Perfume Room

Kimberly Waters, Founder and Creative Director of MUSE Experiences, is in the Perfume Room today! Recently featured in the NYTimes, MUSE Experiences is Harlem’s only niche fragrance retailer, as well as the only fragrance retailer in the city to operate out of an actual home (on the parlor floor of Kim’s townhouse), and thus, the only perfume shop (that we know of) where, as Kim mentions, you can take shoes off upon entering! The coziest. Kim and I chat about her fragrance background prior to founding MUSE, the inspiration behind the concept, what happens during an appointment, how she navigates working where she lives, and the brands and fragrances she’s most excited about right now. FRAGS MENTIONED: Chabaud Lait et Chocolat, Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Banane, Affinessence Santal Basmati, Milano Fragranze Basilica, Hilde Soliani Hot Milk, Obvious Parfums Un Bois,  Atelier Vetiver Fatale, Prada Candy, Keiko Mecheri Loukhoum, Byredo Pulp, By Kilian, Nasomatto Narcotic Venus, Fleur des Fleurs Une Nuit Nomade, Maya Njie, Juicy Couture, Bridge and Blend, Photo/genics + Co No. 3 Sativa, Photo/genics + Co Pavot, Olfactive Studios Iris Shot, Maya Njie Nordic Cedar, Jamaica Bay Rum FOLLOW MUSE: museexperiences.com @muse_experiences SHOP MY DISCOUNTS: linktr.ee/emmavern FOLLOW PERFUME ROOM: @perfumeroompod

Your Fave Fragrance Auntie, Funmi Monet, is in the Perfume Room! By day, Funmi is a licensed therapist and by night— a fragrance star. She's not just a fragrance content creator, she is a fragrance creator AND a content creator. In one short year on TikTok, Funmi has amassed well over 100K followers as well as launched her own fragrance, Exalté. UM, let that sink in for a sec. Funmi shares the fragrance she stopped a stranger for; the ones that get her stopped; her first, second and third date fragrance picks (hint: they are not the same); the inspiration for Exalté; and, PERFUMETOK — TAKE NOTES: Funmi talks everything from rates, to negotiating, to different ways to partner with brands, and ultimately, how to grow your brand and monetize your content. FRAGS MENTIONED: Kierin NY Pier NY, D.S. & Durga Bistro Waters, Maya Njie Tobak, Phlur Lost Cause, Oribe Cote D’Azur, Henry Rose Jake’s House, Henry Rose Smyth, Electimuss Mercurial Cashmere, Dior Oud Ispahan, Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, MFK Baccarat Rouge, JHAG Not A Perfume, Ariana Grande Cloud, Carolina Herrera Good Girl, YSL Black Opium, Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds, Estee Lauder Pleasures, Britney Spears Fantasy, Marc Jacobs Daisy, Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy, Funmi Monet Exalte, Givenchy L'Interdit Rouge, Simone Andreoli Leisure in Paradise, PdM Delina Exclusif, Dior Hypnotic Poison, MFK Oud Satin Mood, Penhaligon’s Cairo, Amouroud Mysterious Rose, Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur, Tom Ford Lost Cherry, Dior Poison Girl, Dior Sauvage, Dior Sauvage Elixir, Givenchy L’Interdit, YSL Libre, YSL Libre Intense, Lancome LVEB, Lancome LVEB Intonement, Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Ruby Orchid, Carolina Herrera Very Good Girl, Dior Dune, Kayali Vanilla 28, La Botica Soho, Dior Eden-roc FOLLOW FUNMI: @funmimonet on all platforms SHOP EXALTE: www.bellaaura.com SHOP MY DISCOUNTS: linktr.ee/emmavern FOLLOW PERFUME ROOM: @perfumeroompod

