
When Bryan talks about his journey, he doesn’t dress it up — he tells it like it is. At just 25, he has already carved out a space in the beauty world that feels unmistakably his own, beginning like many of his peers during the COVID-19 era on TikTok. What started as a pastime of sharing his thoughts and knowledge quickly evolved into something more defined, something that would set him apart in an increasingly crowded creator landscape. While others chased virality through the next trending sound, Bryan leaned into something different — the invisible accessory that lingers long after you’ve left the room: fragrance. It wasn’t just a happy accident; it was a deliberate choice, a way to stand out while staying true to what he loved. Today, he’s affectionately recognised as “that perfume boy,” a title he carries with a mix of pride and humility. For Bryan, fragrance isn’t frivolous — it’s memory, emotion, and identity distilled into a single bottle.
What’s striking about Bryan is that he doesn’t chase trends or attempt to ride waves that will fade tomorrow. Instead, he creates from a place of honesty, searching for work that can breathe, linger, and make an impact long after the initial glance, just like a good fragrance. In a world that often rewards speed and noise, he prefers to take his time, peeling back the layers until he finds clarity. His process isn’t about excess—it’s about subtraction. Stripping away the unnecessary until only what matters remains. That’s where the real story is for him, in the clean lines and the sharp edges, in the negative space that leaves room for interpretation.
Yet, despite this restraint, his work is never cold. It carries warmth, personality, and a perspective that reflects who he is. His strength lies in that ability to balance: to be both bold and subtle, both accessible and deeply personal. Find out more about his perspective and his journey in our interview with “that perfume boy” himself.
“I’m Bryan, I’m 25 years old and I started my creator journey like most – on TikTok during the COVID-19 period. I’ve always enjoyed creating content, sharing my knowledge and it kinda took off from there.”
Who is Bryan and how did your journey as a content creator begin?
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
“Being able to be recognized as “that perfume boy” really brings a lot of joy to me because I believe everyone deserves to smell good and it doesn’t have to be this complicated monster to tackle.”
When you strip away the products, the content, and the industry noise—what does beauty mean to you personally?
“I think beauty to me means being able to freely express yourself, no matter what other people think. Our job is not to be “visually appealing” to anyone but ourselves. As long as we’re happy, that’s all that matters.”
What’s one misconception about being a content creator that you wish people understood better?
“I think a lot of people think that we just sit in front of a camera, shoot a video and it will be a hit. A lot of the times we have to think about a concept, shoot the video, edit, revise, and that video may not even get the numbers that we want. For every 1 good video, there’s probably about 10 that don’t perform well. ”
As a content creator, what has been your biggest challenge in navigating such a fast-moving, competitive industry?
“It’s definitely going to be coming up with fresh content ideas on such a high volume basis. It’s hard especially in a niche content environment where you can’t just pointlessly trend-jack, but rather analysing the current trends and seeing how it fits your personal content niche or brand.”
Your content on social media has a lot of focus on fragrance as opposed to other categories of beauty, was that a coincidence or did you always plan to go into this niche?
“When I started content creation, I already knew that beauty creators were a dime a dozen. Fragrance was the one way I knew I could carve a niche out for myself. Besides, fragrance is an extension of beauty anyway, so I figured I could do both too.”
How do you deal with criticism or comparison in an industry that can be so focused on perfection?
“You have to get into this mindset of comparing yourself to no one but yourself. Comparison is the thief of joy. We don’t know what anyone is really going through besides what they post online so it’s not fair to ourselves to make comparisons. All we have to do is be better than the person we were yesterday.”
What role do you think fragrance will play in the future of beauty—will it stay traditional, or evolve into something more experimental and tech-driven?
“I’m seeing a big boom in the interest of niche perfumery, which means that consumers are getting braver at trying more out-of-the-box scents. I think perfume companies are definitely pushing the boundaries of scent and seeing what they can do to standout from such a fast paced, saturated environment.”
Do you see fragrance as an extension of beauty, fashion, or personality—and why?
“Absolutely. I always say, a look is never complete without the right perfume. Smell conveys feelings and emotions in a way that clothes and makeup could never achieve. It activates a completely different sense of the human body. When a smell is good enough, it sticks around in a person’s memory, long after it has faded.”
“Le Labo The Noir 29, Fugazzi Passionfroudh, and YSL Tuxedo.”
If you were to only wear 3 fragrances for the rest of your life what would they be?
If you could change one thing about the beauty industry right now—whether it’s inclusivity, sustainability, or authenticity—what would you burn down and rebuild?
“Authenticity for sure. I think we tend to mix criticism with complaints. I can dislike aspects of a product and still think it’s a good product overall. It will benefit everyone if we’re a little more open to feedback. It’s the only way the industry can continue to be better.”
Beyond content creation, what are your future plans—do you see yourself launching your own brand, writing a book, or moving into another creative space?
“I definitely want to explore perfume creation or even signing up for a perfumery course. I’m very picky about what I like to wear, so what better way than to make one myself. ”
CREDITS
ECCO SHOES
FRED JEWELRY
SACOOR BROTHERS
TGV CINEMAS, SURIA KLCC
MAKEUP ARTIST: SAMANTHA FERNANDEZ
PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRISTABELLE YONG