China Perfume Market Overview, 2029

The perfume market is booming in China. In more recent times, the use of perfume in China has evolved to include both traditional and modern scents. There is now a wide range of popular classic Chinese scents and perfumes available, including floral scent blends, woody scents, and spicy fragrances. In recent years, there has been huge growth in China for unisex fragrances. Various perfumes are manufactured by extracting scented oils from natural ingredients. For scents that don’t occur in nature, synthetic chemicals are used to emulate them. Furthermore, processes like steam distillation, expression, effleurage, and maceration happen to obtain the final product. In more recent times, the use of perfume in China has evolved to include both traditional and modern scents. Before now, wearing fragrant scents was only reserved for special occasions such as weddings and birthdays; however, these days anyone can buy their favourite scents at any time because they’re much cheaper than other items typically found within one’s personal hygiene kit. Floral, lemony, and woody aromas are the most popular among Chinese customers, while 50-ml perfume bottles are sold the most because they are practical and can be easily carried around.


According to the report, "China Perfume Market Overview, 2029," published by Bonafide Research, the China Perfume market is anticipated to grow at more than 5.79% CAGR from 2024 to 2029. The market's growth is attributed to the growing trend of personal grooming, coupled with increasing demand for luxury and exotic fragrances. As the overall economic situation in the country worsens, the challenges for the fragrance market within the country are expected to grow, and therefore the once significant growth prospects of the market are anticipated to suffer a blow. The women's segment leads the markets, as women's populations are largely inclined towards sustainable fragrances for their personal grooming purposes. Increasing personal hygiene and grooming awareness among men is fueling segmental growth. Men's fragrances are stronger and more aromatic in nature, which, in turn, may increase the product's adoption. In addition, the rising demand for fragrant flavours is likely to boost product demand. Demand for niche and high-end fragrances in China are anticipated to expand, resulting in a significant increase in imports. To prevent being caught off guard, TMall Global, in collaboration with the logistics business Cainiao Network, launched a "perfume route," connecting European perfumers to China via dedicated daily air freight. Despite rising demand, international logistics restrictions and minimum criteria have impeded cross-border perfume trade, making it difficult for niche manufacturers to ship their products to China.

The Chinese perfume market is experiencing rapid growth, with various product types catering to diverse consumer preferences and demands. Eau De Parfum leads the segment, characterized by a higher concentration of fragrance oils (15-20%), appealing to consumers seeking longevity and richness in scent, particularly among women inclined towards sustainable and high-quality fragrances. Brands like Chanel, Dior, and Guerlain have established strong positions in this category, leveraging their iconic status and heritage, but face new challenges as consumer preferences shift towards niche and lesser-known labels. Eau De Cologne, with its lower concentration of fragrance oils (around 2-5%), offers a refreshing alternative for casual use, likely to grow as consumers seek lighter scents for daily wear, particularly in warmer months. Eau Fraiche, containing even less fragrance concentration (1-3%), is marketed as a refreshing body splash, appealing to a broad audience due to its affordability and versatility. Parfum, the most concentrated form with 20-30% fragrance oils, is gaining traction among luxury consumers seeking exclusivity and depth, expected to grow rapidly as disposable incomes rise and consumers shift towards premium products. The Others category includes niche and artisanal fragrances, increasingly popular as consumers explore unique scents, benefiting from trends favoring personalized and handcrafted products.

Natural fragrances, derived from plant materials like essential oils, absolutes, and extracts, are gaining popularity as consumers become more health-conscious and environmentally aware. The demand for natural perfumes is fueled by trends favoring eco-friendly and organic products, creating opportunities for brands that emphasize sustainability and transparency in sourcing. Chinese consumers are particularly receptive to locally sourced natural ingredients like bamboo, plum flower, and sweet osmanthus, which can enhance brand appeal and loyalty. Synthetic fragrances, produced through chemical processes, are often more affordable and widely available. This segment dominates the market due to its ability to create a vast array of scents that may not be achievable with natural ingredients alone. Synthetic perfumes can also offer consistency in quality and lower production costs, making them attractive to both manufacturers and consumers. As the market grows, there are opportunities for innovation in synthetic formulations, particularly in creating complex and unique scent profiles that appeal to younger consumers who are exploring new olfactory experiences. International brands like Armani and Bulgari have found success by incorporating locally inspired synthetic notes like tea into their fragrances, resonating with Chinese consumers.

The offline segment is especially driven by sales from specialty stores that provide premium products. The layouts of supermarkets and promotional campaigns by leading brands have also increased the sales volume within the supermarket and hypermarket segments. The expansion of the organised retail sector has been driving the market by providing ample space and visibility for the existing brands to offer their products. The online platform is predicted to witness the fastest growth during the next few years. The evolution of online retail channels like Flaconi, Amazon, and Parfumdreams has turned out to be a new and convenient way of distributing perfumes, despite consumers not having the ability to test the fragrance before purchase. Various modes of advertisements and promotions within the market are very prominent, thereby driving consumers to prefer online channels.



International brands have been capitalising on the promotion of their premium unisex fragrances in China. Fragrances like Un Jardin Sur le Nil by Hermes, Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana, L’Eau Froide by Serge Lutens, Silver Mountain, Water by Creed, and CK One by Calvin Klein were the popular go-to brands. Observing the current trend and increase in fragrance demand for international brands among Chinese consumers, it appears that they do not avoid the use of fragrances. Although the Chinese market is challenging to enter for international brands due to price gaps and fake product issues, Presently, Chinese consumers purchase international fragrances from overseas duty-free shops. In this way, Chinese consumers try to avoid fake fragrances available on Chinese e-commerce sites and get a good price for the international brand fragrance.

Covid-19 Impact on Perfume Market
The lockdown restrictions across the country led to a serious disruption in the supply chain, which negatively affected the perfume market. Moreover, the slowdown as a result of the suspension of various manufacturing activities and the ban on international travel in order to contain the spread of the pandemic has impeded the market's growth. Lockdowns and isolation during pandemics restricted the varied industrial operations, which created several complications for the market’s production and provide. The loss of revenue thanks to the suspended operations and the postponed activities across the industries led to reduced deliveries of perfume, further hampering the market’s growth. However, the COVID-19 crisis is probably going to accelerate market trends such as the rise of the middle-class population and the use of e-commerce, which may favour market growth. Moreover, players are adopting various safety measures to propel market growth on an outsized scale, together with the new planning and strategies introduced by the fragrance market players.

Considered in this report
• Geography: China
• Historic year: 2018
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year: 2029

Aspects covered in this report
• China Perfume market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• City-wise perfume market analysis
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product Type
• Eau De Parfum
• Eau De Toilette
• Eau De Cologne
• Eau Fraiche
• Parfum
• Others

By End User
• Men
• Women
• Others

By Ingredient Type
• Natural
• Synthetic

By Product
• Premium
• Mass

By Distribution Channel
• Online
• Offline

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.


Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to Perfume industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.