“This is the smell of my dreams. I make perfumes that are personal and immediate. Deceptively playful, rooted in the unconscious, confounding the senses, like a kaleidoscopic explosion of beauty, with enough force to blow you away.”
— Spyros Drosopoulos, Amsterdam, 2014
Essential Information
Founded: 2015
Founder: Dr. Spyros Drosopoulos
Based in: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Official website: barutiperfumes.com
A Note on Pronunciation: In Japanese, the name is commonly rendered “Baruchi,” a reading also used by authorised Japanese retailers, including NOSE SHOP.
The Founder and the Origins of the Brand
Born in the Netherlands, Raised in Greece, and Awarded a Doctorate in Germany
Spyros Drosopoulos has a highly unusual background for someone in the perfume industry. Born in the Netherlands, he moved to Athens, Greece, in early childhood and grew up there. On reaching university age, he fulfilled his dream of returning to the Netherlands to study psychology. He then moved to Germany for doctoral study and earned a PhD in neuroscience for research on “sleep and memory consolidation,” graduating magna cum laude (with the highest honours). His doctoral research concerned the process by which the brain converts short-term memories into long-term ones: in other words, how “memories” are formed during sleep.
After earning his doctorate, he worked at the University of Amsterdam as a postdoctoral researcher, studying the relationship between tolerance of night work and memory, and as an assistant professor. Yet even as he pursued an academic career, he never truly felt like “a fish in water.”
Both of his parents were biologists, and from childhood he had a sensitive curiosity about smells and tastes. The scent of flowers, the odour of drains: his keen interest in smells that could repel him and yet draw him in emerged early. While studying psychology, he also became fascinated by perfume’s ability to “alter other people’s perceptions and work on the unconscious.”
“I became interested in perfume from a psychological perspective. Wearing perfume changes the way other people perceive you. Clothes and hairstyles create an immediate impression, but scent operates on an unconscious level. I became deeply interested in what that means.”
— Spyros Drosopoulos
Autumn 2009: The Workshop That Changed Everything
The turning point came in autumn 2009. To fulfil a long-held dream, he attended a “Make Your Own Perfume” workshop run by the Dutch fragrance-material supplier Hekserij. That single experience turned an interest into a “passion” that went beyond a hobby.
“After attending the workshop, it became a passion rather than just a hobby. I started buying raw materials and experimenting while doing research at the university. Every year I renewed my university contract, but at some point I realised that I no longer wanted to go to work; I wanted to stay at home and make perfume. So I decided to become a professional perfumer.”
— Spyros Drosopoulos
Before the Brand’s Creation: Setbacks and a “Problem with the Name”
Although the details have not been made public, Spyros has admitted in an earlier interview that he experienced serious difficulties over a “problem with the name” before starting Baruti.
“The hardest thing for me was when there was a problem with the name of my first brand. It was the most difficult period of my life, and I felt as though I was drowning.”
— Spyros Drosopoulos
The publicly available information did not establish precisely what this “first brand” was or how the situation was subsequently resolved. However, material for a 2016 event at the Amsterdam performance-art organisation Mediamatic lists him under the name “Bartuti,” suggesting that the brand name may have changed.
2015: The Birth of Baruti
After several years of intensive study and exploration of raw materials, Spyros officially launched his own brand, BARUTI, in 2015. Proud to be self-taught, he says this allowed him to pursue free combinations without being bound by the established “grammar” of perfumery.
“Being self-taught was a blessing in disguise. Unconstrained by convention, I am always looking for new materials, new combinations and new interpretations of familiar themes. I am a ‘novelty seeker.’”
— Spyros Drosopoulos
The brand name “Baruti” means “gunpowder” in Greek. Yet it is not simply a word for something “explosive.” Used adjectivally, it can also suggest something “strongly individual,” “sharp” or “edgy.” Just as one might say “It’s baruti!” of a wonderful wine or dish in Greek, it is a word that conveys both quality and intensity.
“Baruti is not a warlike or dangerous explosion, but an explosion of beauty! Perfume is concentrated, and when you spray it the scent ‘explodes,’ making its presence immediately felt. I think it is a perfect word for niche perfume.”
— Spyros Drosopoulos
What Defines the Brand
A Philosophy of Scent-Making: Written by One Person and Blended by Hand in the “Labtelier”
All Baruti formulas are written and hand-blended by Spyros himself in his Amsterdam laboratory, the “Labtelier.” With no outsourcing or contract manufacturing, this is a system in which Spyros alone oversees the brand’s quality and individuality.
