From subtle floral notes to sharp citrus undertones, Anino&rsquo;s debut collection reflects dualities, contrasts, and deeply personal inspirations.

There are scents that announce themselves immediately, and then there are those that linger in the mind long after, shaping memory and imagination. Anino belongs to the latter. Each fragrance in this local debut collection moves like a shadow, subtle and layered, impossible to ignore once it begins to reveal its story.
For its founder, Mark Cruz, a deep appreciation for perfume traces back to family. They have been in the fragrance manufacturing industry for over 25 years, crafting scents for a wide range of clients. During summers spent at the family plant, Cruz immersed himself in the process. &ldquo;I would usually go to the plant to learn more about the manufacturing and perfumery,&rdquo; he shares. What began as a quiet observation eventually became the foundation for his understanding of scent.
Anino emerged from collaboration with a small creative team, taking more than a year to conceptualize and develop. From the beginning, the goal was clarity of vision rather than speed. &ldquo;We wanted to create a brand that stands out in the market, not just locally but globally,&rdquo; Cruz explains. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s aspirational but still accessible to consumers.&rdquo; Beyond aesthetics, the focus remained on the fragrances themselves. &ldquo;We wanted to put the product forward and really let it speak for itself.&rdquo;

The name Anino, which translates to &ldquo;shadow,&rdquo; reflects both the wearer and their surroundings. It embodies the brand&rsquo;s fascination with dualities: light and dark, past and future, presence and memory. Each fragrance is designed to mirror emotion and movement, existing as an experience.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Anino&rsquo;s debut collection. The six fragrances are paired to converse with one another, inviting exploration and reflection. Each duo captures moments and moods, letting scent tell a story that shifts as it lingers on the skin.
Seabed and Sigh capture the rhythm of breathing itself. Salty air, mineral depths, and the ocean&rsquo;s quiet weight meet the soft bloom of hibiscus and the caress of a gentle sea breeze, moving seamlessly from inhale to exhale.

Photo via @officialanino/Instagram

I Dreamed of Grace and Running In Place explore inner contrasts. Delicate lace and morning fog brush against sharp citrus and smoldering incense, tracing the delicate line between calm daydreams and restless wakefulness.

Countdown and Exposure trace the passage of time. The crisp energy of spring water and urban electric notes lean toward the future, while the warmth of white musk and cabin haze draw you back to the past. Together, they evoke memory and anticipation, a reflection of the fleeting, layered nature of experience.

When developing each fragrance, Cruz explains that the process goes far beyond simply selecting notes. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s more about the sensory, the emotions, the feeling of it,&rdquo; he says. From the start, Anino approached scent conceptually. &ldquo;When we started formulating the fragrances, we began with the concept and the feelings first, which was kind of poetic. The notes came after, when we were actually smelling the fragrances.&rdquo; The team sampled what felt like hundreds of combinations before finding the perfect balance. &ldquo;So that&rsquo;s how the process started. Everything stems from the concept of Anino, which is about memory, time, light, and dark.&rdquo;
Every scent in the debut collection was chosen with intention. &ldquo;We started with six to be conservative with the inventory,&rdquo; Cruz explains. &ldquo;We created six concepts and stories first, and then chose the scents to match them.&rdquo; Each fragrance exists not only as a standalone identity but also as part of a larger dialogue with its pair, reflecting the dualities and contrasts at the heart of the brand
Highlighting his personal connection to the collection, Cruz shares his favorites. &ldquo;Running In Place is my favorite. It&rsquo;s sharp, citrusy, kind of a nighttime scent for me, and a little woody too.&rdquo; Exposure holds a quieter charm, paired with Countdown. &ldquo;Exposure is subtle, a white musk and cabin scent that feels like you&rsquo;re in Baguio. Its pair is Countdown, which is more on the future side. Exposure represents the past. It&rsquo;s subtle, like memory.&rdquo; Through these choices, the fragrances map emotional landscapes, moving from memory to anticipation, from night to day.

Photo courtesy of Anino

For Cruz, Anino is about more than just perfumes. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s aspirational but also approachable. The raw materials come from Europe, yet everything is made here locally.&rdquo; Each fragrance is a personal story, meant to be worn and remembered, reflecting a brand that is still growing and evolving.&nbsp;

Step Into Anino, the Filipino Fragrance That Moves Like a Shadow

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