PANTOMIME Parfum: Six Acts from Amsterdam, Without a Word
Rome, 1954, 11.02 pm, the Presidential Suite of the Hotel Hassler. Silk stockings on the floor, ripe figs in a bowl. This is not the opening of a novel but of a perfume. PANTOMIME Parfum from Amsterdam does not call its fragrances “Nuit d’Amour” or “Oud Royal”, but simply Act 1 to Act 6. Every Act is a stage with a place, a year and a time, and the lead role is played by a molecule from the lab. Who is behind PANTOMIME Parfum, why are synthetics of all things allowed into the spotlight here – and which Act is yours?
- Who: PANTOMIME Parfum was founded in Amsterdam in 2023 by the designer Jeroen Oude Sogtoen. Fragrantica and Parfumo name Fredrik Dalman as the perfumer of all the Acts.
- The idea: pantomime is the art of showing feelings without words. The motto: “No words, just perfume.”
- The principle: in every Act, a synthetic aroma material plays the lead and a carefully chosen natural plays the supporting role. Deliberately without the usual stars such as Iso E Super or Ambroxan.
- Where to start: Act 1 for powdery intimacy, Act 2 for morning freshness, Act 3 for club nights, Act 4 for glamour.
Who is behind PANTOMIME Parfum?
Behind the brand is Jeroen Oude Sogtoen, a designer from Amsterdam who, in his own words, is always searching for the true meaning of luxury. He is no newcomer to the world of fragrance: according to the magazine CaFleureBon, he was creative director of the perfume house Mona di Orio from 2004, and he also founded the brand ZENOLOGY. PANTOMIME Parfum followed in 2023, with a statement rarely heard in niche perfumery: the synthetics get the lead role.
According to Fragrantica and Parfumo, the fragrances themselves are written by Fredrik Dalman. The Swede grew up in Uppsala, studied wine, culinary arts and journalism, worked in the perfume department at Harrods and learned his craft at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery and during a year with Bertrand Duchaufour. A sommelier who became a perfumer: that explains why his Acts play so precisely with textures.
Jeroen Oude Sogtoen
Founder and creative director. Designer from Amsterdam, previously creative director at Mona di Orio, founder of ZENOLOGY. He builds the stages on which the fragrances perform.
Fredrik Dalman
Swede from Uppsala, trained in Grasse and with Bertrand Duchaufour, formerly a sommelier. According to Fragrantica and Parfumo, the perfumer of all the Acts.
What does the name PANTOMIME mean?
The brand defines pantomime as the art of conveying emotions, actions and feelings without speech. Hence the motto “No words, just perfume”. And straight after it a second line that carries the whole concept: “We provide the stage; you play the role.” PANTOMIME supplies the scenery, you play the part.
That is more than a pretty slogan. Instead of fragrance pyramids with top, heart and base notes, the brand tells a scene for every Act: a place, a year, a time, a few details. What you smell, see and remember is up to you. Anyone who likes to discover perfume through images rather than note lists will feel at home here straight away.
“We provide the stage; you play the role.”
PANTOMIME Parfum on its own conceptWhy are synthetics in the spotlight at PANTOMIME?
Synthetic aroma materials have an image problem they do not deserve. PANTOMIME puts it clearly: synthetics are not a new addition to the perfumer's palette but the foundation of modern perfumery. With them, a perfumer can create colour and texture, direct light onto one part of a composition and give depth to others. The house recipe: a synthetic aroma material as the main character for clarity, a few naturals for depth, both of the highest quality.
The clever part is the casting. Iso E Super (1973), Ambroxan (1949) and Javanol (1960) are no longer secrets but marketing tools today, PANTOMIME writes, and their popularity is also their curse. So the brand brings molecules onto the stage that usually stay in the ensemble: Ambrettolide HC Supreme (2018), Bisabolene (1960), Methyl Ionone Alpha Extra (1893), the Lactone of Cis-Jasmone (1973), Vetiverol (1950) and Safraleine. Our encyclopaedia article on Akigalawood also shows how a single material can carry an entire fragrance.
The years PANTOMIME gives for its leading actors span 125 years of chemical history: from Methyl Ionone Alpha Extra (1893) to Ambrettolide HC Supreme (2018). An Act thus also becomes a journey through time in the lab.
Which fragrances does PANTOMIME have? The Acts at a glance
According to the brand, the collection currently comprises six Acts. With us you will find Act 1 to Act 5, all as Eau de Parfum in 100 ml. Here are the scenes, the cast and the ratings of the Fragrantica community:
| Act | The scene | Lead role | Supporting role | Fragrantica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Act 1 | Rome, 1954, 11.02 pm, Presidential Suite of the Hotel Hassler | Ambrettolide HC Supreme | Ambrette absolute | 4.12 / 5 (92 votes) |
| Act 2 | New Haven, 1967, 6.45 am, rowing club in the morning light | Bisabolene | Cardamom absolute | 4.05 / 5 (74 votes) |
| Act 3 | New York, 1981, 1.48 am, The Mudd Club | Methyl Ionone Alpha Extra | Oud from Laos | 3.75 / 5 (61 votes) |
| Act 4 | Paris, 1976, 4.00 am, Chez Régine | Lactone of Cis-Jasmone | Patchouli aged 30 years | 3.83 / 5 (65 votes) |
| Act 5 | Amdo, 1920, 5.45 am, at Lake Koko Nor | Vetiverol | Galbanum resinoid | 3.83 / 5 (63 votes) |
Scenes and cast according to PANTOMIME Parfum, ratings according to Fragrantica, as of 19 October 2026.
