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A South Korean niche perfume studio inspired by the city of Seoul, CONCRETED views scent as a source of enjoyment — much like film, music, or food. Fragrance, for them, is another way to experience life and create memory. And that feels very Sooo Human! At the top of their About section, they define concrete in three ways — adjective, noun, and perfumery process — grounding the brand in both concept and craft: con·crete /ˈkänˌkrēt, ˌkänˈkrēt/ To make something actual or real

Over Spring Break, we stayed at a beautiful resort along the Southern California coast, and our balcony was surrounded by blooming honeysuckle bushes. Ever since, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect summer fragrance that captures that exact scent. And let me tell you—I’ve kissed a lot of frogs in the honeysuckle category. They either lean fake and rubbery (instant headache), or they’re overloaded with heavy white florals like tuberose—too sweet, too thick, and completely ov

I think I accidentally scheduled three dates… for the same day.

I am thirty-six hours into my 30-day no-buy , and I already regret it.😆 Not in a dramatic, throw-my-wallet-out-the-window kind of way… but in that quiet, itchy, dopamine-seeking way that tries to tell me, “just one more won’t hurt.” But I’m not doing that. Instead, I’m dating my collection. Not adding to it. Not chasing the next thing. Just… sitting with what I already have. Getting to know it again. Falling back in love with it. And today’s date? A tea date. Meet my

The Scents I Reached For the Most While Sick (When What I Really Wanted Was My Mom) There’s a very specific kind of vulnerability that comes with being sick. The kind that slows everything down. The kind that makes even small tasks feel heavy. The kind that, if you’re honest, makes you want your mom. And while I have a home filled with love — a family who stepped in, carried the weight, kept things moving while I rested, coughed, and generally felt like a shell of myself — th

For someone who claims she isn’t a rose fragrance person, I seem to own—and love—a surprising number of rose perfumes. So clearly, something about this note keeps pulling me in. Maybe it’s the contradiction that I'm drawn to. Because rose, like the many variations of the flower itself, has no single identity. And modern perfumery has fully leaned into that. What was once considered classic—sometimes even dated—has been completely reimagined. Today’s rose can be green an

I must admit something. I’ve been keeping a secret for the last 30 days. Not because I was trying to keep something from you— but because I really wanted to do my due diligence before I spoke about Cymbiotika. Truthfully? I could’ve screamed from the rooftops by day 3. But responsible Hilary said, finish the 30 days first… then talk. So here we are. 30+ days in—and now I’m officially screaming.

There’s something deeply satisfying about finishing a skincare product, a perfume sample, and a good book! But seeing the bottom of a jar or bottle just hits differently. It reminds us it’s not all about consumption — it’s reassurance. Proof that I’m showing up, sticking with my routines, and actually doing the work.

I’m having a love affair with green vanilla fragrances. I don’t even know if that’s technically the correct name for this profile— but I am in deep. That herbal-to-sweet transition is sharp—almost jarring— and I find myself craving it. There’s something about those green, stemmy opening notes that has me in a chokehold. It’s pungent—but in the best way. Almost like catching a scent straight from the source, not quite ripe, herbaceous and earthy. Notes like green hazelnut or

I’ve seen this fragrance house — Clue Perfumery— floating around—reviews, posts, quiet buzz in the fragrance space—and I’ve been curious. The names. The bottles. The notes. All of it felt intriguing, slightly mysterious… and I went in with zero expectations—just excitement. I love that it’s American-made, formulated in Chicago by two childhood friends. There’s something about that origin story that makes the experience feel more intimate—more human. A perfumer and a designer

Some fragrances draw you in because of their scent. Some, because of their bottles. Others, because of how they make you feel. Lorenzo Pazzaglia had me at all three. If you know me, you know owls are a thing in our family—a sort of spirit animal, if you will. During Covid, when we were all isolated and digging deep for ways to stay connected (and sane) with our kids, my mom and my son—then just 7 years old—started an “Owl Diary.” A homemade encyclopedia of all things owls.

The aromatherapeutic properties of Nobile 1942 — La Danza Delle Libellule Exceptional Edition Nobile 1942 — La Danza Delle Libellule Exceptional Edition Floral Fruity Gourmand 2015 Top Notes: Bergamot, Red Apple Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Cocoa Base Notes: Vanilla, Cedar, Musk Gourmand fragrances can often get dismissed as juvenile or overly sweet — but that’s not the case with La Danza Delle Libellule Exceptional Edition . Yes, it’s sweet. But this version feels evol

The first time I got lip filler was in December 2022. I had been thinking about it for a long time—but between the cost and the courage it takes to actually go through with it, it stayed in the “maybe someday” category. I’m lucky to have a friend in town who’s a Nurse Practitioner and now works in medical aesthetics. So not only do I trust her… I also know where she lives if anything goes wrong. 😉 But truly—trust matters. For me, that’s the whole thing. There are too many ho

If Rage Against the Machine brought us the Renegades of Funk, then Escentric Molecules brought us the Renegades of Perfumery. And no — that isn’t eccentric spelled incorrectly. You’re reading it right.

Sometimes perfume is about smelling good. Sometimes it’s about making an entrance. And, sometimes… perfume can be something quieter. Something more personal. If you have followed me for a while, you know I am all about the latter.

Boadicea the Victorious is one of those fragrance houses I’ve been circling around for a while. Their price tags alone are intimidating, and when paired with the opulent, often gem-adorned bottles, I find myself intrigued and intimidated in the same breath. These are not the kinds of fragrances one blind buys.

I have really been looking forward to exploring the perfume house Nishane. I think I may have sampled a few of their fragrances in the past, but nothing immediately stands out in my memory. That makes this discovery feel even more exciting — a chance to really sit with the brand and see what resonates.

A fragrance lover’s complicated feelings about hype, retail, and the future of niche perfume

Some perfumes are accessories. Some are preferences. And some become a part of you.

Child is one of the most iconic fragrances you’ve probably never heard of — and honestly, that feels intentional. No flashy ad campaigns. No department store counters. No influencer performance-based praise. Just a tiny roll-on perfume oil that somehow spent decades circulating quietly through makeup trailers, actresses, and women who preferred not to smell like everyone else. And in the early 2000’s, I became one of them completely by accident. Before TikTok Told Us