Fragrance house

Smell Bent

Smell Bent was launched in Los Angeles in 2009 by Brent Leonesio, who began making perfume after his employer closed and he used unemployment checks to start the business. Self-taught in perfumery and previously a fashion designer and buyer, Leonesio brought a visual, collection-oriented sensibility to the house. Smell Bent built its public identity through playful names, puns, whimsical artwork, and an informal presentation paired with an insistence that its fragrances were serious perfume. The practice grew from small oil-based offerings into sprays, themed collections, experimental “Frankensmellies,” and scent development involving audience participation. In 2013, Leonesio created Accident with artist Austin Young and The Institute for Art and Olfaction. In 2014, the house marked five years with FIVE after producing more than 75 perfumes. A 2021 retrospective described the Los Angeles house as still run by Leonesio, while a 2025 retrospective reported that it had closed in 2021. Smell Bent is especially associated with a playful, experimental approach and themed collections rather than one established signature scent or fragrance family.