★

Ministry of Scent has so many great fragrances, including ones that can be hard to find in the US. Their staff is also really thoughtful and helpful! I definitely recommend checking them out (whether at the store or on the website).

Wes W.
Google Review
★★★★★

I can think of no better place to purchase and try niche perfumes in all of San Francisco. Make that anywhere for that matter... Exemplary in all areas. From keen pricing, extensive catalog and above all excellent customer service and attentiveness...

Jerry K.
★★★★★

The best. Knowledgeable, friendly staff. Authentic... Best fragrance shopping experience of my life. Will definitely keep returning. Opposite of everything fake, pretentious, snooty, and off-putting about department store fragrance departments, while maintaining elite products and database of knowledge and suggestions and wise network of sellers.

Julie A.
★★★★★

Indulgent enclave, encompassing a unique cornucopia of personally selected fragrances, captivatingly helpful staff and a wonderful community spirit. Always worth a drop by.

Jenny C.
★★★★★

They have an array of diverse niche perfumes you won’t be able to find anywhere else. This place was great, because you can sample some niche fragrances you won’t be able to find anywhere else. 10/10 recommend.

Jordan M.
★★★★★

If you are into niche fragrances and perfumes, this store is a must when visiting San Francisco. Their product line is from all over the world and you’ll find brands not available anywhere else. I highly recommend this store. This store is very unisex as well so go as a couple or go alone. I promise you will purchase multiple bottles, you won’t be able to decide which is your favorite.

Ron Foxworthy
Google Review
★★★★★

Ministry of Scent is truly fantastic, and a wonderful introduction into the world of independent, niche perfumes.... I personally am not a niche/indie fragrance neophyte (though by no means an expert), and I observed the same amount of care, attention, and interest in working with me as I did with other customers who were just starting their "fragrance journeys".  I highly, highly recommend stopping by and investing some actual time into learning about what's out there, and what works for you.

Samantha W.
Yelp Review
★★★★★

My friends and I stumbled upon this gem... We came in with nothing in mind, and had minimal knowledge about scents and what we enjoyed. We all purchased samples of scents that we truly enjoyed and will be testing them out. We'll definitely be back to purchase a full sized perfume soon! Great service all around and we truly enjoyed this experience.

Chloe C.
Yelp Review