Perfume is personal. A memory, a mood, a moment you didn’t know you were trying to preserve. When I first smelled Gallivant’s Istanbul, it stopped me cold. I was standing in my kitchen, late at night, just about to pour tea, when that soft rush of amber and spice reached me. It felt like walking down a narrow street in Kadıköy at dusk, the light slanting, the air warm. It wasn’t just a perfume. It was a whisper from home.
Nick Steward, the founder of Gallivant Perfumes, isn’t in the business of manufacturing trends. He’s crafting time capsules. In a world eager to automate art and algorithm its way to the next launch, Steward stands still, deliberately.
“I didn’t start Gallivant with a business plan,” he tells me early in our conversation. “I was actually fleeing that world.”
He’s being modest. Steward has decades of fragrance experience, from Puig to L’Artisan Parfumeur. But Gallivant is not a corporate pivot. It’s a return. To places, to feelings, to that instinctive moment when scent stops you in your tracks. Each Gallivant fragrance is a city, but more importantly, a story.
Los Angeles started with a photograph. Steward was standing in the middle of Sunset Boulevard, watching a breathtaking sunset, the pinks and purples so intense they stopped him in his tracks. “I don’t drive, which surprises many Americans,” he said, laughing. “So I was on foot, and I just took a picture. The colors were so beautiful, I sent it to Karine Chevallier in Paris and said, ‘Isn’t this a beautiful moment?’” That spontaneous moment became the seed of a perfume. And four years later, they had a fragrance.
Four years. That’s what he calls “slow perfumery.” No launch calendar, no marketing blueprint. Just time and patience. “You can’t design a perfume without wearing it,” he says. “In different weather, at different times, on different skin.”
This summer, Gallivant expands with the Gulf Series, a new collection inspired by Steward’s childhood visits to the Arabian Gulf. The scents are richer, more concentrated, with 36 percent oil in each bottle, and the packaging reflects that weight. Raised ink on glass, produced by the only printer in the UK capable of the work. “My accountant hates it,” he says, half laughing. “But I think people can feel the difference.”
I believe him. After all, I wore Istanbul to bed the other night. It unfurled in my sleep, amber, herbs, and that hard-to-place modernity that makes it feel eternal. And Los Angeles? It’s a narcotic drift of narcissus and smoke, with flickers of neon and salt. As someone who lived in both cities, I can tell you: he got it right.
Gallivant is fully independent. No investors. No pressure to churn. Concentrates come from Accords et Parfums, Edmond Roudnitska’s lab in Grasse, France. Founded by one of perfumery’s most revered figures, the lab is known for its artistic independence and its historic role in shaping modern fragrance creation. It remains a benchmark for quality, craftsmanship, and restraint. Every bottle is compounded, macerated, and filled in East London, by hand. There is no waste. There is no rush. “We’re going in the opposite direction,” Steward says. “We don’t need to be a part of the hype.”
He’s wary of what he calls the gold rush, the flood of new brands, AI-generated formulas, investor-funded expansion schemes. “Perfume isn’t fashion,” he says. “It’s not meant to be fast.”
Instead, Gallivant relies on something radical: word of mouth. “Some of our best customers aren’t even on social media,” Steward says. They just love perfume. They talk. They share.
For newcomers, Steward suggests the discovery set. Not to upsell, but because he wants you to wear them. Live with them. Let the scent sink in before you decide. “I’m no fan of blind buying,” he says. “Perfume isn’t always love at first sniff.”
In a market obsessed with speed, Gallivant is built to last. Not loud. Not flashy. Just quietly, beautifully, itself.
“We’re a profitable small business,” Steward tells me. “And I want us to still be here in 30 years, making timeless perfumes that carry a little soul in every bottle.”
If you ask me, that’s what luxury should be.
