Since our launch in 2020, we've spent years working with home fragrance products, so stepping into perfume was an entirely new territory. We love the idea that a scent you could wear might carry the feeling of a place in a way a candle or a diffuser simply couldn't.
"Capturing something as intangible as the feeling of an island is no small task. The fragrance either transports you there or it doesn't. There was no in between."
Before we blended a single note, we went to Thulusdhoo a few times. We wanted to understand what Thulusdhoo feels like before we ever thought about what it should smell like.
Forgoing a checklist or a brief, we spent some time there. This helped us notice the way the breeze moves through the coconut palms, the salt in the air near the shore, the unhurried afternoons on the island, where time follows the tides rather than a clock. Getting the balance right, so that the scent felt light and fresh without losing that distinctly Maldivian warmth, took patience and a few iterations. But this wasn't something we wanted to rush.
Today, we're beyond excited to share what came out of that process: Thulusdhoo Drift, our first Eau de Parfum, and the opening of our very first Vilunü store, right there on the island that inspired it.
Why Thulusdhoo?
When we started working on our first perfume, we knew from the outset that we wanted it named after a place, not just a mood or an abstract idea. Thulusdhoo kept coming back to us. It has such a distinct identity, an island shaped by the sea, with a character that's hard to put into words but very easy to feel once you're there. With our first flagship store opening there too, naming the perfume Thulusdhoo Drift felt like the most honest thing we could do.
Testing it the Vilunü way
Before we even thought about launching, we asked people and locals what they imagined the scent of Thulusdhoo to be, what notes came to mind, what feelings it evoked. This gave us a starting point long before we started blending anything.
Once we had a version we felt good about, we shared it with a small circle of people. The moment that told us we'd got it right was when people smelled it and said, without any prompting from us, "This is a Thulusdhoo scent." We're still in the early days of gathering broader feedback, but the initial feedback we've been getting, especially from people who know the island well and have tried our perfume, has meant everything to us.
Everything you see in Thulusdhoo Drift, and in the store, was made in-house, from the scent to the formulation, the packaging and the artwork. Nothing was handed off for someone else to interpret or formulate, making this whole process deeply personal, and we hope you can feel it in the result.
We have a store now. Incredible.
Opening our first physical store in Thulusdhoo felt both daunting and a natural extension of our journey so far. The island's proximity to Malé, and the way we connected with its vibe, made it feel like the right decision. It also lets us start this new chapter at a smaller scale, on an island that gave us room to learn.
Thulusdhoo has also grown into a wonderful destination in its own right, drawing surfers, divers, and travellers looking for a more laid-back Maldivian experience. Having a physical presence there means we can share our products with visitors who want to discover Maldives more deeply, which is really what Vilunü has always been about.
What's Next
We hope Vilunü becomes a brand people genuinely associate with the Maldives, not just as a souvenir, but as a meaningful way to learn more about our islands and carry a piece of them with you. We want to keep telling the story of the scents of Maldives, with contemporary fragrances inspired by Maldivian tradition and nostalgia, while helping locals and visitors alike discover the deep connection between our local flora and the art of scenting.
We'd love to grow our presence across the Maldives, explore more bespoke scent work with resorts and hospitality brands, and eventually, introduce the world to what the Maldives truly smells like, beyond the beach.
Find Us
Thulusdhoo Drift and our full collection are available now at vilunu.com, at our new store in Thulusdhoo. A limited collection of our products are as always available with our stockists in Malé, Island Bazaar, and Authentic Maldives.
For delivery to other islands, place your order through our website or reach out to us directly at hello@vilunu.com.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
💖
Aish & Immi,
Vilunü