d'Annam is a New York-born, Vietnam-rooted niche fragrance house founded by Nick Hoang, best known for turning beloved Asian foods and rituals — mango sticky rice, bubble tea, oolong tea, Japanese whisky — into serious, wearable eau de parfums. The name means "from Annam," an old name for Vietnam, built on the word an: peace. Prices run $160 for 50ml up to $380 for the flagship, and Redolia stocks the house at our d'Annam collection and at our Somerville, New Jersey perfumery.
How d'Annam started
Nick Hoang didn't come to perfume on his own — his wife did. She was the fragrance lover in the house, and it was on shopping trips with her that Hoang first noticed what niche perfumery could do: tell a story in scent. The stories he wanted to tell already existed. Hoang grew up in the Vietnamese countryside, much of it at his grandmother's house, and after years in New York he found himself missing the smells of that childhood — rice, gardens, street food, rain on warm stone.
d'Annam began as what Hoang calls "a love letter to Vietnam": the Enchanting Vietnam collection, with scents like White Rice, Vietnamese Coffee and In The Garden. For the compositions he partnered with Anh Ngo, a Vietnamese perfumer at IFF who was still a trainee when they met. Hoang took a chance on him, and the pairing stuck — he describes their creative alignment as "perfect." A second collection, Memories of Japan, followed (Hoang had been fascinated with Japan since a college layover there), built with cultural consultants so the references would hold up. Today Hoang runs the brand from Ho Chi Minh City, a third collection exploring more of Asia is in the works, and the company gives part of its proceeds to organizations supporting children with cancer in Hanoi and an orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City.
The 4 best d'Annam fragrances, in detail
1. Mango Sticky Rice — the viral one
The scent that put d'Annam on the map. It recreates Thailand's temple-fair dessert in three moves: ripe mango up top, a soft steamed-rice heart, and coconut milk through the drydown. The opening is the juiciest part — bright, almost tangy mango — before it settles into something creamy and quiet. Wearers who expect a loud fruit bomb are often surprised by how polite it is; on skin it reads closer to a milky, starchy comfort scent than a beach cocktail, and it performs about 5–6 hours with medium projection. If you love the idea of dessert scents but hate feeling sticky, this is the one. Unisex, best in spring and summer heat.
2. Bubble Tea — the crowd-pleaser
Taiwan's most famous drink, poured into a bottle: roasted black tea, whole milk, brown sugar, and a tapioca-pearl accord that reviewers genuinely describe as chewy. The brown sugar gives it a toasted, caramel edge; the tea keeps it from tipping into candy. It's cozy rather than loud — a skin-close gourmand for sweater weather, coffee shops and late study nights, with the same 5–6 hour, medium-projection performance as Mango Sticky Rice. If you've ever finished a boba order and wished the smell could stay, that's exactly the experience.
3. Pomelo Oolong — the refined one
The pick for people who think they're too serious for dessert scents. Built around oolong tea and pomelo with osmanthus, a porcelain accord and white musk, it reads like a sunlit tea house: citrus peel, apricot-leaning osmanthus blossom, clean warm ceramic. It's the most office-safe and the longest-lasting of the 50ml line at 6–8 hours. If Mango Sticky Rice is a holiday and Bubble Tea is a treat, Pomelo Oolong is a daily ritual — the one you reach for without thinking.
4. Japanese Whiskey — the flagship
d'Annam's statement piece, and a finalist at the Art and Olfaction Awards 2026. Whiskey, Mizunara oak, malted barley, clary sage, sandalwood and chestnut — a genuinely boozy, woody profile inspired by a classical poem by Ōtomo no Tabito about savoring the present moment. It comes only in a 150ml bottle at $380, projects strongly, and lasts 6–8 hours. This is the d'Annam for cold evenings, dinners, and anyone who wants the house's craftsmanship without a gourmand sweet tooth. Of everything they make, it's the bottle most likely to earn a "what are you wearing?"
d'Annam comparison table
| Fragrance | Smells like | Best for | Longevity | Size / Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mango Sticky Rice | Ripe mango, steamed rice, coconut milk | Spring–summer days, casual wear | 5–6 h | 50ml · $160 |
| Bubble Tea | Black tea, milk, brown sugar, boba | Fall coziness, date nights | 5–6 h | 50ml · $160 |
| Pomelo Oolong | Oolong tea, pomelo, osmanthus | Office, everyday signature | 6–8 h | 50ml · $160 |
| Japanese Whiskey | Whisky, Mizunara oak, sandalwood | Evenings, cold weather, statement wear | 6–8 h | 150ml · $380 |
Which d'Annam should you buy first?
Start with Mango Sticky Rice if you want the scent everyone is talking about, or Bubble Tea if you run cozier than tropical. Choose Pomelo Oolong if you need something polished enough for work every day. Skip straight to Japanese Whiskey if gourmands aren't your thing — it's the house's most awarded, most grown-up composition. All of them are unisex, vegan and cruelty-free.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns d'Annam?
d'Annam was founded by Nick Hoang, a Vietnamese entrepreneur who started the brand in New York out of nostalgia for the scents of his childhood in Vietnam. He now runs it from Ho Chi Minh City, working with IFF perfumer Anh Ngo.
What does "d'Annam" mean?
It means "from Annam" — a historical name for Vietnam. The first syllable echoes the Vietnamese word an, meaning peace or stillness, which is the mood the house aims for.
Which d'Annam fragrance is the best?
Mango Sticky Rice is the bestseller and the most famous; Japanese Whiskey is the most critically recognized (Art and Olfaction Awards 2026 finalist). For everyday versatility, most people land on Pomelo Oolong.
How long do d'Annam perfumes last?
The 50ml eau de parfums last about 5–6 hours (tea and dessert scents) to 6–8 hours (Pomelo Oolong), with medium projection. Japanese Whiskey projects strongly and lasts 6–8 hours.
Where can I buy d'Annam in the US?
Redolia carries the d'Annam line online at redolia.com and in person at our perfumery at 92 West Main Street, Somerville, New Jersey — where you can smell all four before choosing.
Explore the full d'Annam collection, or read more houses' stories on the Redolia Journal.