Fragrance house

Aqualis

Aqualis was founded in London in 2015 by Steyn Grobler, a South African who moved to the United Kingdom at 15 and had previously worked for 14 years across Boadicea the Victorious, Henry Jacques, Roja Dove and Ex Nihilo. The collection took four years from concept to creation before launching exclusively at Harrods in 2020. Aqualis presents its name as an equilibrium between perfume, represented by “Aqua,” and the self, represented by “Qualis,” with the wearer’s experiences completing each fragrance. Developed with Robertet and built around raw materials used in modern perfume compositions, the collection also draws on Grobler’s personal connections to places including Namaqualand, the Kalahari, Brenton and Kruger. In 2022, the company was described as self-funded and grown organically through cash flow.