Question 1

How often do you release new perfumes?

Accepted Answer

House of Apocrypha releases perfumes in seasonal Chapters — four times a year, opening in the third week of September, December, March, and June. Each Chapter is produced in a small, limited run based on pre-orders. Because we work with natural materials — resins, absolutes, tinctures, flowers, woods, and botanicals — each batch carries subtle variations from harvest, extraction, aging, and the perfumer's hand. When a Chapter closes, the bottles from that release are no longer available for pre-order. Some fragrances may return in a future Chapter, but they are unlikely to be an exact replica.

Question 2

What is a Chapter?

Accepted Answer

A Chapter is a seasonal release of fragrances from House of Apocrypha. Each Chapter has its own atmosphere, materials, and limited production window. Bottles are made in small batches and offered by pre-order while the Chapter is open.

Question 3

Will a sold-out fragrance ever return?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. A fragrance may return in a later Chapter, but natural materials are never perfectly identical from year to year. Harvests shift, tinctures age, resins vary, and formulas may evolve. Think of each release as a new printing of an old text: familiar, but never exactly the same.

Question 4

Are your perfumes gendered?

Accepted Answer

No. Scent is a sense, not a segment. Wear what moves you.

Question 5

Are your perfumes 100% natural?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our perfumes are made with natural aromatic materials, natural isolates, tinctures, absolutes, balsams and aromatic plant gums, botanicals, and cane alcohol. Natural isolates are single aromatic molecules derived from plant materials through processes such as distillation or fractionation. They allow us to build more precise natural compositions without using petrochemical aroma synthetics.

Question 6

What concentration are your perfumes?

Accepted Answer

Our full-size perfumes are Eau de Parfum strength, blended at approximately 20–25% aromatic concentration. This gives them richness and depth. While some natural perfumes wear closer to the skin, this house often creates bold compositions that carry well and can last for many hours, sometimes exceeding 8 hours with noticeable projection. As always, performance can vary from person to person.

Question 7

How long do natural perfumes last?

Accepted Answer

Natural perfumes tend to stay more intimate than conventional synthetic perfumes. Resinous, woody, smoky, balsamic, or ambered compositions may last 6–12 hours or longer. Lighter florals, citruses, green notes, and airy accords may last closer to 3–5 hours. Fabric can hold scent longer than skin. Longevity varies with skin chemistry, weather, application, and the materials in the formula.

Question 8

How should I apply natural perfume?

Accepted Answer

Apply to pulse points, hair ends, clothing, or fabric accessories. For the longest wear, apply to moisturized skin or to a scarf, collar, or sleeve. Natural perfumes often unfold slowly, so give them time before deciding how you feel about them.

Question 9

Can I spray perfume on fabric?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but test first. Natural materials can vary in color and density. Resins (plant gum aromatics), absolutes, and darker botanical extracts may stain delicate or pale fabrics. We recommend testing on an inconspicuous area first.

Question 10

How should I store my perfume?

Accepted Answer

Keep your bottle away from heat, direct sunlight, and humidity. A cool, dark place is best. Natural materials are more alive and less standardized than synthetic perfume materials, so careful storage helps preserve the fragrance over time. They will also continue to evolve and grow in depth as they are stored properly.

Question 11

Are your perfumes vegan?

Accepted Answer

Not always. Many of our formulas are entirely plant-based, but some may include traditional animal-derived materials such as honey absolute, wool absolute, seashell tincture, or natural ambergris. When a fragrance contains an animal-derived material, we aim to make that clear on the product page.

Question 12

Are your ingredients ethically sourced?

Accepted Answer

We source as responsibly as a micro-studio can. We look for suppliers who prioritize sound ecological practices, traceability, and fair labor. We avoid threatened botanicals unless we have confidence in the sourcing. Because harvests, suppliers, and material availability change over time, we review our materials each season and adjust when needed. Transparency is ongoing rather than absolute, but ethical sourcing guides every purchase we make.

Question 13

What sizes do you offer?

Accepted Answer

Full bottles are 30ml, priced at $135 each.

Question 14

When does the next Chapter open?

Accepted Answer

Chapters open seasonally — in the third week of September, December, March, and June. Join the Release List for early access before the public window opens.

Question 15

How does pre-ordering work?

Accepted Answer

When a Chapter opens, full bottles are available by pre-order. Choose your fragrance and place your order during the open window. Payment is taken at checkout. Bottles are then blended, finished, packed, and shipped after the Chapter closes. The estimated dispatch window is shown on each product page.

Question 16

When will my bottle ship?

Accepted Answer

Each product page shows an estimated dispatch window. Orders from the same Chapter ship together once production is complete.

Question 17

What happens when a Chapter closes?

Accepted Answer

Full bottle pre-orders close. Chapter Vials are no longer available. The release moves into the Library, and production begins for the bottles ordered during that window.

Question 18

What if I miss a Chapter?

