Neandertal

Neandertal – conceptual niche perfume beyond human-centered thinking

Neandertal is not a historical reference and not a museum concept. It is a radical, contemporary niche perfume brand dedicated to conceptual perfumery and experimental niche fragrances that treat scent as an existential experience rather than a decorative object. From the very first encounter, Neandertal positions itself unmistakably within the world of niche perfume, deliberately distancing its work from classic perfumery codes, trend-driven aesthetics, and emotional convenience.

Founded by Berlin-based artist and creative director Kentaro Yamada, Neandertal operates at the intersection of art, anthropology, and design. Perfume is not presented as a lifestyle product or status symbol, but as a cultural medium—one that questions how humans perceive themselves, their origins, and their place within a much larger continuum of time and existence.

Beginning – niche perfume as an existential inquiry

As a conceptual niche perfume project, Neandertal explores fundamental questions: Where do we come from? Where are we going? These questions are not answered narratively, but approached through olfactory experience. The perspective is intentionally non-anthropocentric. Humanity is not the center of the universe here, but one transient element within it.

Neandertal stands as an artistic response to the status quo of contemporary perfumery and to humanity’s deeply ingrained, egocentric view of reality. Fragrance is not used to affirm identity, but to unsettle it. Each niche fragrance creates distance, invites reflection, and encourages self-observation rather than self-display.

As the first step in this exploration, Kentaro Yamada created Neandertal perfume to investigate the parallels between the lingering echoes of our evolutionary past and the phenomenon of olfactory resonance. The resulting compositions are contemporary, highly original, and deliberately experimental. Traditional perfume architectures—top, heart, and base—are intentionally set aside in favor of open, non-linear structures that unfold slowly and differently on each wearer.

Neandertal – history before history, expressed through niche fragrance

The name Neandertal is charged with meaning, yet the brand does not indulge in nostalgia. Neandertals lived across Eurasia for more than 450,000 years, nearly five times longer than Homo sapiens has existed to date. Scientific research confirms that they were sophisticated beings who mastered language, controlled fire, and created art long before modern humans arrived.

Approximately 50,000 years after both species coexisted, Neandertals disappeared almost entirely. The reasons remain speculative.

The niche perfumes of Neandertal engage precisely with this absence. They function as an olfactory journey into humanity’s deep past, giving presence to a lost civilization whose DNA survives today only within ourselves. At the same time, they gesture toward a future Neandertals were never able to witness. In this sense, Neandertal is not retrospective, but an avant-garde niche perfume brand that collapses past and future into a single sensory moment.

Technology – archaic form, contemporary niche perfumery

The iconic Neandertal bottles are inspired by prehistoric flint hand axes from Norfolk, United Kingdom—among the oldest and most ubiquitous design objects in human history. These archaic forms are realized using contemporary production methods.

Stoneware bottles are slip-cast from these hand axes, then fired and vitrified at temperatures exceeding 1,400 °C. Glass bottles are produced using state-of-the-art laser 3D scanning and printing technology. This dialogue between archaic form and modern precision reinforces Neandertal’s position as a rigorously thought-through niche perfume brand, where concept, material, and scent form a coherent whole.

Each 90 ml stoneware bottle is digitally numbered and equipped with an NFC chip, allowing its provenance and individuality to be verified via any NFC-enabled smartphone.

Dark & Light – impermanence captured in niche fragrance

As a pair, Neandertal Dark and Neandertal Light address the impermanence of the world: the rise and fall of species, cultures, and civilizations. They remind us that our perception of time, space, and history is inevitably limited by a human-centered point of view.

These unisex niche perfumes are not conceived as opposites, but as complementary poles within a broader continuum. On skin, they evolve individually, underscoring Neandertal’s belief that fragrance is relational—shaped as much by the wearer as by the composition itself.

Us & Them – identity, belonging, tension

With Neandertal Us and Neandertal Them, the brand turns toward one of humanity’s oldest conceptual frameworks: belonging versus otherness. This tension—between inclusion and exclusion—has shaped human identity throughout history and remains acutely relevant today.

As conceptual niche perfumes, these fragrances invite reflection on identity as something fluid and unstable, rather than fixed. The accompanying publication Us Them – Volume One, released in September 2024, expands this discourse beyond scent into visual and written form.

Luca Turin on Neandertal

Biophysicist, author, and perfume critic Luca Turin is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary fragrance criticism. Turin has acknowledged Neandertal for its intellectual rigor and its refusal to conform to commercial expectations. He highlights the brand’s commitment to perfume as a cultural and philosophical experiment—an approach that exemplifies the most uncompromising side of modern niche perfumery.

Neandertal at scent amor

At scent amor, Neandertal is curated as an avant-garde niche perfume brand for those seeking exceptional niche fragrances beyond convention. Georg R. Wuchsa selects Neandertal as a statement of contemporary perfumery that treats scent as culture rather than commodity. Through fragrance samples, personal consultation, and thoughtful curation, scent amor offers access to one of the most uncompromising voices in today’s niche perfume landscape.

FAQ – Neandertal Niche Perfume

What is Neandertal as a niche perfume brand?

Neandertal is a conceptual niche perfume brand that approaches fragrance as an existential and anthropological experience. It operates outside traditional perfumery conventions and focuses on perception, reflection, and intellectual depth.

Who are Neandertal niche fragrances created for?

Neandertal niche fragrances are designed for individuals who approach perfume as an experience rather than a product. They appeal to those drawn to experimental, reduced, and concept-driven niche perfumes beyond trends and decorative aesthetics.

Are Neandertal perfumes unisex?

Yes. All Neandertal fragrances are conceived as unisex niche perfumes. Gender plays no role within the brand’s philosophy; fragrance interacts with skin, warmth, and individual perception rather than social categories.

Why do Neandertal perfumes feel different from classic fragrances?

Neandertal deliberately avoids traditional top–heart–base structures. As an experimental niche perfume, each composition unfolds in a non-linear way, encouraging active perception instead of passive consumption.

Why is Neandertal part of the scent amor curation?

scent amor curates exceptional niche perfumes with clear artistic and conceptual integrity. Neandertal was selected by Georg R. Wuchsa because the brand challenges conventional fragrance thinking and positions perfume as a cultural medium. Samples and expert guidance allow for an informed and reflective encounter with the brand.

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