The Perfume Shop reports 0% median gender pay gap in 2024

The Perfume Shop, the UK’s largest specialist perfume retailer, is proud to report a 0% median gender pay gap in its Gender Pay Gap Report 2024, reflecting a 4.44% reduction from the previous reporting period.

Significant strides have also been made in closing the bonus pay gap. The median bonus gap has dramatically improved to 7.97%, a 75.23% reduction, driven by increased investment in performance-related bonuses for store teams during the Golden Quarter.

The report further highlights progress in narrowing the mean gender pay gap, which has reduced to 14.99%, an improvement of 3.86% from last year. Meanwhile, the mean bonus gap has dropped to 31.82%, down from 40.14% in 2023, marking an 8.32% improvement.

These results reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to fair pay, career development, and ensuring all employees feel valued and rewarded.

Michelle Fellows, People, Sustainability & Development Director at The Perfume Shop, commented:

“At The Perfume Shop, our people are at the heart of everything we do, so we’re incredibly proud to share the results of our Gender Pay Gap Report 2024. Achieving a zero median gender pay gap is a huge milestone and reflects our commitment to fair pay, career development, and recognising the hard work of our teams.

We want everyone who works here to feel valued and rewarded, and we’re always striving to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. As we celebrate this achievement, we must also reflect on the bigger picture—gender equity isn’t just a one-time focus, but a continuous effort. Businesses like ours play a vital role in driving meaningful change.”

A Commitment to Growth & Inclusion

As part of its ‘Grow Our Own’ strategy, The Perfume Shop remains dedicated to internal career development, offering learning programmes and apprenticeships to support employee progression. This commitment is reflected in the company’s 78% female-led leadership team, which includes:

• Gill Smith, Managing Director
• Karen Harris, Customer Director (promoted March 2024)
• Laura Wilkinson, Online Business Director (promoted March 2024)

The company’s workforce has remained stable, with 1,639 employees in 2023 compared to 1,644 in 2024. Male representation has increased slightly from 13.6% to 15.2%, particularly within the lower and lower-middle pay quartiles. The Perfume Shop remains committed to further promoting gender equity to continue reducing its mean gender pay gap.

Karen Harris, Customer Director at The Perfume Shop, said: “The Perfume Shop has always been a place where passion and hard work are recognised, and I’m incredibly proud to have built my career here. We are a business that truly invests in its people, and it’s rewarding to see the positive impact—whether through career development, pay fairness, or the supportive culture we’ve built. Seeing our teams thrive is what makes this such a fantastic place to work.”

Looking Ahead: Priorities for 2025

The Perfume Shop is committed to further closing its mean gender pay and bonus gaps, ensuring gender balance at all levels of the business. In 2025, the company will continue to:

• Maintain its commitment as a Real Living Wage employer
• Strengthen pay transparency policies across stores, Scent Quarters, and warehouse teams
• Advertise pay for store roles and develop greater transparency for Head Office and Warehouse positions
• Enhance family-friendly benefits, including improved maternity pay
• Benchmark reward practices externally through Top Employers accreditation

Laura Wilkinson, Online Business Director at The Perfume Shop, added: “What I love about The Perfume Shop is its commitment to nurturing talent and creating real opportunities for people to grow. My own journey here has shown how much the business values internal progression, and it’s exciting to see that reflected in the positive results of this year’s report. We know there’s always more to do, but it’s great to see our efforts making a real difference.”

These results mark a significant step in The Perfume Shop’s ongoing mission to create an inclusive, fair, and rewarding workplace—ensuring that all employees, regardless of role or gender, have the opportunity to thrive.

The Perfume Shop won a number of People in Retail Awards in 2024, further recognising its dedication to employee wellbeing, career development, and industry leadership.