Elvoir, Sri Lanka’s first fragrance house with an in-house perfumer, on the scent of exciting expansions

CEO, Founder and Perfumer Qaaim Deen

Business Development Manager Natanya Perera

A local brand influenced by French quality standards, Elvoir is poised to innovate and spread its fragrances across the island with the launch of a novel local trend, their gourmand collection, scents with edible notes such as vanilla, cake and chocolate, this July. 

Additional upcoming collections are an oud collection using Sri Lankan aga wood chips recognised as one of the best in the world and a personal creation based on historical Sri Lankan locations, her people and culture. The exclusive fragrance house has ambitious plans for expansion with the setting up of a new factory either within the Biyagama free trade zone or in Horana later this year at an estimated investment of Rs. 50 million. 

Apart from being the islands first perfumery with an in-house perfumer, Elvoir further differentiates itself from the rest, with the use of a unique moisturising formula that aids longevity of the fragrance. Founded in 2020 by young entrepreneur Qaaim Deen, Elvoir blends France’s world renowned perfumery craftsmanship with Sri Lankan and foreign raw materials, our roots and our innovation to create exclusive and long lasting scents with the promise of “luxury made affordable”. “ Elvoir was born in 2020 with a pocket perfume I created for myself while studying at APIIT and which garnered substantial attention. This first ever creation was given not a name but a number - 192, which I later renamed as ‘Icon’ in the current Elvoir repertoire as I believe this fragrance to be iconic” said Elvoir Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Qaaim Deen at a recent media roundtable. 

With the inaccessibility of foreign perfumes for many due to high prices, exacerbated by the isolation brought about by Covid - 19, Deen saw a gap in the market for accessible, affordable yet high quality and exclusive perfumes in Sri Lanka. The birth of Elvoir signified this vision along with his need to create the best quality product and to be the best fragrance house in the island. “ I was the first Sri Lankan to be selected to the prestigious Grasse Institute of Perfumery (GIP) which is one of the two perfumery institutes in the world, both situated in France. I graduated in 2025, certified as a perfumer and wished to give back to my country as well as compete with international brands and showcase to the world that a Sri Lankan brand can be benchmarked along with top international brands” he added.

Armed with certifications from the International Fragrance Regulatory Authority (IFRA), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), Elvoir is poised to conquer the local market and then the world, with scintillating ladies and men’s fragrances, currently at seven options for females and four for gentlemen and an exciting array of bespoke vehicle fragrances, currently created for Denza, United Motors and Land Rover, diffusers, customised fragrances for weddings, corporate gifting and special events as well as future launches of hair mists, body mists and a unique candle collection. Elvoir diffusers are one of a kind smart diffusers that differ from standard water diffusers with the ability to be connected and operated through a smart phone. This innovative diffuser is also a first of its kind in Sri Lanka. The range of diffusers include car diffusers, wall mounted diffusers and lobby diffusers.

According to Deen, one of the biggest challenges faced by a perfumer in this part of the world is high levels of humidity which is a deterrent to the longevity of a fragrance and Elvoir has overcome this with the clever addition of a moisturising element to the fragrance’s formula. “We also face challenges with stringent NMRA regulations and excise licensing requirements along with drawbacks in the purchase of ethanol since the government alludes higher profitability in ethanol sales to the local beverage industry rather than to the perfume industry” Overcoming challenges and striving towards excellence, Elvoir currently represents the esteemed French agency Argeville, a leading fragrance manufacturer in Grasse and is also in conversation with several international brands keen for collaboration due to Elvoir’s stringent quality standards and the low labour costs of the island. 

Winding off an informative evening engulfed with pleasing aromas, the hands on founder of Elvoir demonstrated the creation of a completely new fragrance by deftly mixing elements such as ambroxan which lifts a fragrance, bergamot which attributes towards calming top notes with a sprinkling of star anise. 

The Elvoir range which includes Eau de Parfum (EDPs) Enchante, Lumier, Lilac and Lilea in the radiant collection and Charmant, Elora, Livia and Serenite in the serene collection for women and Fusion, Icon, Ignite and Noir for men, all come in practical 50ml bottles are priced in the range of Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 9,000. They are sold at Fusion 14, Design Collective, Jezza, Frokme and Yiva Ceylon. 

- Pix by Ruwan Walpola