The motivations behind his scents are varied. Sometimes they begin with curiosity about a material itself, as Chai and Voyance did; at other times the starting point is music, a painting, travel, a memory or feelings for a particular person. Spyros says each fragrance has a “persona,” or personality, intended to blend with that of its wearer.
“I like telling stories through smells. Each Baruti fragrance is a persona with its own distinct personality and story. Like a DJ or video artist performing live, I use materials and creativity to make sequences of scent that tell my story. Not every smell always has to be ‘good.’ Who decided that it did?”
— Spyros Drosopoulos
The Choice to Be Gender-Free
All Baruti fragrances are unisex. This is not a marketing strategy but stems from Spyros’s firmly held philosophy.
“Smell is personal. It is something to choose for the occasion, just like clothes, shoes or accessories. Attaching a label other than its name diminishes its individuality.”
— Spyros Drosopoulos
Bottles and Packaging: Childhood Memories of a Kaleidoscope
Baruti’s visual signature is its vividly kaleidoscopic packaging. This comes from Spyros’s childhood memory of looking into a kaleidoscope and being unable to look away. The beauty created by a distinctive arrangement of different elements also echoes Baruti’s philosophy of fragrance.
The brand is also actively pursuing sustainability through measures such as eliminating cellophane (transparent film), using recyclable materials and reducing packaging weight.
Rare Materials and Ethical Sourcing
Spyros sees buying directly from Greek producers, including roses from Kozani and mastic (mastic resin) from Chios, as an “ethical obligation.”
“I want to support Greek aromatic plants and producers as much as possible. I feel that supporting the country of my roots is an ethical responsibility.”
— Spyros Drosopoulos
Working with The Red List Project
One reason Baruti is more than just a perfume brand is its involvement in the conservation of endangered plants. In 2019, Ministry of Scent introduced Spyros to Dr. Peggy Fiedler, founder and principal scientist of the plant-conservation nonprofit The Red List Project (TRLP). They formed a partnership and released two room sprays that recreate the scents of plants at risk of extinction.
- Palermo Violet: Dedicated to the rare Italian species Viola ucriana. Spyros travelled with a team of scientists to Mount Pizzuta in Sicily to experience the flower himself.
- Portlandia: A recreation of the endangered Jamaican species Portlandia platantha.
Rather than extracting materials from the plants to make perfume, these works take a “scent recreation” approach that does not involve wild harvesting. They have been recognised as a groundbreaking model compatible with biodiversity conservation.
The Fragrance Lineup
All Baruti perfumes are offered as highly concentrated extrait de parfum or eau de parfum.
The Core Collection
| Fragrance | Main Notes and Theme |
|---|---|
| Chai | Cinnamon, cardamom, clove, black tea, steamed milk and vanilla: an homage to the chai lattes he loved during his doctoral studies |
| Indigo | Hyacinth, mastic from Chios, incense and cedarwood: memories of Greece and blue summer skies |
| Perverso | Rum, roasted nuts, cocoa, caramel fudge, tobacco and amber: a gourmand dedicated to hedonists |
| NOOUD | A proprietary base that artificially recreates the impression of oud: a creation that became independent of the original form of Indigo |
| Berlin im Winter | Blackcurrant, coffee, plum and whisky: a sensual winter night in Berlin |
| Onder de Linde | Pear, lilac, lime blossom (linden), honey and vanilla: inspired by Vermeer’s The Milkmaid |
| Dama Koupa | An elegant, iris-centred floral: meaning “Queen of Hearts,” it began as an homage to his partner |
| Tindrer | Cut grass, violet, oakmoss and heliotrope: inspired by the song of the same name by the Danish band Under Byen |
| Voyance | Tuberose, guaiac wood, vetiver, sandalwood and musk |
| Oh My Deer! | A combination of citrus, florals, woods, musk and amber |
Recent Fragrances of Note
- Mono No Aware (the Pathos of Things): Dedicated to the Japanese aesthetic concept of mono no aware. Composed of the bitterness of matcha, the transience of cherry blossoms and Japanese cedarwood. Spyros says he first encountered the concept in Sally Mann’s autobiography and found that it resonated with his long-held “tenderness toward the impermanence of beautiful things.”
