What started with gifted perfumes from his brother slowly turned into a full-blown fragrance fixation, one built on memory and the thrill of discovering scents that linger long after the first spray. Today, with over 60 bottles in his collection and strong opinions about oud, niche fragrances, and “beast mode” perfumes, Leye is every bit the fraghead.
In this conversation with BellaNaija Style, he opens up about the perfume that started it all, the most he has ever spent on a bottle, his unpopular fragrance takes, and why the smell of new books deserves its own luxury scent.
Hello Leye, can we meet you?
Hello BellaNaijaStyle, my name is Leye Ojeniyi, a visual storyteller based in Lagos, Nigeria, specializing in weddings and portrait photography
Lovely! Let’s start from the top. How did you actually become a fraghead? Was there a person, a place, or a single bottle that started it all?
Growing up, my brother used to buy perfumes, and after every holiday, whenever I was heading back to the hostel, he’d always give me a bottle. That was my first real introduction to fragrance.
One bottle I can never forget from that time was called Emergency. I’m not even sure if it still exists today, but I remember it so clearly. It wasn’t just about how it smelt, it was the feeling of it. It marked the beginning of my awareness that scent could actually mean something, carry memory, and stay with you long after the moment has passed. That’s really where it started for me.
What was the perfume that made you realise you had a problem, and how much did it cost?
When I bought my first Stronger With You bottle, I had to take money out of my savings to buy it. It cost around ₦100,000 at the time.
Haha! Guessing that has been a while. How many bottles do you currently own, and what does the person closest to you say about that number?
I currently own over 60 bottles. The person closest to me thinks I have a problem, but they’ve also accepted me as I am because they don’t really have a choice. Sometimes, they even buy perfumes for me just because they know how much I enjoy them.
Is there a perfume you missed out on, discontinued, too expensive, or sold out before you could buy it that still haunts you?
Missed out on? Discontinued? None at the moment. Too expensive? I don’t really see any perfume as “too expensive” unless I’m genuinely interested in it. If I’m drawn to a fragrance, the price becomes secondary. If I’m not, then even something affordable won’t feel worth it, if that makes sense.
It really does. What is the one thing people do with perfume that genuinely irritates you?
Rubbing their hands together immediately after spraying perfume, wearing heavy oud in hot weather, and mixing random fragrances with no plan.
Aggravating indeed. What would you say the best perfume you have ever smelled? Not necessarily what you own, just the greatest fragrance you have ever put your nose to, and why did it stop you in your tracks?
This is the most difficult question so far, lmao. I can’t pick just one. Amouage Purpose, Jo Malone Myrrh & Tonka, Vanilla Powder, MFK Grand Soir, and YSL Y EDP are all up there for me.
Great recommendations! If you could change one widespread misconception about perfume, what would it be?
That expensive perfume automatically means better perfume. People confuse price with quality when fragrance doesn’t really work like that. A ₦40,000 fragrance can smell incredible, perform well, and get more compliments than a ₦400,000 niche bottle.
Interesting. Is that your most unpopular fragrance take, or is there another? The one you say in fragrance communities, and people come for you.
Beast mode is overrated. A fragrance lasting 14 hours and filling a room is not automatically a flex. Sometimes subtle, intimate scents are more luxurious. Also, a lot of niche fragrances are admired more than they are actually enjoyed. People will call a fragrance “masterpiece-level,” “challenging,” “art,” or “genius,” and then never actually want to smell like it outside of a sampling session.
What is the most money you have ever spent on a bottle, and was it actually worth it? Be honest.
This is going to expose me, but my most expensive bottle is Ombre Nomade and yes, it was worth it like mad.
Seven Figures! Wait, how much did you spend on perfumes last year?
Honestly, I cannot remember the figure. I try to avoid heartbreak by not going back to check my bad financial decisions. Life is for living.
Amazing philosophy. So, if someone handed you ₦100,000 right now and said, “Pick me something life-changing,” what are you reaching for and why?
I’m not reaching for safe or clean. I’m going straight for Oud and Roses by Ahmed Al Maghribi. When oud and rose are done right, it stops being just a scent and becomes a feeling. It’s that contrast between soft floral romance and dark, resinous depth.
Outside of perfume, what is a real-world scent that deserves to become a luxury fragrance, and what would you call it?
The smell of new books. There’s something so distinct about it, the clean paper, faint ink, slight sweetness of glue, and wood pulp. It’s quiet but rich, like possibility packaged in pages. It feels like stepping into a space where everything is still new, untouched, and full of potential.
If that were turned into a fragrance, I’d call it First Chapter.
Thank you so much for your time, Leye.
My pleasure!