Shale Albao, founder of Tadhana Fragrances, talks about using Filipino elements, storytelling, and identity to shape her perfumes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In this world, we rely on five basic senses &mdash; touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell &mdash; each serving its own purpose. Touch allows us to feel a hand interlocked with ours, sight reveals the beauty around us, hearing captures captivating melodies, and taste introduces our palate to a world of flavors. Yet smell, often overlooked, holds a unique power. A single scent can transport us to our fondest memories, evoking emotions and moments long past. It also serves as an extension of personality, a subtle yet profound expression of identity.
This belief in scent as a form of self-expression is at the heart of Tadhana Fragrances, a local brand founded by Shale Albao that embraces the unexpected and redefines perfumery through a Filipino lens. Speaking with L&rsquo;Officiel Philippines, Albao shares the journey behind Tadhana Fragrances &mdash; from childhood memories of scent to the desire to create a brand that intertwines Filipino identity with the art of perfumery.
Albao's love for perfumes began at an early age. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t grow up in a luxurious family, but I had an aunt who frequently traveled back and forth. She would bring home balikbayan boxes, and there were always perfumes inside. I loved discovering them,&rdquo; she recalls. &ldquo;Since then, every stage of my life has been marked by at least one signature scent.&rdquo;
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted lives in countless ways &mdash; changing plans, reshaping priorities, and, for Albao, marking the beginning of a new chapter. Amid this uncertainty, she found both a new partner and a deepened appreciation for scent, leading her to explore perfumery in a more personal way. &ldquo;I tried to get myself a new fragrance, and for months, I visited several stores, sniffing different perfumes, but I couldn&rsquo;t find my signature scent. Around that time, in 2020, my partner and my mom said, &lsquo;Why don&rsquo;t you just learn perfumery? After all, you have a chemical background.&rsquo;&rdquo;

Though initially hesitant, the idea lingered. In 2023, Albao came across ISIPCA, a renowned perfumery school in Paris, and decided to enroll. &ldquo;I attended their summer course, which consisted of three condensed classes from their year-long program. So I stayed there, took the class, and since then, the desire to start my own brand was ignited."

"There were about 26 of us in the class, representing 20 different nationalities, and I was the only Filipina &mdash; the only Southeast Asian.&nbsp; That&rsquo;s when I realized we needed more representation on the global perfumery stage.&rdquo;

Immersed in the world of scent and inspired by her time in Paris, Albao returned home with a vision: to create a fragrance brand that would celebrate Filipino identity. &ldquo;Tadhana means destiny, and I felt that everything aligned for me to pursue this path,&rdquo; she shares. &ldquo;I wanted to craft scents that feel personal, that tell stories, and that evoke emotions rooted in Filipino culture.&rdquo;
This philosophy is best embodied in Tadhana Fragrances&rsquo; Persona collection, which explores scent as an extension of identity. Each fragrance tells a unique story, inspired by different personalities and experiences. A defining aspect of Albao&rsquo;s creations is her use of distinctly Filipino ingredients, weaving local elements into fragrances that feel both personal and universal.

Among these scents is Lover, a fragrance deeply connected to Albao&rsquo;s roots. Inspired by her home province of Bacolod, it captures the rich, familiar aromas of muscovado sugar and aged rum. &ldquo;I wanted to celebrate what&rsquo;s local. It has this smokiness, a grainy texture, and hints of honey,&rdquo; she explains. &ldquo;I thought it would pair beautifully with rum because they share similar nuances.&rdquo; Alongside Lover, the Persona collection features five other scents, each telling a unique story: Classy, Innocent, Rockstar, Scandalous, and Rebel.

This year, Albao has ambitious plans for Tadhana Fragrances, starting with the search for a dedicated retail space. While the location is still being finalized, her vision extends beyond a traditional store &mdash; it will be an immersive experience where customers can fully express themselves through scent. &ldquo;The Persona collection is all about self-expression, and we want to make it as custom as possible,&rdquo; she shares. &ldquo;Aside from the existing scents, we want to create a space where people can come in and make their own perfume, choosing their top, middle, and base notes to craft something uniquely theirs.&rdquo;
Through Tadhana Fragrances, Albao redefines perfumery by embracing Filipino ingredients and storytelling, crafting scents that resonate with identity and emotion. Whether you seek nostalgia, empowerment, or romance in a bottle, Tadhana offers a fragrance that speaks to your soul.

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