- Laurakimou!: A fragrance that expresses Spyros’s affection for his daughter Laura. Composed of a champagne-like sparkle, strawberry, magnolia and sandalwood.
- Hot Cotton: A simple yet complex creation in which cleanliness, aldehydes and heliotrope convey a taut, white atmosphere.
Room Sprays and the Ambient Line
In addition to perfumes, Baruti has a line of ambient room sprays. Alongside the two collaborations with The Red List Project, it also offers room sprays in its regular range.
By the Way…
- The Story Behind NOOUD: One of Baruti’s signature bestsellers, NOOUD, was originally developed as the base accord for Indigo. Spyros liked it so much, however, that he decided to release it as a fragrance in its own right. The name and black packaging were intended as a playful jab at the “oud boom” then sweeping the niche perfume industry, when numerous brands were releasing oud-style fragrances without using real oud. Fellow perfumer Andy Tauer is said to have joked, “It won’t succeed at that price. You should have made it outrageously more expensive.”
- The Financial Times and Indigo: In a feature on niche perfume, the Financial Times once highlighted Baruti’s Indigo as “the niche fragrance with the most enigmatic allure.”
- Neuroscience and Perfumery: Spyros’s answer to the question “Does your knowledge of neuroscience help your creative work?” is intriguing. “It helped with setting up the lab and with analytical thinking, but it gives me no particular advantage creatively. When it comes to how scent affects brain chemistry, I am feeling my way in the dark just like everyone else.” He speaks candidly about how his driving force is not an academic title but a pure “love of scent.”
- Worldwide Presence: As of 2026, Baruti is sold in at least 80 boutiques across Europe, North, Central and South America, the Middle East and Asia.
References
- Ministry of Scent – Baruti Brand Introduction – https://ministryofscent.com/collections/baruti-1/baruti
- Masters Expo – “The powerful and memorable perfumes of Baruti” – https://mastersexpo.com/en/baruti/
- Indiescents – Baruti Brand Page – https://indiescents.com/baruti/
- Discover Benelux – “Baruti: Scent Explosions” – https://www.discoverbenelux.com/baruti/
- CaFleureBon – “Best Baruti Perfumes” – https://cafleurebon.com/baruti-perfumes-oh-my-deer-berlin-im-winter-onder-de-linde-dr-spyros-drosopoulos-plus-3-you-should-be-wearing-right-now/
- Scent Trunk – Q&A with Spyros Drosopoulos – https://scenttrunk.com/blogs/news/q-a-with-spyros-drosopoulos
- Institute for Art and Olfaction (IAO) – “Meet a Nose: Spyros Drosopoulos, Baruti” – https://artandolfaction.com/events/meet-a-nose-spyros-drosopoulos-baruti-online/
- Ministry of Scent – “Baruti & The Red List Project” Interview – https://ministryofscent.com/blogs/news/baruti-the-red-list-project-create-fragrances-to-fund-conservation-of-rare-botanicals
- Kiss Laurenne – “Meet Mr. BARUTI” – https://kisslaurenne.com/meet-mr-baruti/
- Smell Stories – “Meeting Dr. S. Drosopoulos, perfumer and founder of BARUTI” – https://www.smellstories.be/en/blogs/blog/meeting-dr-s-drosopoulos-perfumer-and-founder-of-b/
- Smell Stories – Mono No Aware Product Page – https://www.smellstories.be/en/baruti-mono-no-aware-eau-de-parfum.html
- Fragrance Vault – Baruti Onder de Linde Product Page – https://fragrancevault.net/products/baruti-onder-de-linde-extrait-de-parfum
- Beautinow – Baruti Brand Guide – https://beautinow.com/collections/baruti-perfumes/
- Excite News / NOSE SHOP Press Release – Coverage of the Japanese Launch, October 2023 – https://www.excite.co.jp/news/article/Iphone_girl_619988/
- Mediamatic – “Alternative Perfumery” (2016 Event Material) – https://www.mediamatic.net/en/page/238677/alternative-perfumery
- Perfume Lounge – Spyros Drosopoulos Perfumer Profile – https://www.perfumelounge.eu/perfumers/spyros-drosopoulos
- Reddit r/FragranceStories – “Baruti: A Thorough Review of 11 Scents” – https://www.reddit.com/r/FragranceStories/comments/1leof77/baruti_a_thorough_review_of_11_scents/
