Sensitive skin and allergies: how to choose a safe fragrance
Sensitive skin and a love of fragrances coexist with more difficulty than one would like. You apply ...
The perfume brand What We Do Is Secret emerged on the map of niche perfumery in 2015, becoming a bold voice from Los Angeles. Its creator, Christopher Lazenbü, approached creating fragrances not as a traditional perfumer, but as a conceptual artist and researcher. The brand name, translated as "What We Do Is Secret," refers to the spirit of underground and punk culture, emphasizing the reluctance to follow mass trends. From the very beginning, the house's philosophy was built on deconstructing perfumery art to its basic elements, offering a radically pure and minimalist view of scents.
The idea was to shift the focus from complex compositions to the individual beauty and character of individual aromatic molecules. This makes What We Do Is Secret one of the most conceptual and discussed phenomena in contemporary perfumery, attracting the attention of both connoisseurs seeking new sensations and critics evaluating the boldness of the experiment.
The unique style or "DNA" of the brand is absolute minimalism and a scientific approach. Unlike most houses that create complex bouquets, What We Do Is Secret dedicates each of its fragrances to a single synthetic molecule. It is a pure chord, devoid of any embellishments or development over time. This approach allows for a full appreciation of the texture, depth, and emotional response that a seemingly simple ingredient can evoke.
The brand consciously works with synthetic materials, which are the foundation of modern perfumery but are usually hidden behind a facade of natural notes. Here, they come to the forefront, demonstrating their aesthetic value. The fragrances are unisex, free from gender or seasonal restrictions, and represent objects for meditation and deep study rather than conventional perfume compositions.
The hallmark and essentially the only collection of the brand is the "Monoscent" line. The name speaks for itself: "mono" meaning one, "scent." Each bottle is an exploration of a specific synthetic compound in its purest form. This collection is the key to understanding the entire philosophy of What We Do Is Secret. It offers a catalog not of finished perfumes, but of perfumery "primes," allowing the connoisseur to independently assess the building blocks from which all the scents around us are constructed, from expensive niche creations to household chemicals.
Although the brand does not aim to create hits in the traditional sense, some of its creations have become cult favorites among connoisseurs of conceptual perfumery. The flagships and most popular fragrances are rightly considered to be those that most fully reveal the house's idea.
What We Do Is Secret – Monoscent E is dedicated to the molecule Ethylene Brassylate—a pure, soft, slightly powdery musk that serves as the foundation for countless perfumes. It is the quintessence of skin and clean laundry.
Its "brother," What We Do Is Secret – Monoscent G, explores the molecule Galaxolide—one of the most common modern musks, recognizable for its fresh, slightly sweet, and very voluminous sound, associated with purity.
Bolder experiments include What We Do Is Secret – E Timbersilk, presenting a pure woody-amber chord, dry, elegant, and modern, as well as What We Do Is Secret – G Galaxolide Super, which is an enhanced, more saturated and vibrant version of the iconic white musk.
Reviews of What We Do Is Secret perfumery are highly polarized, which is a sign of true art. For some, it is boring and reminiscent of the smell of laundry detergent or pure laboratory reagent. For others, it is a revelation that allows for a rethinking of the very concept of perfume. Connoisseurs note the incredible longevity and linearity of the fragrances: they sound exactly as intended, from the first to the last hour.
These perfumes rarely become a choice for everyday wear in the classical sense, but they are invaluable as an educational tool, an object for collecting, and a source of inspiration. They provoke thought, spark discussions, and break stereotypes—precisely why the brand is loved by its devoted followers. If you are looking not just for a pleasant scent, but for an intellectual challenge and deep immersion into the matter of fragrance, then the secret world of What We Do Is Secret is open for exploration.
| Number of fragrances | 4 |
| Collections (0) | |
| Segment | Niche perfumery |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Official website | https://wwd.is |
Sensitive skin and a love of fragrances coexist with more difficulty than one would like. You apply ...
Lilac is one of the most recognizable scents of childhood. The bush at grandmother's house. The bouq...
Every era has its own scent. Not literally, but in how it felt: what it wanted, what it feared, what...
Join the Fragsi community and get access to all its features