Hello Friends!
As we near the halfway point of November, our Customer Appreciation Month, we wanted to share with you some of our current favorite things. Below you will find five fragrances chosen by each of us that we have found ourselves wearing most often this year. Some of these are new releases, but overall we are simply sharing the things we find ourselves wearing most often and some of our thoughts about them! As you will likely notice, we each have pretty specific tastes. This is one of the reasons we do what we do! In our experience finding and enjoying fragrances is most enjoyable when it is deeply personal, which is why we started offering free online consultations in addition to our in-store ones this year. We also believe a bit of variety goes a long way in the enjoyment of fragrance, both in access at home (owning a fragrance) and just trying things in shops and in general to expand your exposure to fragrances that can surprise you outside of your normal preferences (for better or worse!). We hope sharing our current faves will be helpful or entertaining to you, and we look forward to assisting you however we can on your scent journey!
Tracy’s Picks
Ierofante • Quartana Upon first sniff of this inspired fragrance sprayed on skin, I had the grin of a cat that swallowed the mouse. It is one of the most satisfying leather fragrances that I have had the pleasure to wear in years.
Ravi • Naso Di Raz Ravi is a sultry, layered tobacco scent that wears beautifully. I find myself reaching for this fragrance when I’m in the mood for an elevated, sophisticated experience.
Ambre Loup • Rania J This is the ultimate comfort fragrance. I don’t typically gravitate towards amber-forward scents due to the fact that many of them read very similar to each other and don’t offer much of a twist. Ambre Loup is edgy and compelling and makes me swoon every time.
Little Song • Meo Fusciuni Bitter coffee and tobacco wrapped in a state of melancholy. Nothing more needs to be said.
Hinoki in Hinoki • Scents of Wood Hinoki in Hinoki is a sophisticated take on the well-loved essence of Japanese cypress. It is both contemplative and meditative and somehow makes me feel more intelligent with every wear.
Lele’s Picks
L' Oblìo • Meo Fusciuni L’Oblio embodies the fluctuating nature of emotions while simultaneously offering a sweet relief from the monotony of life. A thoughtful incense journey.
Nolita 96 • La Boticá Fresh and self-assured. The considerate, understated, and reliable friend you’d like to have on your team. Notes of santal and iris create this comforting feeling of familiarity. It’s crisp without being sharp, and soft without being too delicate.
Santal Umeshu • Scents of Wood My go-to when I want something sweet, yet unapologetically green. Santal Umeshu is delicious without being explicitly gourmand. Its sweeter elements of orange, umeshu, and vanilla, are grounded, and complimented by notes of sandalwood, ginger, and violet leaf.
Bois d'Ascèse • Naomi Goodsir The smoky leather fragrance of my dreams! Bois d’Ascèse is something I reach for when I want an all-encompassing experience. With every wear, I’m transported to a brooding and never-ending green landscape that is completely overshadowed by a bright and blazing bonfire. The dry down feels like the cathartic morning after; contemplation and smoke.
Molecule 01 + Guaiac Wood • Escentric Molecules This has been my go-to when I’m in spaces where I’d like to embrace anonymity, without depriving myself of smelling good. Guaiac wood is stable and intriguing to me, and I love the way this scent melds into my skin. A fun scent to layer with as well, especially for fragrances that you feel could benefit from the addition of woods.
Michael’s Picks
Shah'Ryar • Rania J Right when we opened the first package containing Shah’Ryar I could tell from the notes Rania provided and the color of the fragrance that I was going to love it. This dense extrait is centered around a focus on high-quality and rare ingredients, but to me the star of the show is the rich hay that permeates every section of this fragrance supporting every other ingredient; uplifting the caramel, mellowing the smoky oud, and expanding the rich osmanthus. This fragrance is so to my taste I can hardly believe it was made! If you are fan a of (or curious about) Slumberhouse, I cannot recommend any other non-Slumberhouse fragrance more highly than this for a similar experience of rare and highly concentrated ingredients expertly implemented into an art-forward composition.
Ummagumma • FZOTIC If I am ever making a list of favorite fragrances and the list does not require specific restrictions (like new releases or ingredient focus) Ummagumma will always make it in the lineup, especially if the question is what are you wearing most often?. Folks often ask me what my favorite fragrance is. It is Ummagumma, and I have worn it more than anything else for some years now. I have no idea if I will ever find anything that can dethrone it, but I’d be amazed if I do. I’m not the first to say it, but this thing is criminally underrated.
The Lobster • Moth and Rabbit Parfums The Lobster is already a legend amongst those that know it. If you, like me, struggle to find a marine that you love because they lack the edge or dirtiness that you associate with coastal experiences I highly recommend trying this (even though it is a chypre). Also, watching the scenes from the film of its namesake that this fragrance is meant to accompany while smelling it is a mind-blowing experience- if you can, try it yourself! Moth & Rabbit can be hard to come by in the States and we rarely have enough Lobster to satisfy the demand so if you love it and see we, or another shop, have it in stock don’t hesitate to pick up a bottle.
Flor De Selva • La Boticá This fragrance reminds me more of the Sonoran desert, where I grew up, than any other fragrance. It is also something I have looked for in a fragrance for years in that it is actually spicy! It is delightful and skillfully executed, as all La Boticá fragrances are.
Odor 93 • Meo Fusciuni Picking just five fragrances is hard! As a tuberose fan, Odor 93 narrowly edged out Mélodie de l'Amour (as a white floral masterpiece I am obsessed with) and Varanasi (as probably the best perfume I have ever smelled) simply because I cannot stop wearing it. I admit part of my obsession is sentimental as this is the fragrance I chose to have Meo sign for me when he visited our shop, and I treasure the opportunity to have met him and Federica; but, truly, having my obsession with tuberose, complex spice, resin, and wood brought together in a stunningly original fashion by one of the best perfumers to have lived is so special. I can say I would likely be wearing this just as much if I had never met the lovely creatives behind it.