BY WALTER GREENE
The Fragrance Foundation hosted a five-hour webinar on Fragrance Day, bringing together the major players in the fragrance space and reiterating their pledge for driving diversity, equity and inclusion. President of the Fragrance Foundation Linda Levy and Deputy President Sharne Jackson welcomed guests and presented several luminaries in the industry who spoke extensively about the sourcing, sustainability, and production of their fragrances. Editors were sent samples of several fragrances and were encouraged to indulge in the varying scents and beauty of each fragrance, as they were presented. 

LIFT & SNIFF TECHNOLOGY COMING

Linda Levy, president of the Fragrance Foundation, in her opening remarks emphasized the organization’s push for creativity over reasonability. “We need to push for diversity and understand why there is no access.” An initial group of fragrance aficionados came centerstage – Michelle Feney of Floral Street Fragrance talked about the relationship between flowers and fragrances, the Vincent Van Goah inspiration of their ‘Neon Rose’ coming from their London’s Covent Garden store. Tiff Benson went through a slew of fragrances, explaining the pleasures of each scent. Then came Dr. Pamela Dalton, Research Scientist Monell Center: the only research center devoted to the sense of smell and the whole interaction to smell and how it affects one’s everyday life. Dr. Dalton noted that fragrance sales went up and have increased since Covid19. She talked about smell loss during Covid19; “We are learning so much, the pandemic has opened that door for more research,” Monell Center is developing a smell test – `Lift and Sniff technology.’ “Just like having an eye or ear test, everyone should have a smell test, which is still in research presently. Dr. Dalton concluded: “Your sense of smell and how it affects us generally is very important to the Fragrance community.”

CLEOPATRA INSPIRED

Next came ‘Rivieres’ by Cartier; three distinct fragrances; Insouciance, Luxuriance, and Allegresse, each inspired by three rivers. The river is a liquid that flows and grows, it’s all about the need for nature. Rivers are found all over the world, it’s a need that has not been shared, until now in perfumery. This was followed by the presentation from NEST from Lauree Sokin. who said the fragrance was launched in Sephora in 2013 and became quite successful in the ‘fine fragrance’ space. It was published that Cleopatra drenched the sails of her boat with golden orchid, musk, and vanilla creating a seductive aroma, so when she sailed the wind would blow this magnificent scent toward her lover – this was the inspiration behind NEST’S ‘Golden Nectar.’ 

FRANCISCO COSTA NEW VENTURE

Noted fashion designer Francisco Costa made an appearance and revealed what he has been doing since his days as the designer for the House of Calvin Klein. “Everyone kept asking, ‘what are you going to do…what’s next? Well, it’s out now – I am in the skincare and fragrance business. I have a full skincare line; Costa Brazil. ” Francisco founded and developed the line in the South of Brazil’s Kaya jungle. He even created a candle that brings you to the forest. Everything is very much a part of the Brazilian Jungle culture. The base is Firmingoil – Oleo Para O Corpo: Kaya Jungle Firming Oil. Francisco explained; “I encountered this fragrance and it’s the foundation of the brand and the story of it coming from the forest.” 

FOUND IN THE AMAZON

Mr. Costa explained that there is a spiritual connection with his complete line. “It becomes very personal and integrated, it’s a great opportunity to connect with people who love my clothes – they now love my fragrance. I went to the Amazon to discover, and to have this experience with the indigenous tribe. I had to figure out how to bridge the gap; sourcing from the communities and developing the ingredients. We took many trips to several communities like Makana, which is on the Guyana border. It’s fifteen hours; boats, rivers, dirt roads, and hiking in the Amazon jungle, climbing 200 meters, you start smelling and touching the leaves and the tiny red flowers. By the time we got to the top, we saw the family that spent three months in the forest where they go to source the product. We make sure the family gets exactly what it’s worth for the product. By the time it gets to the lab, by a simple process of fermentation, it’s a great message of upliftment. We have the potential to make the world a better place to live. It’s very exciting.”

BILLIE EILISH NEW FRAGRANCE

Moving on the celebrity tip, Grammy award-winning singer Billie Eilish made an appearance to talk about her amazing new fragrance which bears the name of ‘Eilish.’ It’s turning out to be one of the hottest fragrances of the season – It’s warm, sensual and Powerfully you, touts her slogan. Billie revealed: “This fragrance came about during the lockdown,” always having an obsession with fragrance, Billie even designed the unique one-of-a-kind bottle which is totally a novelty item on its own. “We created the perfect fragrance. I’ve done a lot of amazing things…I wanted it to feel warm, I love woodsy smells…I have always loved the human body and I wanted to create the human body with the collar bone, neck, and shoulders is my favorite thing (referring to the shape of the fragrance bottle). The fragrance is not anything specific, it’s meant for whoever loves it. I can’t emphasize what fragrance meant to me. I really, really think of scents and body positivity within yourself. This is my favorite smell in the world.” 

A HARLEM FRAGRANCE PARLOR

Estee Lauder presented their haunting “Desert Eden” fragrance, made from Sandalwood from Australia and Patchouli from Indonesia. Givaudan showcased their twin fragrances which bring delight across the board. Pistachio Vetiver (nutty) Oil distilled from the vetiver roots from Haiti is the main ingredient for one fragrance. The other is Guava Labyrinth from Mexico. The wood, the leaves, and the tree that only Mother Nature can put together are the nucleus of these scents. Subsequently, Kimberly Waters, a Harlem entrepreneur, took the spotlight to expose her uptown townhouse which she transformed into a Fragrance Parlor. MUSE, she described as an intimate space where guests/clients can come in and shop for fragrances. Thirteen to fifteen brands, select Global, Independent, and emerging brands are sold.  

ALL NATURAL – FRESH & BRIGHT

Malin+Goetz Strawberry is a fresh unexpected interpretation of the common garden, strawberry. Andrew, one of the two owners of this fragrance brand, told the audience that the fragrance is created in their Hudson, New York garden/farm.where the tomato farm is King. There’s even a ‘Rum candle’ on their roster. Fresh and bright notes of Bergamot and pink pepper with warm musks, jasmine petals, and orris root reveal a memorable, genderless scent: Malin+Goetz.