Fragrance house

The Sum

Established in Portland, Oregon, in 2013, The Sum began as a handcrafted jewelry and body-adornment brand founded by David Friend. What started as a garage-based passion project grew into an international business, linking design, wellness, and body adornment with an approach to masculinity shaped by intentional materials and fewer gender constraints. The brand later expanded from unisex sterling-silver jewelry into fragrance after Friend encountered niche perfumery and began collaborating with perfumers. In March 2016, Fragrance Offering 0001 introduced The Red, The Black, and The White, composed by Josh Meyer. Fragrance Offering 0002 began in October 2016 with The Mauve, followed by The Gold in 2017. The collection’s modern, unisex, minimalist identity carried the jewelry language into scent through sterling-silver beads set into the bottles; The White and The Black represent its clean, woody and oud-centered directions. The Sum’s development culminated in its sale in late 2019.