The Gallivant Discovery Set
Twelve cities. Twelve scents. A passport to memory, place, and personal story. Here’s what’s inside:
Abu Dhabi
Cypress, Cardamom, Iris, Saffron, Leather, Musks
A quiet tribute to the desert. Inspired by Wilfred Thesiger’s Arabian Sands, this scent captures the beauty of the Empty Quarter with warm spices, herbs, and leather. It’s nostalgic and sophisticated, with a vintage edge.
Accra
Passionberry, Mango, Coffee, Cocoa, Leather, Vintage Vinyl
A vibrant scent full of color and rhythm. Tropical fruits lead the way, followed by coffee, chocolate, and tobacco. The drydown is bold with patchouli, smoky musks, and a touch of vintage vinyl. Accra is expressive, warm, and playful.
Berlin
Grapefruit, Black Tea, Black Pepper, Vetiver, Cedar, Patchouli
Bright citrus meets smoky woods in this modern portrait of Berlin. Tea, spice, and a forested edge make it raw yet refined. A scent of contrasts that reflects the city itself.
Brooklyn
Citrus, Incense, Magnolia, Ozonic Notes, Musks, White Woods
Fresh and easygoing. Brooklyn smells like summer in the city, with fizzy citrus, light florals, and a clean woody base. Incense adds dimension without weight.
Buenos Aires
Grape, Petitgrain, Yerba Maté, Tonka, Leather, Dulce de Leche
A joyful scent inspired by Argentina’s wine culture and romantic soul. It opens with grape and citrus, moves into ceibo flower and smoky yerba maté, then finishes with leather, tonka, and sweet caramel. Creamy, indulgent, and full of charm.
Bukhara
Caraway, Pear, Orris, Osmanthus, Saffron, Musks
Rooted in iris, this fragrance is textured with pear, apricot, ambrette, and gentle spice. Inspired by the Silk Road city in Uzbekistan, Bukhara is earthy, poetic, and softly luminous.
Gdańsk
Plum, Honey, Leather, Incense, Vanilla, Ambergris
A rich, ambery blend inspired by Poland’s historic port city. Leather, tobacco, and incense are softened by plum, honey, and vanilla. Plant-derived ambergris brings depth and elegance.
Istanbul
Bergamot, Cardamom, Lavender, Patchouli, Tonka, Vanilla
An opulent yet approachable scent. Spices and leather reflect Istanbul’s grandeur, while creamy woods and amber bring warmth. A bridge between cultures and eras.
London
Cucumber, Rose de Mai, Orris Root, Leather, Sandalwood, Cedarwood
Cool, crisp, and understated. London combines fresh cucumber and delicate rose with powdery orris and soft woods. It’s polished without trying too hard.
Los Angeles
Eucalyptus, Pineapple, Tuberose, Guaiac, Cade, Palo Santo
A radiant floral with California heat. Eucalyptus and pineapple lift the opening, tuberose and narcissus add drama, and smoky woods create a soft, lingering finish. Bright, bold, and a little surreal.
Naples
Ginger, Sea Salt, Incense, Nutmeg, Birch, Amber
Spicy, salty, and smoky. Naples blends coastal freshness with deep incense, ginger heat, and woody resins. It captures both the brightness and shadow of southern Italy.
Tokyo
Yuzu, Wasabi, Hinoki, Iris, Incense, Vetiver
Modern and serene. Tokyo starts with citrus and wasabi, then unfolds into smoky incense and pale woods. Iris and vetiver add calm and structure. Clean, spiritual, and quietly energizing.
Each one is elegant, thoughtful, and layered. The set isn’t just an introduction to a brand, it’s a passport to a sensibility. Gallivant doesn’t shout. It whispers, and lingers.sn’t shout. It whispers, and lingers.
To watch the full Interview, please visit our YouTube page.
Classification
Primary Category: Independent, Travel‑Inspired Artisan Brand
Secondary Tags: Creative Director‑Led (Nick Steward), Unisex, Vegan & Cruelty‑Free, Small Batch UK Production, Narrative‑Driven City Concepts, Collaborates with Private Labs (Grasse perfumers), Slow‑Perfume Ethos, Heritage Revival
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