Perfumer. Musician. Founder of Akademi Wangi Nusantara. Indonesia.
For Riyal, fragrance is both art and experience. He treats composing a scent like composing a song, guided by harmony and balance. Depth sits where the bass would sit, brightness where the melody would rise. The goal is not status, it is resonance.
Music has been with him since childhood. Scent followed as another instrument, one that could hold memory as clearly as a chord. He learned by practicing, listening, and refining until the structure matched the feeling.
Indonesia’s diversity shapes his palette. Patchouli, nutmeg, vetiver, and sandalwood are part of daily life and craft. Many wearers prefer fresh and sweet profiles, yet interest in niche and artisanal work is growing. Rather than focusing on a strict pyramid, he aims for the total sensation a perfume creates, often starting from naturals that feel close to place.
At his academy, most students arrive with plans to start a brand. About half discover they prefer the practice for its own sake once they meet the complexity of formulation. The school focuses on balancing natural materials with modern synthetics, using the first for authenticity and the second for lift and stability.
Sunset, or Senja, grew from a conversation with his father about why people love that hour. Lovers meet, fathers return from work, mothers begin to cook, workers end their day. The perfume moves from mandarin and sweet orange to a quiet rose, then settles in vetiver and patchouli. It traces a day into evening and leaves space for reflection.
Riyal composes for feeling first, then edits for clarity. He thinks in movement and timbre, letting naturals lead and reinforcing them where needed. Each perfume is built to be both understood and felt, intimate and shareable.
The academy exists to honor tradition while using modern tools. It treats Indonesian perfumery as living practice, connecting raw materials, local knowledge, and contemporary methods so that new voices can find their own sound.
“Fragrance is art and experience. The work is to make both present for the wearer.”
