Sue Phillips: The Woman Who Bottled Memory and Magic
There are people who make fragrance.
And then there’s Sue Phillips—the woman who crafts identity in scent.
Step into her world and it’s like entering a modern alchemist’s studio, where crystal bottles line the walls like rare gems, and every note—from sultry amber to fresh bergamot—whispers a different kind of truth. She isn’t just creating perfume. She’s translating souls into scent, drop by drop, one client at a time.
With a voice as refined as a well-aged wine and a presence that feels both regal and inviting, Sue Phillips has spent her life capturing the intangible. She believes that fragrance is far more than a cosmetic flourish—it’s the invisible accessory we wear every day, the one people remember us by long after we’ve left the room.
And when you’ve worked with everyone from Tiffany & Co. to Jamie Foxx, Zendaya to royalty, your scent story is more than impressive—it’s iconic.
The Origin of a Fragrance Virtuoso
Sue’s story doesn’t start in a lab or a fashion house. It starts in South Africa, where she was born with a voice that could stir hearts and a curiosity that couldn’t be contained. Trained in music and performance, she came to New York and quickly found herself immersed in the luxury beauty world, where her combination of artistic flair and business acumen caught attention.
At Elizabeth Arden, she learned the fine balance of art and commerce. But it was at Tiffany & Co.—yes, that Tiffany—where she truly left her mark, designing their signature fragrance. It was a perfume that smelled like elegance, legacy, and a hint of rebellion.
But even after tasting corporate success, Sue knew there was something more personal, more meaningful to be done with fragrance.
Creating the Scenterprises Empire
In 1992, she launched Scenterprises, her bespoke fragrance company with one ambitious mission: to make scent deeply personal again.
No longer would perfume be about celebrity-endorsed bottles and department store overload. Sue wanted people to reclaim their olfactory identity. With her Custom Fragrance Bar™, she introduced a new kind of luxury—one that asked you to pause, reflect, and smell your own story.
Her studio, tucked away on Manhattan’s Upper East Side like a secret garden, is where perfume dreams are born. Here, clients engage in personalized fragrance consultations that feel more like therapy than retail. Sue guides them through fragrance “families”—woody, spicy, floral, fresh—decoding their scent memories, preferences, and even personality quirks. The end result? A signature scent no one else in the world has.
That’s the power of Sue’s approach. It’s bespoke beauty at its finest—individual, emotional, unforgettable.
The Scent of Healing
When the pandemic stole so much from the world—connection, stability, and for many, their sense of smell—Sue stepped in with something extraordinary. She began working with COVID-19 survivors who had developed anosmia, using scent therapy as a bridge back to wellness.
Through custom fragrance blending and olfactory exercises, she helped clients reawaken a part of themselves that felt lost. Some cried. Some gasped. Some simply smiled as scent—so long absent—rushed back in.
It wasn’t just a feel-good story. It was science meeting soul. And it got the attention of CNN, Forbes, The New York Times, and other major media, positioning Sue not just as a fragrance expert, but a pioneer in sensory healing.
Fragrance as Legacy
If you ask Sue what fragrance means to her, she’ll tell you it’s like a musical composition. Each note plays its part:
- The top note is your first impression—sparkling and light.
- The heart note is your truth—emotional and complex.
- The base note is your lasting essence—who you are when everything else fades.
It’s no surprise then, that her love of music continues to influence her work. She still sings. She still performs. And her book, The Power of Perfume, is a love letter to the world of scent—equal parts guide, memoir, and manifesto.
The Global Stage
Today, Sue continues to innovate and inspire. Her virtual fragrance sessions have brought custom scent-making to clients around the globe, from Paris to Tokyo to LA. She hosts events, speaks on panels, mentors young perfumers, and collaborates with luxury brands seeking that elusive blend of authenticity and allure.
Her latest initiative? An educational campaign to bring scent awareness into wellness, fashion, and even therapy spaces. Because for Sue, fragrance is not a product—it’s a pathway. To memory. To healing. To identity.
Final Spritz
In a world overrun by noise and sameness, Sue Phillips is a reminder that elegance is eternal, and individuality is worth celebrating. She teaches us that the most powerful thing you can wear isn’t on your wrist or your waist—it’s the invisible aura that tells your story before you ever speak.
She is the high note.
The heart chord.
The base that lingers.
And with every bottle she crafts, she bottles you—fearless, fragrant, and unforgettable.
