Barnes Fragrance Fair 2026 (16th May)

Barnes Fragrance Fair 2026

If it’s starting to feel like the online space we’re all watching the world through is a little oversaturated with fragrance expos at the moment, it’s because it is. The IRL scene is growing (outside of Esxence, Cannes and Pitti) and more and more localised events are launching. My own reality of late has definitely reflected that with reports on IMFF, Paris Perfume Week and the Niche Show all flowing into each other like some elongated entry in my self-awareness journal. But then the calendar turns to Barnes Fragrance Fair… and well, Barnes always manages to feel more like a community event than an industry expo.

Barnes Fragrance Fair founder Amanda Carr & Sharon Whiting in the Barnes Green Centre (courtesy of Instagram)

I’ve absorbed enough from conversations with event organisers Amanda Carr and Sharon Whiting over the years to know that this type of community mindset is fully intentional. Carr never conceived Barnes as being the antithesis of the big expos, it’s more just a result of her team’s passion for perfume and her local area’s openness to accommodating fairs like this. Even though the event has swelled and nearly doubled in size since last year, it’s still volunteer run and the venues are still a multi-use community Centre and a Methodist Church.

Barnes Methodist Church held the lion’s share of the action: panels upstairs/workshops and exhibitions downstairs Barnes Fragrance Fair 2026

Now in its fourth edition, Barnes Fragrance Fair 2026 was bigger than last year. There were two halls this time around packing in a combined 40+ UK brands, alongside the regular, stacked program of panel talks and workshops. Space will forever be a premium at events in enclosed rooms like this but adding this second hall did thin the herd for the morning and inevitably when an event is so well attended there are always going to be bottlenecks and pinch points. I’ve learned from experience to always get to things like this early. Try to do your research ahead of time and get your primary chats and discoveries in first before letting the day flow around you.

That’s why I first headed to Olfactive O’s table to smell the latest release that was making its public debut at the fair. New Earth is an olfactory wild garden that reflects the hyper oxygenated comfort of surrounding yourself with evergreen plants and bushels of herbs. There’s a pervading Cis-3-hexenol type of green grass note that’s decorated with shiso, spearmint, sage and elemi so, in short, it smells extremely green. @olfactive_o

Two of the scents I’d pre-planned on smelling: Olfactive O New Earth and Olfiction Thé Tea

I’d also caught word of the two new Lab Editions from Olfiction which I duly discovered and discussed. After just a casual sniff, I’m probably a bit too excited to dig deeper into perfumer Pia Long’s expression of tea called Thé Tea and her book binding inspired Librido considering how well the former sat on my skin but, my dudes… that’s very much a me problem. The brand’s table neighbour To The Fairest reminded me kindly that I’d admired their decadent and sunscreen scented Cécile in the past before brand owner Rebecca showed me a particularly handsome patchouli fragrance called Élan Vital that I found to be incredibly well realised. @olfictionlimited @tothefairestlondon

Nosu’s limited edition was also on the ‘must smell’ list. ‘Untitled’ is a multi-sensory collaboration with London-based music producer, Jeigo, that was a crisp and fizzy metallic floral highlight of the day that aptly showed a different, perhaps more transparent and shimmering side of perfumer Jacob Grainger’s work. @nosuparfum

L-R: Nosu’s limited edition and Neunére’s When All Things Were Divine

Neunére was a very happy discovery – one I’ll admit I’d been gently nudged by the event organisers to check out. Perfumer Alina Rosu has already been deemed a Rising Star by the UK Fragrance Foundation and it’s easy to see why with such a trio of bold and stylised perfumes. When All Things Were Divine is the one I came away thinking about; the way she’s got the orange blossom absolute playing a base note as if it’s trapped under a mountain of moss is dark and very unique. I have a scrawl in my notebook that reads “lurking orange blossom behind a static curtain of thickened woods and honey” next to one which is heavily underlined that says “vivid niche takes” so it’s fair to say I’m already a bit of a fan. @neunere.london

Anforh was another debut at Barnes: a Scottish brand from online grooming personality Robin James (who posts as @Manforhimself) and perfumer Clara Weale (of Early Modern) that explores some particularly Scottish notions. Aire is exceptionally easy to love, inspired by the Scottish coast its a bracing shot of vetiver and sea spray whilst Kist is an unctuous comforting sandalwood and Sorn is a big bold combination of leather and oakwood that properly celebrates Scotch whisky and amber. @anforh

 Aire from new Scottish brand Anforh and Cornovii, a perfume inspired by the Cornish way

Wales Perfumery is – as far as I know – the only independent perfume house, based in Wales and last year they released a collection of five fragrances called The Celts which are inspired by the Celtic tribes that made up the United Kingdom (Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Kernow/Cornwall).  And, look I know you’re going to ask me, but no, I don’t know if there is a sixth perfume coming to represent the Manx tribe from the Isle of Man. I didn’t ask, because I got a little into the weeds discussing my highlight Cornovii with founder and perfumer Louise Smith who was happily extolling the virtue of olive fruit extract, which she used to give the perfume a Mediterranean heart. She told me she used it alongside bay leaf to represent the trade routes that the Cornish tribes made into the south of France and wider Europe, where they traded tin and linen for wine, gold and olives. As a result it’s a bright and uniquely different, decidedly tart take on a fresh citrus and frankincense combination. @walesperfumery

Also I don’t really understand how I missed it but I happened upon Sirinide from Beaufort London hiding next to the elaborately strong Director’s Cut version of Fathom V. Sirinide is bitter almond presented with an aquatic undertone which, admittedly, is something that sounds like it shouldn’t really work, but work it does. Perfumer Euan McCall dials down the corrosive, overly intense nuances of the bitter almond essence and beds it wonderfully into a salty musk that retains the smooth allure of almond long into the fond. @beaufortlondon @jorumlaboratories

L-R: crowds of curious noses and one of the scent diffusers that lined the path across the green between the two venues + dog

 In re-visiting what I wrote about last year’s edition I don’t feel like I’ve fully captured just how ‘green-and-pleasant-land’, quintessentially British the Barnes Fragrance Fair 2026 feels when you’re there. I say this primarily to note the welcoming, good nature of it; it’s less about the polite pleasantries and everyone’s willingness to queue for a conversation and more about the democratic readiness of it all. Like, all the brand displays are on identical trestle tables – they each just do with that space what they will – and to travel between the venues you have to cross an idyllic village green that’s simultaneously home to swans, geese and family picnics as well as groups of fragrance fanatics leisurely crossing back and forth with bunches of blotters firmly in hand.

Essentially Barnes Fragrance Fair’s big point of difference is that it really is for everyone. It’s so much more public, open to stumbling toddlers and grandparents alike; and I adore that about it. And look, I’m always conscious that I don’t use the fair like most people do. In attempt to maintain this groove of discovery and writing that I’m on, I had a specific purpose (and tight time constraints) but I just wish an event like this had existed when I first became interested in perfumes. It would’ve blown my tiny mind…

Fragrance Blotters

One of the volunteers, clad in one of the rather dashing pink hi-vis vests, saw me writing in my notebook with its hastily arranged fans of blotters poking out from in between the pages and remarked: “Wow! Some people take their fragrance so seriously!” And whilst I tried in vain to explain myself, I looked around at the packed bustle of the Barnes Green Centre and realised that I’d never felt so seen and yet so served and supported at the same time.

– Oli Marlow, Editor

Disclaimer: Oli was gifted samples/discovery sets from a few of the brands mentioned. All photos ©Oli unless noted

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