One essential item that should always be packed when travelling is perfume. However, the size of the perfume bottle, which is usually large and quite heavy, puts a burden on travellers to carry it. For that reason, Binari created decanted perfumes, especially for travellers and others who desire to experiment with new scents.
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Perfume is undoubtedly one of the secret ingredients to making you look attractive. Your scent will be the first thing people notice about you as you enter a place.
It can also be an important trigger for a happy memory. People often have associations with certain scents, which is extremely true in my case because the citrusy, woody scent of Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme always reminded me of my late father and made me feel comfortable and calm. Even though it is a perfume for men, I occasionally wear it since it gives me the comforting impression that my father is always close by.
Fragrance is an invisible aspect of our personal style that has a strong impact on how other people perceive and remember us.
In fact, Mohd Khafizul Awam Mohd Amran, a fervent admirer of fragrances, asserts that since perfumes have no “gender,” there is no such thing as their being tied to any particular class or sex — and anyone can wear any kind of fragrance they want.
“For me, perfume is both an art and a necessity, just like other personal care products such as skincare, cosmetics, and fashion. What differentiates it is that fragrance can make people around us notice or be aware of our presence.
“Therefore, I emphasise the use of perfume in my daily life. In my opinion, everyone should do the same because it can help us feel more confident in public.
“Fragrance makes you more appealing, letting you feel less depressed and more secure. In addition to representing ‘status’ to some people, it can also improve our mood.
“Whether you’re in an adventurous, mischievous, confident, or even relaxing mood, perfumes give a variety of scents for each mood. Choose and wear perfume according to the occasion so that you can get in the right mood for it,” said the 30-year-old, fondly known as Adeng.
Elaborating, this Saratok native of Chinese and Malay descent said his obsession with perfume made him always carry bottles of perfume wherever he went.
He acknowledged that carrying the perfume bottles is a bit of a hassle, especially when travelling; because of their large size, they occasionally exceed the allowance for liquids that can be brought on a plane, and they also add weight to his luggage.
Decanted perfumes by Binari.
This is what inspired him to start a business selling decanted perfumes as a solution to that issue so that no one would have to worry about carrying a large bottle of perfume wherever they went.
“Binari was established in early 2021, and Alhamdulillah, thanks to a very positive response from friends and the public, I managed to open a physical store in October of the same year.
“Our customers are not only from Sarawak but also from the Peninsula and Sabah; almost every day, the number of parcels posted to the Peninsula and Sabah equals those sent all around Sarawak.
“It actually started with one of my Facebook posts. I thought that since I constantly struggle carrying cumbersome, hefty perfume bottles while travelling, why not put the perfume into a travel-friendly bottle to make it easier?
“Apparently, a lot of my Facebook friends and followers are interested in the idea and encouraged me to sell it (decanted perfume).
“Alhamdulillah, the business is growing and gaining popularity to this day. Usually, customers who like the scent of their decanted perfumes will typically purchase the full bottle size.
“So, for me, it really corresponds with the purpose of decanted perfumes — aside from being able to alternate or change perfumes every day, it can also avoid the feeling of regret buying a whole bottle because the scent might not be suitable for us,” he explained.
Apart from that, this ardent Dior Hypnotic Poison lover has also gone viral on TikTok because of his content — helping a follower find a perfume that smells similar to Stayfree pink sanitary pads.
Some of Binari’s customers.
Adeng claimed that the video, which has amassed 157,900 views on TikTok, is a factor in Binari’s rise to fame. He expressed his gratitude to his clients and viewers, who occasionally have amusing and curious questions.
Curiosity, he said, is one of the important factors in determining the extent to which he, especially as a seller and a perfume enthusiast, is able to explore more scents and aromas of fragrances that he might not have known before or was not very knowledgeable about.
“Having a high level of curiosity will open more opportunities for ourselves to continue learning and exploring new things. For me, it is a must in the field of fragrance,” he said.
Speaking of challenges, the Saratok native said he and his team members have not had any major problems thus far, thanks to their strong teamwork.
As there are more and more decanters and sellers in the same field, what is important for Binari right now, he said, is to constantly maintain its relevance in the fragrance industry.
For this reason, Adeng and his staff are constantly discussing and coming up with fresh ideas to draw in more customers and encourage them to stick with Binari.
“I concentrate more on soft selling, such as sharing about the importance of using perfume in the right way and other inputs related to current fragrance issues.
“As part of our efforts to encourage environmental sustainability, we offer a ‘refill and get a discount of RM5’ programme to regular clients. In fact, customers who purchase perfume from us during their birthday month will receive an additional 10 per cent discount.
“Binari also offers complimentary special packaging upon request from customers.
“I think our excellent after-sale service is one of the factors that keeps attracting regular customers, as they feel comfortable refilling and buying again with us,” he said, adding that their best-selling perfumes for men are Dior Sauvage and Givenchy Gentleman, and for women, Dior Hypnotic Poison, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, Yves Saint Laurent Libre, and Givenchy L’Interdit.
Asked about his future plans, Adeng stated that since Binari has a lot of customers from Kuching, he intends to open a second branch in the city centre. However, at the moment, he is concentrating on finding a personal assistant, as well as a content creator, to broaden their clientele.
When asked for advice for those looking to try and purchase perfume for the first time, he responded that it is best to experiment with different scents before deciding which one best suits one’s soul and personality. He also mentioned that decanted perfume was created for this reason.
If you’re in Saratok or the surrounding areas and would like to purchase perfume or get perfume-related advice, visit Binari’s physical store at Shoplot 765 Taman Muhibbah, Saratok Town District.
You can also search for Binari on Facebook, Mohd Khafizul Awam’s Facebook account for Adeng, as well as Binari Fragrances on TikTok and Shopee.
