Ampersand Fragrances
Ampersand Fragrances is a British niche perfume house making Eau de Parfum by hand, in small batches, in the UK. Every scent is vegan and cruelty-free, and the collection is designed to be free from gender, so each bottle is simply about how it smells and how it makes you feel.
Our edit includes Santorini, California, Iconic, Unique and Portofino, from bright citrus to warm, smoky oud. Find them alongside the rest of our fragrance and accessories, and come and try them on your skin in our Pontcanna Street shop in Cardiff. We buy in small batches, so once a scent has gone, it's gone.
Ampersand Fragrances at Kiti
We are always looking for brands that feel personal, and Ampersand Fragrances fits that perfectly. The British perfume house was founded by a team with fifteen years of experience developing and manufacturing fine fragrance for other brands, and it now makes its own collection of Eau de Parfum by hand, in small batches, in the UK.
Ampersand describes its scents as free from distraction, gender or colour. The bottles are deliberately simple, every fragrance is 100% vegan and cruelty-free, and the focus is entirely on the perfume itself. It sits beautifully within our wider fragrance collection.
Ampersand Perfume: Our Edit
We have chosen a mix of fresh and warm scents so there is something for every mood and season:
- California: elegantly casual, opening with lemon and apple, moving into a soft floral heart of magnolia and rose, and settling on musk and sandalwood. Sunshine in a bottle.
- Portofino: uplifting and wanderlust-inspired, with lemon, ginger and pink pepper over dry cedarwood and amber.
- Unique: clean yet intoxicating, with bergamot, black pepper, birch and a hint of leather.
- Iconic: rich, smoky and woody, built around oud with amber, cashmere, cinnamon, saffron and a lift of lemon.
- Santorini: named after the Greek island and well worth trying on your skin in store.
A Gender-Free Approach to Perfume
Ampersand does not divide its collection into perfumes for women and fragrances for men. Instead, each scent is designed to be worn by anyone who loves it. Lighter, citrus-led fragrances such as California and Portofino are lovely for daytime and warmer months, while Iconic and Unique have more depth for evenings and colder weather. If you are buying for someone else, start with the scents they already wear and look for similar notes.
Eau de Parfum Made in Small Batches
Eau de Parfum has a higher concentration of perfume oils than Eau de Toilette, which generally means a richer scent that lasts longer on the skin. Ampersand makes every fragrance by hand in small batches, which suits the way we buy at Kiti. We choose carefully, buy in small quantities and never restock, so the edit changes over time.
How to Choose a Fragrance
Perfume always smells slightly different on the skin than it does on a test strip, so we recommend trying a scent and wearing it for a few hours before deciding. The top notes you smell first fade within minutes, and the heart and base notes are what stay with you through the day. You are very welcome to visit us on Pontcanna Street, Cardiff, and try the Ampersand collection in person.
Ampersand Fragrances as a Gift
A bottle of Ampersand is one of the easiest gifts in the shop: beautifully simple, made in Britain and suitable for anyone. Pair it with a faux fur scarf from Helen Moore or a piece from our jewellery edit for a present that feels properly considered.
Buying Ampersand Fragrances in the UK
Kiti is an independent UK stockist of Ampersand Fragrances. Shop our edit online or visit the shop in Cardiff, and remember that like everything at Kiti, it is bought in small batches and never restocked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Ampersand Fragrances made?
Ampersand Fragrances are made by hand, in small batches, in the UK. The brand describes itself as a British niche fragrance house.
Are Ampersand Fragrances vegan and cruelty-free?
Yes. Ampersand states that its fragrances are 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
Are Ampersand Fragrances for men or women?
Ampersand designs its collection to be free from gender, so every scent can be worn by anyone. Lighter options include California and Portofino, while Iconic and Unique are warmer and deeper.
Where can I buy Ampersand perfume in the UK?
You can buy Ampersand Fragrances online at Kiti or in our independent boutique on Pontcanna Street in Cardiff, where you can try the scents in person.
What does Ampersand California smell like?
California opens with lemon and apple, has a floral heart of magnolia and rose, and settles on musk and sandalwood. It is bright, easy and polished.
What is the difference between Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette?
Eau de Parfum contains a higher concentration of perfume oils than Eau de Toilette, so it usually smells richer and lasts longer on the skin. All the Ampersand fragrances we stock are Eau de Parfum.
