From scent idea to shelf: the custom perfume manufacturing process
No black boxes. Every project moves through six stages with clear deliverables at each gate — so you always know what you are approving, paying for and receiving next.
At every gate you receive
- A physical deliverableSamples, mock-ups or batch records — never just an email.
- A written confirmationCosts, timelines and specs agreed before work proceeds.
- A named coordinatorOne person who answers and knows your project.
Timelines below are typical guides — your written quote states the committed schedule.
Phase 01 — Create
From your idea to an approved sample
Development runs on iterations, not promises. You steer the scent with feedback until it smells like the brand in your head — only then do we talk production.
- Sampling is the decision gateProduction never starts on a scent you have not smelled.
- Cost is engineered earlyFormulas are built toward your target price point from day one.
- Your formula gets lockedAt approval we archive it — every reorder matches batch one.
Brief & scent direction
Typical: 1–5 business daysShare your category, market, price point and references — a scent you love, a mood board, even a story. Your coordinator and perfumer translate that into a concrete direction.
- You receive: a written scent direction and cost options
- Questions asked before formulas begin — not after
Scent development & first samples
Typical: 1–2 weeksFor OEM work we adapt or reproduce your reference responsibly. For ODM work our perfumers compose an original accord to your brief. Both routes end in physical samples, shipped to you.
- You receive: 2–3 first samples with wear notes
- Packaging directions suggested alongside the scent
Refinement & approval
Typical: 1–2 refinement roundsSmell, compare, react. We adjust strength, longevity and character until you approve. Vessel and label mock-ups are refined in parallel so scent and look agree.
- You receive: revised samples and packaging mock-ups
- Approved formula is archived and locked for production
Phase 02 — Produce
From approval to your private label shipment
Once the sample is approved, everything moves on a written schedule: quotation first, production with checks at every stage, then delivery with documentation that makes importing easy.
- Batch-level quality controlIncoming materials, compounding records and finished-goods checks.
- Documentation with the goodsExport paperwork and safety documentation ready for your forwarder.
- Reorders that skip the dramaArchived formula and component sourcing mean faster cycles.
Quotation & agreement
Within one week of spec freezeYou receive a written proposal: unit pricing at your MOQ with packaging broken out, free sample delivery and approval steps, production timeline and payment schedule. Nothing moves until you approve it in writing.
- You receive: itemised written quote — no hidden lines
- Free samples are sent to you; bulk production waits for your confirmation
Production & quality control
Typical: 15–30 daysMaterials are checked in, concentrate is compounded and matured, then filled, labelled and finished to your approved spec. QC checks run at each stage with records you can audit.
- You receive: production updates, batch records and QC report
- Pre-shipment photos shared before goods leave
Private label delivery & reorder
Export docs with every shipmentYour order ships from Guangzhou with export documentation aligned to your forwarder or our door-to-door quote. Your formula stays archived and components can be reserved for faster reorders.
- You receive: pallet-ready goods and complete paperwork
- Reorder path: confirm quantity, receive refreshed quote, go
Program rhythm
The tempo you can plan a season around
1–2wks
To first samples
From an approved brief to physical samples in your hands.
15–30days
Typical production
After sample approval, depending on category and packaging.
1,000pcs
Launch MOQ
The starting runway — reorders move faster each cycle.
Typical guides only — every timeline is confirmed in writing with your quote.
Process FAQ
The details buyers ask about most
Begin step one
Your brief is the only part we cannot write for you
Describe your idea in a few lines — we will turn it into a scent direction, a sampling plan and a written quote.
WhatsApp +86 15989220454 · teresa@fasinaaroma.com