



Indian men’s luxury fragrances race ahead of mass brands
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. MUMBAI : The business of smelling good is now booming in India, thanks to men. Sales of premium and luxury perfumes are rising steadily, with men emerging as the biggest growth drivers in the category, according to industry executives and data shared with Mint.
Men make up 60% of India’s $189.1 million fragrance market, according to research firm Euromonitor. Men’s fragrances grew 14.6% in 2024, outpacing the overall market growth of 11.9%. The market is expected to expand at a 15.23% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2032, Brickwork Ratings data showed.
Rising disposable incomes among India’s expanding middle class are pushing up spending on premium personal care, including perfumes, increasingly seen as part of everyday grooming rather than occasional indulgence, according to a 2025 Brickwork Ratings report. While mass deodorants have long dominated men’s grooming, the shift is now toward premium and luxury fragrances. Historically targeted at women and sold through high-end international retailers, these products are finding a growing base among men who are not just buying more—but trading up, reshaping the structure and pricing power of the category.
Beauty retailer Nykaa’s fragrance vertical, Nykaa Perfumery, reported that in the December 2025 quarter, the sub-brand’s average order value (AOV) was three times that of regular beauty products. Over 45% of its gross merchandise value (GMV) in the quarter came from sales to men, especially in high-end and luxury products. “If you look at the fragrance category in India, men are over-indexed versus many global markets," a Nykaa spokesperson said in response to Mint’s questions.
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