In the indie fragrance world, it’s easy to get swept up in dreamy words like hand-poured, vegan, or phthalate-free. They conjure visions of artisanal ateliers, wildflower harvests at golden hour, and alchemists in aprons hand-crafting liquid poetry.
We love a good daydream. But let’s be honest—some of this stuff is just marketing fluff. At Exuma Fragrance Co., we’re all for romance, but we also believe in keeping it real. So today, we’re pulling back the curtain on some of the more ridiculous (and, frankly, misleading) terminology floating around in the indie perfume scene.
1. “Hand-Poured”
We get it. It sounds lovely. Like your fragrance was cradled into the bottle by candlelight. But let’s be clear: every indie perfumer is hand-pouring their product. There’s no factory robot on standby for our small batches. This term tells you exactly nothing about the quality or creativity of what’s inside the bottle. It just means someone has working hands and a funnel.
2. “Vegan Perfume”
This one’s tricky. Yes, historically, some animal-derived ingredients were used in perfumery—like musk (from musk deer), civet (from the civet cat), and ambergris (from sperm whales). But today? Practically no one outside of vintage obsessives or niche luxury houses is using the real stuff. Most modern perfumers—indie or not—use synthetic alternatives that are far more ethical and, bonus: more stable.
So when someone slaps a giant “VEGAN” on their label like it’s breaking news… well, cool. But not exactly revolutionary.
3. “Phthalate-Free Fragrance Oils”
Here’s the truth: Fragrance oils are already mostly phthalate-free, especially those legally sold for cosmetic use in the U.S. and EU. Also, “fragrance oil” usually refers to synthetic aromatic compounds in a carrier oil intended for candle and soap making—not some magical, natural elixir squeezed from the soul of a flower.
We don’t use phthalates in our scents either, but we don’t act like we invented that idea. And we sure as hell don’t use “fragrance oils” in our perfumes, EVER! We just follow safe, modern standards—like everyone else should.
4. “Clean” and “Non-Toxic”
Let’s tread carefully here. These terms sound reassuring, but they’re vague and often misleading. “Clean” isn’t regulated—it could mean anything from “no parabens” to “I like how it smells.” And “non-toxic”? That’s a low bar. Water is non-toxic unless you drown in it.
At Exuma, we’d rather talk about safety data, IFRA standards, and responsible formulation—not slap on a sticker and hope it sounds virtuous.
So What Should You Look For?
Instead of hyped-up buzzwords, look for transparency, creativity, and a perfumer who knows their raw materials. Ask questions. Read between the marketing lines. Appreciate the scent itself, not just the label that came with it.
At Exuma Fragrance Co., we focus on crafting evocative, transportive fragrances that tell a story—not one that leans on trendy terms to make us sound more “indie.” We’d rather let the juice speak for itself.
Bottom Line: If someone’s selling you perfume and leading with “hand-poured and vegan,” ask them what’s actually in it. Because that’s where the real magic lives.
Stay curious. Stay fragrant.