Xyrena® was born in the heart of music-inspired Austin, Texas in 1988, emerging from the vibrant imagination of unconventional leathersmith, Dallas Ryerson. Ryerson yearned for a fragrance that was sweeter than most men's colognes at the time, yet juxtaposed with the traditionally masculine aroma of his favorite suede. This desire led him to establish an indie fragrance house, with its debut product, Space Cowboy. Despite its underground status, Xyrena quickly drew a devout following among the stars of the era. Names such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, and Cindy Crawford were rumored to have been captivated by Xyrena's distinctive olfactory expressions. In the early 90s, mainstream fragrance brands discovered Xyrena and began producing cheap knockoffs. Frustrated, Ryerson shifted his focus back to his leather goods. Consequently, Xyrena disappeared into the shadows of the pre-internet age.
Fast forward to 2015, when pop music artist and 90s kid, Killian Wells, stumbled upon a vintage bottle of Space Cowboy in a San Fernando Valley thrift shop. Wells started asking friends in the fashion world about this virtually forgotten brand. Intrigued by its history and a fan of 1980s pop culture, he decided to resurrect the defunct fragrance and fashion house. His quest led him to a small town near Austin where Ryerson had chosen to live off the grid. In a deal reminiscent of the original ethos of the brand - unconventional and nonconforming - Ryerson, impressed by Wells' vision, sold the rights for Xyrena, including the original formulas, to Wells for a mere dollar, sealed with a handshake. The agreement virtually ensured that Xyrena would always dare to be different, in an effort to disrupt a fragrance industry that had otherwise become complacent and was in dire need of a creative infusion. To retain his privacy, the reclusive Ryerson also requested Wells to refrain from revealing the terms of the deal or discussing the brand's legacy until after his death.
Wells' reborn iteration of the brand shone at the 2016 Pure Beauty Awards in London, nabbing both Best New Brand and Best New Packaging awards. Wells’ inaugural Dark Ride fragrance also caught attention, nominated for an Art & Olfaction award that same year and it is now considered the quintessential scent of theme park water rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain. By 2018, Wells had been named Hollywood Tastemaker of the Year at the Taste Awards and had won numerous awards for his creative direction, including the commercial for Aaliyah by Xyrena, the official tribute fragrance to the late Princess of R&B. Having initially relaunched the brand in Los Angeles, Wells felt that to truly embrace the spirit of Xyrena, it needed to be back in its native Austin where it could help “Keep Austin Weird”. In 2020, Wells relocated the brand to the thriving creative mecca.
Fumerie is proud to have been the first retailer in the world officially carry Xyrena fragrances, remaining the sole retailer in the until 2026 when Xyrena began releasing their fragrances in their upgraded and VHS-cassette inspired premium bottles.
Due to brand & licensing restrictions, and the collectible nature of the Cinematic Scent Archive™, samples of fragrances within the Archive collection are not offered online. However, free* gift with purchase samples can be requested at checkout when purchasing full bottles.
