Geelong Fragrance Fair 2026

The Geelong Fragrance Fair

The Geelong Fragrance Fair is Australia's first and only dedicated fair for independent and artisanal perfumery. Presented by Olfactive Society Inc., it returns in 2026 for its second iteration, expanding to three days.

It is part marketplace, part festival, part industry gathering. Whether you are a dedicated fragrance enthusiast, a newcomer curious about the world of scent, or a perfumer looking to connect with your peers, the fair offers something rare: direct access to the makers behind the fragrances, the stories behind the scents, and the community behind the craft.

Dates and access

Saturday 12 September, 10am–4pm, and Sunday 13 September, 10am–1pm, are open to everyone.

Friday 11 September is a closed industry day, by invitation only. It is not open to the public.

The Makers Marketplace

At the heart of the fair is the Makers Marketplace, an indoor venue hosting up to 30 independent fragrance brands from across Australia and New Zealand.

Every exhibitor is a founder, perfumer or creative director. No distributors, no department store counters. Just the people who actually make the work, standing behind their table, ready to share it with you.

In 2026 the fair includes three fully supported marketplace stalls for First Nations businesses as part of an ongoing commitment to championing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices.

Talks, panels and workshops

Saturday's program opens with A First Sniff, a panel to help you navigate the marketplace and find the fragrances you'll love most — with Michael Bromley (Scent Assembly, Colognes and Kicks), Miccaeli Champness (Fumes) and Dr Liam Sardea (NOAH).

The Essence of Time brings Michael Nordstrand of Mythologist Studio, winner of the 2025 Art and Olfaction Award, tracing perfumery from ancient ritual and trade to the present day.

Australian Scented Stories pairs five Australian novels with five Australian perfumes, with Clare Presser of the Olfactive Society and Laura Bass of Lore Perfumery.

Inhale the Future takes Dr Caroline McMillan into odour plumes, electronic noses and how microgravity changes the way we smell.

On Sunday, Gamilaroi woman Lee Couch of First Nations Aromatherapy leads Connecting to Country through Scent, a workshop in Australian aromatic materials grounded in First Nations knowledge.

A Geelong Scent Trail featuring local restaurants and bars runs across the city all weekend.

The artistic program

Sensory Thresholds, presented by Creative Occupation and curated by Marita Batna, brings olfactory inspired art and pop-up performance to the fair across the weekend.

On Saturday evening, Polyester (1981) screens at the Pivotonian Cinema with the original Odorama scratch-and-sniff experience, courtesy of Smell Art. 

Why Geelong

Geelong is building a genuine reputation as a city that champions creativity, culture and community. The fair is part of that story, making the case for Geelong as a home for the Australian fragrance scene.

In 2025, the inaugural fair drew visitors from across Australia — Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania — along with New Zealand and Fiji.

About Olfactive Society

Olfactive Society Inc. is a registered incorporated association founded to support and promote Australia's independent and artisanal fragrance creators, to build a community of scent enthusiasts, makers, artists and industry professionals, and to educate the public about the art of perfumery and the science of smell.