Made in London, Worn Worldwide: The Bold Fragrances of 4160 Tuesdays

4160 Tuesdays isn’t just about perfume. It’s about possibility. About doing something meaningful with the time we have. It’s about crafting beauty out of science, storytelling, and a splash of mischief.

Operating from a modest studio in Hammersmith, West London, is one of Britain’s most adventurous and creative fragrance houses—4160 Tuesdays. Founded in 2011 by self-taught perfumer Sarah McCartney, this small-batch artisan brand has carved out a unique space in the world of niche perfumery. Quirky, bold, and unapologetically British, 4160 Tuesdays is more than a perfume label—it's a philosophy, a storybook, and a science experiment all rolled into one scented bottle.

Why “4160 Tuesdays”?

The name isn’t random. It’s a gentle reminder that, on average, we have 4,160 Tuesdays in an 80-year lifespan. Sarah’s take? Let’s use each of those Tuesdays to “write, think, make, and do lovely things”—and if you're not the making type, buy the lovely things others have made. That sentiment is baked into every fragrance she creates: scents meant to capture joy, memory, and imagination.

A British Indie Brand With a Big Heart

4160 Tuesdays stands out not just because it’s British, but because of how it’s run. Every single perfume is handmade in-house by Sarah and her small team—no outsourcing to anonymous perfumers in distant labs. Instead, the perfumes are blended, bottled, and boxed in their West London workshop using low-energy tools (sometimes just a funnel and jug). The commitment to sustainability runs deep—from recyclable packaging and local suppliers to choosing carbon-neutral shipping partners where possible.

Unlike many niche brands, 4160 Tuesdays manages to keep its prices accessible. “We want everyone who’s interested in fragrance to be able to try them,” says Sarah. It’s a rare ethos in an industry often defined by exclusivity.

Fragrances With a Sense of Humour—and Purpose

The scents themselves are anything but conventional. With names like The Sexiest Scent on the Planet. Ever. (IMHO), Eau My Soul, and Time to Draw the Raffle Numbers, these perfumes don’t take themselves too seriously. But don’t let the playful titles fool you—these are expertly crafted compositions that rival anything from the luxury houses of Paris.

Each fragrance tells a story, often inspired by real or imagined places, personal memories, or curious moments. One scent might evoke a night at a jazz club in 1950s New York, another the nostalgic joy of raspberry jam on toast. If you’re bored of mass-market perfumes, these are for you.

Sarah McCartney - Scent, Sound, and Spells

Sarah’s journey is as unusual as her perfumes. Born near Saltburn-by-the-Sea (75% Teesside, 25% Cockney, as she describes it), she didn’t grow up making perfumes out of rose petals—she was more interested in magic spells. But at 16, she fell under the spell of Diorella and began her lifelong love affair with scent.

With a background in science, music, marketing, and writing, Sarah spent 14 years as the head writer for LUSH, crafting whimsical product stories and diving deep into the world of essential oils. After leaving LUSH, she wrote a novel about a perfumer who created scents to unlock people’s happiest memories. When she couldn’t find anyone making the types of scents she described, she decided to make them herself.

Against all odds—and some well-meaning advice to “get a real perfumer”—she built 4160 Tuesdays from scratch, learning the ropes through experimentation, persistence, and hundreds of books on the science and art of scent.

For Sarah, perfumery is as much about sound and memory as it is about smell. She “hears” scents like musical notes, and often creates compositions as if they were symphonies. Her passion goes beyond perfume bottles; she works with academics and neuroscientists to explore how scent affects perception and emotion.

She even dreams in smell—something only 5% of people can do.

Behind the Scents - A Creative Explosion in British Perfumery

Sarah believes we’re living through a golden age of fragrance creativity, and she’s one of its brightest sparks. The internet, she says, changed everything. It gave independent perfumers access to materials, knowledge, and communities that were once guarded by the industry elite. Now, anyone with curiosity, a decent nose, and a little chemistry know-how can begin experimenting.

But creativity isn’t just about access—it’s also about restriction. Regulatory hurdles (like the banning of certain natural materials) might seem like obstacles, but Sarah sees them as creative catalysts. “Restrictions squeeze innovation out,” she says, and her perfumes are proof of that.

4160 Tuesdays is home to some award-winning blends. Dirty Honey won Best Indie Fragrance at the EauMG Awards, while New York ‘55, Maxed Out, and Midnight in the Palace Garden were all recognised at the Fragrance Foundation Awards. Sarah’s cult hit Eau My Soul even made it into Fragrantica’s list of most innovative fragrances.

But Sarah doesn’t rest on accolades. She continues to develop new fragrances—sometimes in 30 minutes, sometimes over six months—always driven by storytelling, emotion, and a healthy dose of whimsy.

Discovering Your Own Scent Story

4160 Tuesdays isn’t just about perfume. It’s about possibility. About doing something meaningful with the time we have. It’s about crafting beauty out of science, storytelling, and a splash of mischief.

In a world of generic scents and glossy marketing campaigns, 4160 Tuesdays offers something far more magical: authenticity.

Sarah’s advice for fragrance lovers? Smell widely. Explore the classics. Ignore scent snobbery. And most importantly, find out what you love—then learn what makes up that smell. Whether it’s grapefruit peel, rock pools, or the blossom of a palm tree, our noses can be trained like instruments. All it takes is practice and curiosity.

If you're ready to step into a fragrant world where art meets science, and where every scent has a story, 4160 Tuesdays might just be your next olfactory adventure.

Explore the collection at www.4160Tuesdays.com

And follow their fragrant escapades on Instagram @4160Tuesdays

Words by the Amazing Britain editorial team – celebrating the bold, the beautiful, and the brilliantly British.

We intentionally don’t include photo captions—our aim is to encourage you to visit the featured brand’s website and explore their work in full context.

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