Boy Smells
| Type | Independent |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer goods |
| Founded | 2016 (Los Angeles, U.S.) |
| Founders | Matthew Herman David Kien |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles |
| Products | Cosmetics |
| Website | https://boysmells.com/ |
Boy Smells is a perfumery brand founded in 2016 in Los Angeles by Matthew Herman and David Kien.[1]
The brand regularly collaborates with social media influencers — such as Vanillamace[2] and Nicolas Sturniolo[3] — to appeal to Gen Z consumers.[4]
History
[edit]Boy Smells was founded in 2016 as scented candle brand for customers who are "design-oriented with a touch of queerness.[5] The brand focused on scents that broke from traditional gender norms.[6]
The brand saw an increase in scented candle sales in relation to COVID-19 quarantining.[7]
In 2021, in collaboration with Robertet Group, the brand expanded into perfumes with its five-variant Cologne de Parfum collection by perfumer Jérôme Epinette.[8][9]
Following a surge in interest in poppers in the wake of Troye Sivan's 2023 song "Rush," Boy Smells released its Citrush candles and perfumes.[10][11]
In 2025, the brand underwent a controversial rebranding.[12] The move was criticized by some as "straightwashing," or abandoning of the brand's LGBTQ+ origins, in order to appeal to Gen Alpha and Gen Z.[13] The brand's sculptural black-and-pink bottles were replaced with colorful glass bottles,[14] derided by some as resembling electronic cigarettes.[15] As party of its rebranding, Boy Smells opened a pop-up boutique in New York City's trendy SoHo neighborhood, adjacent to fragrance competitors such as Byredo and Le Labo.[16]
Products
[edit]Perfumes
[edit]- Cashmere Kush (2022, discontinued)
- Citrush (2025)
- Citrush Gold (2026) – collaboration with Nicolas Sturniolo[17]
- Coco Cream (2025)
- Coco Hinoki (2026)
- Cowboy Kush (2022)
- Flor de la Virgen (2021, discontinued)
- Hinoki Fantôme (2022)
- Italian Kush (2022, discontinued)
- Les (2023, discontinued)
- Marble Fruit (2021, discontinued)
- Peachy Oudy (2025)
- Red Hot (2025)
- Rose Load (2021, discontinued)
- Rosy Cheeks (2025)
- Solar Drip (2026)
- Suede Pony (2021, discontinued)
- Sugar Baby (2025)
- Tantrum (2021, discontinued)
- Vanilla Era (2025) – collaboration with Vanillamace[18]
- Violet Ends (2025)
- Woodphoria (2022)
Hair and Body Mists
[edit]- Cherry Slay
- Chestnut Cheeks
- Citrush
- Cream Dream
- Cuc
- Soft Wood
- Water Melons
Candles and reed diffusers
[edit]- Ash
- Citrush
- Coco Cream
- Coco Hinoki
- Cowboy Kush
- Hinoki Fantôme
- Kush
- Les
- Vanilla Era
- Violet Ends
- Woodphoria
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Hannah Baxter (July 26, 2017). "A Cannabis Candle Turned This Side Hustle into a Full-Time Career". Coveteur. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Kleigh Balugo (April 24, 2026). "Vanillamace's Sold Out Boy Smells Perfume Has Returned". Hypebae. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Citrush Gold". Boy Smells. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Claire McCormack (April 17, 2025). "Boy Smells' Rebrand Doesn't Pass Its Dedicated Fans' Sniff Test". Beauty Independent. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Alexis Chenu (December 16, 2022). "Boy Smells: From candles to perfumes, a success story". FashionNetwork. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Afdhel Aziz (October 9, 2020). "How Supercool Queer-Owned Boy Smells Celebrates A 'GenderFul' Lifestyle". Forbes. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Marilyn La Jeunesse (March 8, 2021). "Boy Smells' New Fragrances Are as Enchanting and Complex as You". Them (magazine). Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Marilyn La Jeunesse (March 8, 2021). "Boy Smells' New Fragrances Are as Enchanting and Complex as You". Them (magazine). Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Steph Saltzman (March 2, 2021). "Mega-Popular Candle Brand Boy Smells Expands Into Personal Fragrance". Fashionista. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Olivia Craighead (June 25, 2024). "Now Your Home Can Smell Like Poppers". The Cut (publication). Retrieved June 29, 2026.
- ↑ "We Did Poppers With the Stars at the Interview x Boy Smells Pride Party". Interview (magazine). June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
- ↑ Claire McCormack (April 17, 2025). "Boy Smells' Rebrand Doesn't Pass Its Dedicated Fans' Sniff Test". Beauty Independent. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Tembe Denton-Hurst (May 16, 2025). "Am I the Only Person Who Likes the Boy Smells Rebrand?". New York (magazine). Retrieved June 25, 2026.
- ↑ Emily Jensen (April 18, 2025). "Boy Smells debuted a rebrand. PerfumeTok is not happy". Glossy. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Carol Lee (April 22, 2025). "We Tried Boy Smells 2.0's New Scents". The Cut (publication). Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Janelle Sessoms (October 15, 2025). "Boy Smells Takes on Retail With Its First-Ever Flagship Pop-Up". Fashionista (website). Retrieved June 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Citrush Gold". Boy Smells. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Kleigh Balugo (April 24, 2026). "Vanillamace's Sold Out Boy Smells Perfume Has Returned". Hypebae. Retrieved June 23, 2026.