Fabrice Croisé, Founder of Scents of Wood (TFF Fragrance Extraordinaire 2021 winner) is in the Perfume Room today! This revolutionary fragrance brand not only pays homage to trees and nature in every scent, it also flips the script on fragrance formulation. Rather than making the alcohol an invisible ingredient (as is par for the course), in Scents of Wood fragrances, it’s the star of the show; each fragrance is composed of organic alcohol that has been aged (and thus scented) in wooden barrels. Fabrice and I chat about what made him go this route (and how he then did it!), where he sources inspiration (*cough cough, wink wink:* this podcast), the collaboration process with his illustrious team of perfumers, and how NFTs may just be the future of fragrance. FRAGS MENTIONED: Scents of Wood Plum in Cognac, Billie Eilish Eilish, Floral Street Wild Vanilla Orchid, DS & Durga Durga, Regime des Fleurs Batsheva, Dedcool Fragrance 02, Regime Des Fleurs Falling Trees, Aesop Hwyl, Regime des Fleurs Little Flower, Liis Rosestruck, Versace Bright Crystal, Regime des Fleurs Cacti, Elizabeth Arden Green Tea, Bulgari The Vert, Regime Des Fleurs Al-Dukhan, Regime Des Fleurs Willows, Parle Moi de Parfum Orris Tattoo 29, Lancôme POÊME, Lancôme O pour Homme, Guerlain Shalimar, Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan, Caron Pour Un Homme de Caron, Dior Fahrenheit FOLLOW SCENTS OF WOOD: scentsofwood.com @scentsofwood FRAGRANCE DAY REGISTRATION: fragrance.org SHOP MY AFFILIATE DISCOUNTS: linktr.ee/emmavern

If you think your perfume collection is unrivaled, meet your rival, Josie Plumey. Not only is Josie an expert in fragrance retail, buying, and distribution, but with over 570 fragrances (inclusive of many rare vintage frags and formulations), she just may have the best personal collection in all of New York! We discuss what it means to be in the perfume distribution biz—Josie is currently the Sales & Community Manager at Kintessence, an exclusive US niche distributor—and Josie gives us the low-down on the scents, including her most prized possessions, that we NEED to know. Plus a word on phrases like ‘clean’ and ‘old lady.’ TL;DR, — stop. FRAGS MENTIONED: Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle Mimosa, Goldfield & Banks Sunset Hour, Teo Cabanel Je Ne Sais Quoi, Commodity Moss Expressive, Aspen Apothecary Dusk, Scents of Wood Neroli in Acacia, Les Liquides Imaginaires Bête Humaine, Les Liquides Imaginaires Dom Rosa, Gucci L’Arte di Gucci, Lanvin Arpege, Miss Dior, BDK Crème de Cuir, YSL Paris, Frederic Malle Lipstick Rose, Guerlain Shalimar, Fragrance du Bois, Obvious, BDK Rouge Smoking, BDK Pas Ce Soir, Fragrance du Bois Minuit et Demi, Fragrance du Bois Santal Complet, Fragrance du Bois Oud Jaune, Royal Crown Isabella, Obvious Une Rose, Obvious Une Vanille, Parfums Frapin Laskarina, Parfums Frapin 1270, Les Liquides Imaginaires Phantasma, Kim Kardashian Pure Honey, Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule, Curve Men, Givenchy Hot Couture, Kenzo Flower, Chronotope Silueta, Serge Lutens Sarrasins FOLLOW JOSIE: @kintessence_nyc @joeybunnyfoofoo SMELL CLUB SIGN UP: https://rb.gy/5cz0y5 SHOP MY AFFILIATE DISCOUNTS: linktr.ee/emmavern

