What began as humble stalls in Manila bazaars—selling perfumes in stickered bottles and packed in plain brown paper bags—has now crossed international waters. Ian Darcy, a proudly Filipino fragrance brand, has grown to 194 stores across the Philippines, and has just opened its first international branch in Singapore.
The newly launched boutique at Lucky Plaza in Singapore marks a major step forward—a sign that the brand is expanding and ready to make its mark globally.
For co-founders Ian Darcy (after whom the brand is named) and Allan Lainez, becoming the first Filipino perfume brand to open a store overseas feels both surreal and well-earned.
What sets Ian Darcy apart is its simple philosophy: premium scents made affordable. Their fragrance oils are sourced from Grasse, France—the world’s perfume capital—while the rest of the ingredients, such as alcohol, are sourced locally. The process, from formulation to bottling, also happens in the Philippines.
With over 70 scents in rotation, the brand has carved out a loyal following.
“We tell customers: use the luxury brands on special occasions, and use Ian Darcy every day—even when you’re just going to the supermarket,” said Darcy. “Perfume shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be part of daily life.”
The expansion into Singapore wasn’t just about business—it was personal. Darcy said the city’s perfume-savvy population and multicultural vibe made it the ideal place to introduce Ian Darcy to the world stage. “When we visited Singapore and saw how big the perfume market is here, we knew this was the right place to start.”
The brand also plans to launch its own original fragrance—not just inspired by luxury scents, but a signature blend that’s distinctly Ian Darcy. To support its growing footprint, a second, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is being built in Lipa, Batangas.
Support from Pinoy community
During the store opening in early April, thousands of Filipinos came out to support, helped in part by the appearance of actor and heartthrob Ian Veneracion. The crowd at Lucky Plaza—where fans swarmed for photos, autographs, and a selfie moment with the star—reflected the deep support the brand enjoys from the Filipino community.
Veneracion himself enjoyed testing out the scents and mingling with attendees, many of whom were thrilled to see a Philippine brand taking center stage in Singapore.
“It’s our way of proving that Filipino brands can be world-class,” said Darcy. “We’re proud because this is something we didn’t really plan in the beginning, but it grew because Filipinos believed in it.”
The Singapore store, sleek and spacious, stands in stark contrast to the brand’s early days. Back then, Lainez and Darcy peddled perfumes at weekend bazaars in Glorietta, Eastwood, and Nuvali. Their packaging was far from fancy—a bottle, a sticker, a brown paper bag—but the scents spoke for themselves.
“Even if the presentation was rough, people still bought them because they smelled good. That’s when we knew we were on to something,” Lainez said.
Their first official store opened in 2016 at Victory Mall in Monumento, though sales were modest. The real turning point came when they secured a kiosk in UP Town Center in Quezon City, thanks to a leasing officer who took a chance on the brand. From there, Ian Darcy began making its way into more malls—Cash & Carry in Makati, SM North EDSA in QC, and eventually across the country.
More than just retail success, the brand now supports nearly 700 employees, all of whom receive full benefits including PhilHealth, SSS, accident insurance, and HMO coverage. “That’s one of the things I’m proudest of,” Darcy said. “Our team has grown so much, and we try to take care of them as much as we can.”
Looking at the Singapore store—a space that once seemed unimaginable—Darcy can’t help but reflect. “We’re used to looking up to foreign brands. But this time, it’s different. We came from the Philippines—and now we’re here,” he said. “Filipinos can do it, too.”
From brown paper bags to international shelves, Ian Darcy’s journey is proof that a scent, like a dream, can travel far.
