Imaginary Authors

Bull's Blood

Brave new formula — bold, savory, animalic.
Do you dare?
Patchouli Mania perfume rectangular clear glass perfume bottle, standing on its box, next to another box. In front of a green wall, on a white marble surface.Patchouli Mania perfume rectangular clear glass perfume bottle, surrounded by raw ingredients such as patchouli leaves and peppercorns. All lying flat on a solid green surface.
Essential parfums

Patchouli Mania

Who loves patchouli? We love patchouli.
Try a Sample
Six DS & Durga 10ml mini perfume bottles on the white display shelf that comes inside the Deluxe Box Set. Box top and green and purple cellophane are visible.Six DS & Durga 10ml mini perfume bottles on the white display shelf built into the Deluxe Box Set. A 50ml bottle of I Don't Know What is in front of the box. White background.
DS & Durga does it again

Deluxe Box Set

Cutest mini set ever. Yes, they spray!
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Versatile Paris God Bless Cola extrait de parfum rollerball bottle on the front light of a classic red car.Versatile Paris God Bless Cola extrait de parfum rollerball bottle on the front light of a classic red car.
Versatile Paris

God Bless Cola

Cola & popcorn gourmand Americana.
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Stephen Jones X CDG

Wisteria Hysteria

A rococo-meets-futurism floral dream.
Sample Now

FEATURED COLLECTIONS

Best Selling Fragrances
Best Sellers
Zernell Gillie Hip Hop perfume in a short cylindrical bottle, on a spiraled gold chain.
New & Noteworthy
Kerosene Winter of 99 black square perfume bottle with brass label plate, on a bile of knit fabric.
Winter Wears
ALL BRANDS
962 Valencia Street Ministry of Scent storefront in San Francisco. With Christmas tree in the window.

Out of the Ashes, Into:

962 Valencia Street

We're back and open 7 days a week! After a fire at our beloved flagship on Valencia Street in San Francisco, we've temporarily moved across the street and are ready to roll. Lights on, perfume in. Come see us at 962 Valencia. Thanks for the incredible support you've shown us, you're the reason we do what we do. ❤️

NEW & NOTEWORTHY

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Deep Dark Vanilla by DS & Durga | 50ml bottle of Deep Dark Vanilla Eau de Parfum by DS & Durga. Clear glass bottle with glossy black lid.
Deep Dark Vanilla by DS & Durga | DS & Durga Deep Dark Vanilla Eau de Parfum 100ml clear glass bottle with glossy black lid.
Deep Dark Vanilla
Rich & toasted real vanilla absolute
Samples out of stock.
DS & Durga
$ 5.00 - $ 300.00
QUICK VIEW
Tóor Tóor by Régime des Fleurs | Tóor Tóor 75ml Eau de Parfum in a clear, cylindrical glass bottle with a spherical 'ball' cap that is chestnut brown. Régime des Fleurs Tóor Tóor Eau de Parfum printed on white, shield shaped label in black type, centered across front of bottle.
Tóor Tóor by Régime des Fleurs | Tóor Tóor 75ml Eau de Parfum in a clear, cylindrical glass bottle with a spherical 'ball' cap that is chestnut brown. Régime des Fleurs Tóor Tóor Eau de Parfum printed on white, shield shaped label in black type, centered across front of bottle.
Tóor Tóor
An elegantly bitter "brutalist" tuberose
Samples out of stock.
Régime des Fleurs
$ 10.00 - $ 240.00
QUICK VIEW
Stephen Jones Wisteria Hysteria by Comme des Garcons
Stephen Jones Wisteria Hysteria by Comme des Garcons
Stephen Jones Wisteria Hysteria
Swaths of wisteria blossoms, a cloud of white musk
Comme des Garçons
$ 5.00 - $ 165.00
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Hip Hop by Zernell Gillie | Hip Hop Parfum Extrait in a 30ml glass bottle with an atomizer spray top
Hip Hop by Zernell Gillie | Hip Hop Parfum Extrait in a 30ml glass bottle with an atomizer spray top. Shown with a coiled gold link chain.
Hip-Hop
Sweet & boozy with spice, fruits and chocolate
Samples out of stock.
Zernell Gillie
$ 5.00 - $ 110.00
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112 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