Getting an inside look at what really goes down at a Fragrance house is rare, but this week, we’ve done it. I am so honored to be joined by Firmenich Perfumer Alexis Grugeon (creator of hit scents like Ariana Grande R.E.M. and Polo Sport Fresh) and Fragrance Development Manager Segolene Dewey (TFF Notables Class of 2022). You will learn about what they each do, how they work together (and apart), their backgrounds and educations that led them to where they are today, plus(!) we get a special, intimate look at 7 of Firmenich’s most iconic creations over the last thirty years including the personal stories, social contexts, and processes of how they were created. FRAGS MENTIONED: Glossier You, Aerin, Polo Sport Fresh Ralph Lauren, Hermès Vetiver Tonka, Dior Homme, Zegna Verdigris, Zegna Cyprium, Calvin Klein CKOne, Estee Lauder Pleasures, D&G Light Blue, Marc Jacobs Daisy, Maison Margiela Replica Beach Walk, Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium, Baccarat Rouge 540 FOLLOW OUR GUESTS: @firmenichfine @sigolean @alexisgrugeon PERFUME ROOM IG: @perfumeroompod EMMA’S TIKTOK: @emma_vern

Sommelier and Creator of Legally Wined Michelle Chen is in the Perfume Room today. Not only is Michelle a Certified Somm under the Court of Master Sommeliers, she is also a lawyer in New York — a combo I trust with my life.  We discuss the ‘guilty pleasures’ of wine, sexism in the industry, how to figure out which wines you like and the descriptors you need to know to discover more, best affordable recs, where to start on your wine journey, and the most important preservation when it comes to wine: the ego. FRAGS/WINES MENTIONED: Bond No. 9 Scent of Peace, Eight & Bob Original, Diptyque L’Ombre Dans L’Eau, Diptyque Philosykos, Gentil, Gewurztraminer, Oregon Pinot, Gruner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, Nebbiolo, Chateau Cheval Blanc, Petrus, Kabinett Nahe, Vermentino, Chablis, Sancerre, Hügel Gentil, Trapiche Malbec, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Burgans Albarino, A Lisa Malbec, MFK Amyris Femme, Byredo Inflorescence, Parfum De Marly Meliora, Byredo Young Rose, Byredo Rose of No Man’s Land, Narciso Rodriguez Narciso For Her EDT FOLLOW MICHELLE: @legallywined (IG + TikTok) FOLLOW THE POD: @perfumeroompod FIND YOUR PERFECT SCENT! https://shoplist.us/emmavernon/consults

Today we are joined by The 7 Virtues Founder-Extraordinaire, Barb Stegemann. Barb is also a best-selling author, motivational speaker, one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, and has been a recipient of Ernst &Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award. Her background prior to founding The 7 Virtues is a unique one, as it had nothing to do with fragrance. She discusses the inspiration behind and process of launching the brand, how she got it into Sephora, The 7 Virtues' much larger social mission (and success), why your vanilla fragrances *should* be browning, and the mantra that helps her achieve it all (one which I plan to frame above my bed), “Get mad, take a bath, have a nap.”  FRAGS MENTIONED: Frapin Laskarina, Diptyque Volutes, Ramon Monegal Cherry Musk, JusBox 14 Hour Dream, Akro Dark, Hermetica RoseFire, The 7 Virtues Orange Blossom, Dana Love’s Baby Soft, The 7 Virtues: Santal Vanille, Lotus Pear, Vanilla Woods, Grapefruit Lime, Patchouli Citrus, Vetiver Elemi, Rose Amber, Jasmine Neroli FOLLOW BARB: @barbstegemann @the7virtues 20% OFF: with code PerfumeRoom20 on www.the7virtues.com (through 3/8) FOLLOW THE POD: @perfumeroompod FIND YOUR PERFECT SCENT! https://shoplist.us/emmavernon/consults

Perfumer, Sommelier, Activist and Clairvoyant Yosh Han is in the Perfume Room today. Yosh has been at the forefront of decolonizing scent and her activism has led to major change in the industry; across the world, major stakeholders are officially re-classifying the o-word to amber (or ambré). We discuss why this change is necessary, the progress thus far, as well as how you (yes YOU!) can get involved. Yosh also vulnerably discusses a low point in her perfume journey including a time when she essentially lost her sense of smell, why vanilla is a low-hanging fruit, and of course the connection between clairvoyance, auras, and scent (which may or may not include a live aura reading). Oh and buckle up because I accidentally say creamy a lot; moist, you’re next! I also discuss the tragedy that is Atelier Cologne. FRAGS MENTIONED: Diptyque Volutes, Parfum de Marly Meliora, Juan M. Pérez Lime, Eau de Yosh: Ginger Ciao, Sompre Negra, Sottile 1.61, König, Atelier Cologne FOLLOW YOSH ON IG: @eaudeyosh @scent_festival @scenttrunk SIGN THE PETITION: change.org/p/sign-the-petition-to-reclassify-oriental-and-floriental-and-share-it-with-others FOLLOW THE POD: @perfumeroompod FIND YOUR PERFECT SCENT! https://shoplist.us/emmavernon/consults

