Intoxicating scents of the season
A week of olfactory magic
I’m interrupting my regularly scheduled programming because the theme of this past week was overwhelmingly all things olfactory - in the absolute best way. Scent plays a fundamental role in our memories and the way in which we instinctively connect them with people, places, and very specific moments. And with the holiday season in full swing, it almost feels like my olfactory receptors are firing on all cylinders to joyously capture one of my favorite times of the year.
Scent 1:
I’ve been wearing Byredo’s De Los Santos perfume for the past 8 months and am truly in love with the woody, fresh, and appropriately subtle yet long-lasting scent. Though this perfume isn’t one of their most popular, I always found that De Los Santos left an impression. Then one day I sprayed it on my wrist in the store, went about my day, and hours later worked out and my goodness gracious, I was so wonderfully distracted by the scent. In the past week, three different people have inquired about my perfume - a random stranger in a gift shop, one of my clients at an event, and then we were out to dinner with my husband’s colleague and his wife and the next day he received a text saying she wanted to purchase the perfume I was wearing. There must be something about the scent and the way it in blends with heavier fibers during the fall and winter, because I find it lingers on my jackets and sweaters in particular.
Scent 2:
I couldn’t help but stop by the MyTheresa & Flamingo Estate Holiday House in Highland Park this weekend to see the stunning 1,500 square foot real life gingerbread house replica of the actual Flamingo Estate floor plan and decor. It even includes a reproduction of founder Richard Christiansen’s David Hockney screen.
The experience certainly doesn’t disappoint, with QR codes to shop covetable designer goods via MyTheresa and fresh-baked cookies available next door - though go in the morning as they are often sold out by the afternoon. All net proceeds from the cookie sales go to LAUSD. The gingerbread sculptures were created by NYC-based Marta Kaminska of LucidDreamsProduction. I had the privilege of walking by the Holiday House earlier in the week and saw Marta in action, putting additional finishing touches on the sculptures. The cookie-craving-inducing smell of gingerbread in the space is what holiday dreams are made of. A special shoutout to everything that Flamingo Estate is creating. It feels increasingly rare that brands have the ability to invest in “surprise and delight” opportunities, let alone ones that think way outside-of-the-box with the intent to create a multi-sensory, knock-your-socks-off, creative experience. Cheers to those investing in the arts.
The only missed opportunity was not having an exclusive Holiday House candle that smells of the magical treat. We were so in love with the gingerbread smell that we easily would have bought some candles in the same scent. I started looking for alternatives and it reminded me that Heretic Parfum has a Dirty Gingerbread candle with notes of clove, nutmeg, vanilla, ginger, spice, Tonka bean, and black pepper.
Scent 3:
It wasn’t until we moved to LA that I discovered that rosemary can grow into massive hedge-like bushes. A number of homes throughout the city have them around their properties and there’s one house in particular that we always pass when walking our dog. As we were enjoying the December SoCal weather, the scent of fresh rosemary was out in full force. It made me crave the Flamingo Estate Climbing Tuscan Rosemary candle. And if you want to make the famous Flamingo Estate candle jump, the Three Sisters Candle Set is the perfect place to start - with their bestselling Roma tomato scent in addition to the sage and rosemary.
Scent 4:
As I write this, I’m sitting next to the glow and woody, vetiver-y scent of Diptyque’s Ambre candle. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a bit of a splurge. The ceramic vessel is easily repurposed for gardening / decor in the future. It’s a beautiful holiday addition.
Hoping this season is filled with spectacular scents that mark your holiday moments and memories for years to come.
x jz
Images | 1 | @b.g.mckay, styled by me | 2 - 3 | me | 4 | NYT | 5 - 6 | me | 7 | Heretic Parfum | 8 | Flamingo Estate | 9 | Diptyque
I do not get paid for nor make money off of this post. All opinions are my own.
Love these options. Check out Lit Lab co. and Stonelight candles for gorgeous clean options. These are my favorites this year.