Accepted Answer

When a Chapter closes, it closes. Some fragrances may return in future Chapters. Others may remain in the archive. Join the Release List to be notified when a new Chapter opens.

Question 19

Can I buy more than one bottle of the same fragrance?

Accepted Answer

At launch, each customer may purchase one bottle per fragrance per Chapter. You may order multiple different fragrances in the same order.

Question 20

Why do you do it this way?

Accepted Answer

As a perfumer, I need to be able to move on. Many of the fragrances in a given Chapter have been with me for years — through iterations, reformulations, quiet revisions that never saw daylight. By the time something reaches you, I have already spent a long time with it. The Chapter model is honest about that process. A fragrance isn't permanent. It's made in a particular moment, with particular materials, by a particular hand. When it's finished, it's finished. I may return to a scent and find something new in it — but I'm not interested in making the same thing indefinitely. — Valerie, founder

Question 21

What are Chapter Vials?

Accepted Answer

Chapter Vials are samples from the current seasonal Chapter, chosen individually from the fragrances currently available. They are priced at $10, $28, or $46, depending on how many you'd like to try, and are available only while the Chapter window is open. Due to limited supply, vials are not expected to remain in stock for the entire season.

Question 22

Are Chapter Vials a Discovery Set?

Accepted Answer

No. House of Apocrypha does not sell a fixed Discovery Set. Chapter Vials are chosen individually from the fragrances in the current Chapter.

Question 23

When do Chapter Vials ship?

Accepted Answer

Chapter Vials ship every Friday while the Chapter is open. Orders placed after Wednesday may ship the following Friday.

Question 24

Can I buy Chapter Vials after the Chapter closes?

Accepted Answer

No. Chapter Vials are available only while the Chapter is open. When the Chapter closes, the vials close with it.

Question 25

What is The Vial Promise?

Accepted Answer

Every full bottle includes a companion vial of the same fragrance. Wear the vial first — if the fragrance isn't a fit, you may request a return without ever opening the full bottle. Wear it for at least three days, at different times of day. Natural perfumes open slowly. The first wearing is rarely the full story.

Question 26

How do returns work?

Accepted Answer

Contact us within 14 days of delivery. To qualify for a return, the full bottle must remain unopened and sealed in its original packaging — the black outer box must be intact and the ribbon must not be cut or removed. Once your return is approved, we will send a prepaid return label. Return the unopened bottle within the following 14 days, and we will issue a refund once it is received. The companion vial remains with you.

Question 27

Can I return an opened bottle?

Accepted Answer

No. Opened bottles cannot be returned. To preserve the integrity of each small batch, full bottles must remain unopened and sealed in their original packaging.

Question 28

Can I exchange for a different fragrance?

Accepted Answer

Seasonal stock cannot be guaranteed. If you would prefer store credit toward a future Chapter instead of a refund, contact us and we will arrange it when possible.

Question 29

Do you ship internationally?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. Our current perfumes are alcohol-based, which makes international shipping more complicated. For now, House of Apocrypha ships only within the United States. If you are outside the U.S. and interested in a future release, join the Release List to help us understand demand. We are exploring additional formats for the future.

Question 30

How are orders shipped?

Accepted Answer

Chapter Vials ship during the open Chapter window. Full bottles ship after the Chapter closes, once production is complete. Your estimated dispatch window will be shown on the product page and in your order confirmation.

Question 31

What if my order arrives damaged?

Accepted Answer

Email hello@houseofapocrypha.com within 7 days of delivery with your order number and photos of the damaged item and packaging. We will make it right.

Question 32

Can I include a gift note?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Add your note at checkout, and we will include a handwritten card when possible.

Question 33

Is this good for gifting?

Accepted Answer

Every order ships without pricing or an invoice — and the bottle arrives in its sealed black box, which is already gift-ready as it comes. Additional gift wrapping may be available for select Chapters. If offered, details will appear at checkout.

Question 34

Do you have sales?

Accepted Answer

No. We do not run seasonal sales or markdowns. Chapter pricing reflects small-batch production, rare natural materials, and limited availability. We may occasionally offer early access, loyalty rewards, or special privileges to the Release List.

Question 35

What is the Release List, and how do I join?

Accepted Answer

The Release List is how we stay in touch between Chapters. Subscribers receive early access before each Chapter opens to the public, along with occasional updates on materials, archive additions, and notes from the studio. Join the Release List.

Question 36

I'm a retailer, writer, or editor. Who do I contact?

Accepted Answer

Send a note to hello@houseofapocrypha.com with your store details, publication, or press inquiry. We love kindred spirits.

Question 37

How do I get in touch?

Accepted Answer

For questions not covered here, email hello@houseofapocrypha.com. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Frequently Asked Questions

Craft & Philosophy

Product & Ingredients

Orders & Chapters

Chapter Vials

The Vial Promise

Shipping

Gifts, Access & Press