How Filipino perfumers bottled the soul of Siargao, Baguio, and Banaue

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With more than 7,000 islands in the Philippine archipelago, each one has its own story to tell—through its colors, flavors, traditions, and people. But have you ever wondered what a province or city would smell like if its spirit were captured in a bottle?

That’s exactly what three Filipino perfumers have done. In a historic first for the local fragrance scene, Greg Parilla of GP Fragrances teamed up with three of today’s most sought-after local noses—Bernadette Lim, Shale Albao, and Gib Ang—to create the Elements Collection, a trio of perfumes inspired by iconic Philippine destinations. Together, they bottled the essence of Siargao’s island rhythm, Baguio’s mountain stillness, and the majesty of Banaue’s rice terraces.

The result? Not just perfumes, but cultural time capsules—each spritz carrying landscapes, memories, and emotions that feel deeply Filipino. In an interview with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, these three perfumers shared the inspirations behind their works and their take on the future of the local perfume industry.

Banaue Bliss: The majesty of mornings in the Cordilleras

For perfumer Gib, translating Banaue into fragrance was both an honor and a challenge.

“Banaue is a national treasure, often called the eighth wonder of the world. How do you capture something so vast and majestic in a bottle?” he shared. The solution was to zoom in on a singular moment: Banaue mornings.

Cool mountain air. Sunlight warms the terraces. The earthy richness of soil and moss. Even the aroma of freshly milled rice. “The idea was simple but ambitious,” Gib explained. “To let each owner of the bottle carry the Banaue experience with them, spritz by spritz.”

For him, the project is more than artistry—it’s cultural preservation. “Scent is identity. Too often, we wear perfumes that tell stories from Paris or Milan. Creating original Filipino perfumes means telling our own story—smelling our mountains, our fruits, our flowers, our rains.”

Baguio Verde: Memory in mist

Unlike Gib, Shale’s inspiration wasn’t rooted in heritage but in memory. “Baguio Verde was special to create because it's a memory in mist,” she said.

For Shale, Baguio represents new beginnings. It was the first family vacation she had after her graduation, the first long drive in her own car, and long conversations under the pine trees. “That breeze carries both nostalgia and warmth, and I wanted to capture that feeling in scent.”

The perfume mirrors that duality: dalandan top notes like bursts of sunshine breaking fog, earthy accords evoking damp soil and crushed leaves, and a base of vetiver and musks that wrap you in sweater-weather comfort.

Beyond the personal, Shale believes innovation in perfumery comes from creating fragrances that are uniquely ours. “For too long, we’ve followed Western trends. But when you combine modern techniques with our own landscapes and narratives, you create something original—perfumes that smell like us.”

Siargao Escape: The carefree rhythm of the island

For Bernadette, the sea has always been part of her soul. So when Greg pitched the idea of Siargao, it was an automatic yes.

“In fact, I had just written down on my phone an idea for a scent inspired by bubbles left on the surface of the ocean water after waves crash,” she recalled. “So when Greg called, I instantly connected with the project.”

Siargao Escape is bright, joyful, and sun-kissed. Calamansi zest opens the fragrance with island brightness, a gin accord nods to Siargao’s spirited nightlife, while salty amber musk lingers like skin after a day at the beach.

“Perfume is tied to emotions,” Bernadette said. “I want people to carry freedom, radiant energy, and joy—the feeling of being windblown and unbothered by time. Even when you’ve left the island, you carry the sea breeze with you.”

For her, innovation in local perfumery isn’t just about molecules—it’s about rediscovery. “The Philippines is overflowing with ingredients the world already uses—calamansi, elemi, ylang-ylang, vetiver. If we invest in them, we don’t just create perfumes—we build opportunities for farmers and whole communities.”

A new era for Filipino perfumery

Together, the Elements Collection is more than a set of fragrances—it’s a manifesto for the future of Philippine perfumery.

From Banaue’s evolving landscapes, to Baguio’s artful stillness, to Siargao’s radiant energy, these scents remind us that perfume can be storytelling in its purest form. To know more about this historic collection, follow @gp.fragrances on Instagram.