Annabel Gat — Senior Astrologer at VICE, author of The Astrology of Love & Sex and The Moon Sign Guide, and co-collaborator of the fragrance Annabel’s Birthday Cake — is in the Perfume Room today! We get the lowdown on Annabel's personal inspo behind this stunning scent, discuss the birth charts of your favorite fragrances, and, wait ok this one's wild: if you’ve been doing weird things with your perfume collection this past month (e.g., over/under-spraying, purging, mass acquisitions, licking your bottles (hehe kidding, just seeing if you’re still reading)) etc… you’re not alone, AND there’s an astrological explanation for it.  FRAGS MENTIONED: A Lab on Fire Freckled and Beautiful, Comptoir Sud Pacific Vanilla Coco, Marissa Zappas: The Sun Card, Annabel’s Birthday Cake; Diesel Plus Plus, Mugler Angel, Baccarat Rouge 540, Ariana Grande Cloud, Carthusia Terra Mia, Strangers Chokedee, Parfums MDCI Pêche Cardinal, Musti, Marissa Zappas Imperia La Divina FOLLOW ANNABEL: @annabelgat on all platforms || annabelgat.com FOLLOW THE POD: @perfumeroompod LET'S FIND YOUR NEXT SCENT! https://shoplist.us/emmavernon/consults

@thenichesampler Valerie March, one of my favorite fragrance content creators, is in the Perfume Room today. By day, she explores bio-hazardous samples (she's currently getting her PhD in Tuberculosis research in Switzerland) and by evening, niche. Valerie shares the houses you NEED to know, her fragrance wardrobe theory and the five scents in her own collection that would make the cut, the molecule responsible for “old people smell,” her 2022 fragrance trend predictions, and — you will NEVER guess what her signature scent was prior to getting into niche. FRAGS MENTIONED: Abercrombie and Fitch Ellwood White Bergamot, Nemat Amber, Insurrection II Sport, MFK BR 540 Extrait, Les Liquides Imaginaries L’Ile Pourpre, Les Liquides Imaginaries Blanche Bête, Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady, BR 540 EDP, Maison Crivelli Lys Sølaberg, Frederic Malle Carnal Flower, Atelier Des Ors Lune Feline, Roos & Roos Song for a Queen, Maison Crivelli Discovery kit, Parle Moi de Parfum discovery set, Revlon Pink Happiness, Carolina Herrera 212, Rihanna Nude, Coco Mademoiselle, Elizabeth Arden: Red Door, Green Tea, Sunflowers; Vilhelm Dear Polly, Chloe EDP, Parfum de Marly Safanad, Armani My Way, Savour, Pernoire, YSL Black Opium, Eau de New York 00 Auriel Odin, D&G Light Blue, Parfum de Marly Delina, Marc Jacobs Daisy, Carolina Herrera Good Girl, Tom Ford Santal Blush, Atelier Materi Santal Blond, Le Labo Santal 33, Byredo Bal D’Afrique, BDK Gris Charnel, Carolina Herrera VIP, JHAG Sunny Side Up, DS & Durga Rose Atlantic FOLLOW VALERIE: @thenichesampler 10% OFF MAISON CRIVELLI DISCOVERY KIT (code: perfumeroom10): twistedlily.com/products/maison-crivelli-discovery-set FOLLOW THE POD: @perfumeroompod LET'S FIND YOUR NEXT SCENT! https://shoplist.us/emmavernon/consults