Act 1Rome, 1954 · powdery, intimate€195
Act 2New Haven, 1967 · fresh, spicy€195
Act 3New York, 1981 · woody, smoky€195
Act 4Paris, 1976 · floral, earthy€195
Prices from the 4D OUTFITTERS web shop, as of 19 October 2026. The prices shown are updated automatically from the shop.
The best PANTOMIME fragrances: which Act suits me?
Act 1: Rome, 1954
The community favourite and our tip for getting started. Ambrettolide HC Supreme is a modern musk, while ambrette absolute comes from the seeds of the musk mallow and smells soft, powdery and slightly fruity. Together with the image of ripe figs, the result is a skin scent that Fragrantica classifies as woody, floral and musky. For intimate evenings and people who would rather seduce than show off.
Act 2: New Haven, 1967
A rower in the first sunlight, the creaking of the boathouse, weathered pines on the shore. Bisabolene brings a fresh, slightly woody spice, cardamom absolute a cool, aromatic sparkle. The most uncomplicated Act, ideal for clear mornings and active days.
Act 3: New York, 1981
The Mudd Club, biker jackets, hand-rolled cigarettes, No Wave cinema. Methyl Ionone Alpha Extra belongs to the family of ionones, which smell of violet and powder, and here meets oud from Laos. Fragrantica lists oud, woody and animalic as the main accords. The most rebellious Act, for the late hours.
Act 4: Paris, 1976
Four in the morning at Chez Régine, haute couture, hairspray in the powder room, lipstick on crystal glasses. The Lactone of Cis-Jasmone gives a creamy, floral jasmine note, the patchouli aged for 30 years an earthy, warm depth. Glamour that dances until dawn – and our autumn favourite.
Act 5: Amdo, 1920
Echo and Narcissus at Lake Koko Nor. Vetiverol, the alcohol fraction of vetiver oil, and green galbanum resinoid smell earthy, green and cool. A quiet, introspective Act for all vetiver lovers.
Curiosities about PANTOMIME
What happens behind the scenes
- A time instead of a pyramid
PANTOMIME does without classic top, heart and base notes. Instead, every Act gets a scene with a place, a year and a time, down to the minute: 11.02 pm in Rome, 1.48 am in New York.
- The stars have to stay outside
Iso E Super, Ambroxan and Javanol, the darlings of many modern brands, are deliberately not the leading actors at PANTOMIME. Their popularity is their curse, says the house.
- A molecule from 2018
The lead in Act 1, Ambrettolide HC Supreme, dates from 2018 according to the brand, making it the youngest molecule in the ensemble.
- A patchouli aged for 30 years
In Act 4, a patchouli aged for 30 years plays the supporting role. Aged patchouli is considered rounder and softer than freshly distilled oil.
- A stage with red lips
In the Amsterdam boutique, a red lip-shaped sofa stands between grey shelf niches. Think pantomime, think silent lips.
- From wine glass to bottle
Perfumer Fredrik Dalman first studied wine and culinary arts before going to Grasse. Taste and smell are close relatives, after all.
- Founded: 2023 in Amsterdam by Jeroen Oude Sogtoen, who previously worked as creative director at Mona di Orio.
- Perfumer: Fredrik Dalman is credited for all the Acts on Fragrantica and Parfumo. Fragrantica lists Act 1 to 5 as unisex fragrances from 2023.
- Concentration: All Acts are Eaux de Parfum in 100 ml. We explain what that means in Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum or Extrait.
- Ionones: According to the brand, Methyl Ionone Alpha Extra from Act 3 bears the year 1893, making it the oldest leading actor.
- Act 6: According to the brand, the sixth Act is set in Marrakech in 1970, with Safraleine and boronia absolute.
Frequently asked questions about PANTOMIME Parfum
Where is PANTOMIME Parfum from?
PANTOMIME Parfum is a niche perfume house from Amsterdam, founded in 2023 by the designer Jeroen Oude Sogtoen. The brand runs its own boutique in Amsterdam.
Who creates the PANTOMIME fragrances?
According to Fragrantica and Parfumo, all the Acts are by the Swedish perfumer Fredrik Dalman, who trained in Grasse and with Bertrand Duchaufour.
What do the names Act 1 to Act 6 mean?
Every Act is a scene with a place, a year and a time, such as Rome 1954 for Act 1 or Paris 1976 for Act 4. The fragrances are meant to tell these scenes without words.
Which PANTOMIME fragrance is the most popular?
In the Fragrantica community, Act 1 has the best rating of Acts 1 to 5 with 4.12 out of 5, just ahead of Act 2 (as of 19 October 2026).
Are PANTOMIME fragrances unisex?
Yes. Fragrantica lists Act 1 to Act 5 as unisex fragrances, and the scenes are aimed at anyone who wants to play a role.
Can I test PANTOMIME before buying?
Yes. With every fragrance order from 4D OUTFITTERS you receive a sample of the fragrance you ordered, and via the order note you can choose up to four more free samples. Or you can test the Acts in our boutique in Bregenz.
Smell first, then fall in love
With a house that manages without words, you should not rely on words. That is why we add a sample of exactly the fragrance you ordered to every fragrance order, so you can get to know it before opening the bottle. Via the order note in your cart, you can also ask for up to four more free samples, for example the other Acts for your very own performance. We ship free of charge from €200.
Or come to our boutique in Bregenz and let us present the whole PANTOMIME collection to you. If you would like to know why good fragrances do not need a gender, read our article on unisex perfumes, and how to combine Acts with each other in our 20 tips on perfume layering.
Your 4D OUTFITTERS team, Bregenz
Sources: PANTOMIME Parfum – About the Brand · PANTOMIME Parfum · Fragrantica: Pantomime · Fragrantica: Act 1 · Parfumo: Pantomime · Parfumo: Fredrik Dalman · CaFleureBon · Scentury
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