Roger of The Scent Masters, located in the Shops at Rockdale, has helped Lancaster County smell their best and find their perfect scent for decades - and his shop is only expanding. 

As a 40-year veteran of the fragrance industry, Roger says he’s “always had a passion for fragrances.” His mother was fond of classic fragrances like Chanel No. 5, Emeraude by Coty and Arpège by Lanvin and shared her love of good scents with Roger from a young age. 

Professionally, he started out as a wholesale broker, selling to the largest dealers in the country, and moved into operating his own stores in southern New Jersey and Florida. This allowed him to establish a lot of industry relationships that Scent Masters and its customers still benefit from today. 

“It’s not what or who you know - it’s who knows you,” he said. 

 It was his brother’s idea for him to move to Lancaster, as he heard it was “a good place to go.” And the move was a culture shock for Rodger at first, a native New Yorker.

“I’m used to a city that doesn’t sleep. To a city that just sleeps,” he said.

But Lancaster was “peaceful, quiet, clean.” (And, now “there’s a lot going on today.”) His first store was on Lincoln Highway before moving over to the current location. 

Each wall at the store showcases a different niche brand. (Recent additions include Clive Christian, Electimuss and Liquides Imaginares.) That collection has helped Scent Masters become a “destination point” for niche fragrances, with customers traveling from Washington, DC, Long Island and Baltimore to shop, as some have called it, “Lancaster’s best well-kept secret.” 

Their selection draws people in. But the customer service gets them to stay, then, to come back, and bring family or friends to shop, too. He’s even had the opportunity to help couples choose their wedding fragrances, a task he says he takes “very, very seriously.” 

“We spend a lot of time with the customer,” Roger said. “It’s part of our DNA.” 

Working in the industry for so many years, Roger has seen a lot of change. Some of the most significant ones include the shift from natural to synthetic ingredients as a cost-cutting measure, and a rise in counterfeiting. These can hurt consumers not just financially, but physically as well, highlighting the importance of buying

“Come and check it out for yourself. Because you need to see it. You need to smell it. You need to put your hands on it. 
You need to put your nose into it,” he said.” 

In addition to the lines they stock, Scent Masters is developing their own line of “classy, sophisticated scents” with natural ingredients. While an official release date has not yet been announced, Rodger and team say it could be as soon as this summer. 

“When we get a new line, I’m like a kid in a candy store,” he said. “It’s like Christmas to me.” 

When you walk into The Scent Masters you won’t just find amazing new scents, you’ll be greeted with a warm smile, a friendly handshake, and the joy of knowing you’re about to find your new signature style. 

Visit The Scent Masters’ retail location (11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sundays and Mondays, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesdays - Thursdays and 10 a.m. 7 p.m.) or shop their website, https://www.thescentmasters.com/.