Winter Wears

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Cherry Punk Eau de Parfum by Room 1015 | 100ml Eau de Parfum in a modern, squat, cylindrical red glass bottle with a heavy, rounded base. Sculptural cap is black, and made of marbled resin cut into a 3D dodecahedron shape. Room 1015 Cherry Punk Eau de Parfum is printed on bottle in black, uppercase, sans-serif type, and is centered on front of bottle.
Cherry Punk Extrait de Parfum by Room 1015 | 100ml Extrait de Parfum in a modern, squat, cylindrical red glass bottle with a heavy, rounded base. Sculptural cap is made of shiny silver metal cut into a 3D dodecahedron shape. Room 1015 Cherry Punk Extrait de Parfum is printed on bottle in black, uppercase, sans-serif type, and is centered on front of bottle.
Cherry Punk
Boozy cherry cola, leather and a whisper of ash
Room 1015
$ 5.00 - $ 195.00
QUICK VIEW
Plum in Cognac By Scents of Wood 75ml Eau de Parfum in an opaque black anatomical heart-shaped bottle with a black Y-shaped metal cap resembling either carotid arteries or a tree branch. Gold circular charm with debossed name and logo tied around bottle with a black leather cord. Bottle spotlit from stage left, set on a knobby wood plinth. Dark and moody background.
Plum in Cognac
Boozy plum with smoky caramel and tobacco
Samples out of stock.
Scents of Wood
$ 5.00 - $ 240.00
QUICK VIEW
Image of 75ml Eau de Parfum
Image of 1.5ml Spray Sample
Jaipur Chai
Spiced gourmand notes, soft suede & a hint of rose
Ineke
$ 5.00 - $ 125.00
QUICK VIEW
Amber Kiso by DS&Durga 50ml Eau de Parfum in a modern, squat, cylindrical clear glass bottle topped with a thin, glossy black metal disc and cylindrical black metal cap. Amber Kiso printed in gold, uppercase, sans-serif type on black rectangular label that is top aligned and centered on front of bottle.
Amber Kiso by DS&Durga 100ml Eau de Parfum in a modern, tall, cylindrical clear glass bottle topped with a thin, glossy black metal disc and cylindrical black metal cap. Amber Kiso printed in gold, uppercase, sans-serif type on black rectangular label that is top aligned and centered on front of bottle.
Amber Kiso
Japanese woods & incense with iris & leather
DS & Durga
$ 5.00 - $ 300.00
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66 products

Surrender Now...

Give INto Gourmands

The trend has swelled to tidal wave proportions, with gourmand scents evolving beyond guilty pleasure status to become an essential addition to every well-rounded fragrance wardrobe. Some of the top perfumers in the world are experimenting with the category, adding edge and complexity — overall hooking us on their mouthwatering fragrant delights. Think vanilla, chocolate, caramel and spice, not to mention the candied craze for cherry.

Try Gourmand Scents

Perfume Sample Sets

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Laboratorio Olfattivo Sample Kit containing 3ml perfume samples of Alambar, Alkemi, Cozumel, Nirmal, Esvedra, Decou-Vert, Noblige, Rosamunda, Salina, Kashnoir, Patchouliful, Nun, Mylo, Nerotic, Vanhera, Need_U, Sacreste, Nerosa and Tonkade in an elegant white box finished with a refined black ribbon
Laboratorio Olfattivo Sample Kit
21 exquisite Laboratorio Olfattivo eau de parfums
Laboratorio Olfattivo
$ 98.00
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Room 1015 Discovery Set Perfume Samples: 2ml perfume sample spray vials of Atramental, Cherry Punk, Electric Wood, Hollyrose, Purple Mantra, Sonic Flower, Sweet Leaf, Ten Fifteen, Yesterday niche fragrances from Room 1015.
Room 1015 Discovery Set
Explore the entire popular Room 1015 collection
Room 1015
$ 30.00
QUICK LOOK
Image of Maison Tahité's Sample Kit Cacao with clear glass spray samples with black caps, all in kraft-colored cardboard packaging with pink paper label
Maison Tahité Sample Kit Cacao (4 Scents)
Discovery set of four chocolate-themed scents
Maison Tahité
$ 20.00
QUICK LOOK
DS&Durga Greatest Hits Discovery Set Vol. 1 by DS&Durga
DS&Durga Greatest Hits Discovery Set Vol. 1 by DS&Durga. Debaser, Rose Atlantic, Radio Bombay, I Don't Know What, Bowmakers, and Cowboy Grass Perfume sample spray vials included in perfume discovery set.
DS & Durga Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Discovery Set
The top 6 from the indie perfume legends
DS & Durga
$ 60.00
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78 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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Kerosene perfumer John Pegg talks Blackmail, Summer of 84 and Winter of 99.
Kerosene perfumer John Pegg talks Blackmail, Summer of 84 and Winter of 99.
Jun Lim of BORNTOSTANDOUT®
Jun Lim brings us BORNTOSTANDOUT®, direct from Seoul, South Korea.
Douglas Little of Heretic Parfum
Douglas Little of Heretic Parfum on his latest fragrance, Dirty Patchouli.

VISIT OUR STORE

962 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

(between 20th & 21st Streets)

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