Smells from LA

I’m trapped on a plane stuck on the tarmac waiting to take off from SF to NY. Weather delays as the east coast gets pummeled with rain and hurricane conditions. Things are getting tense, I just overheard someone yell “And this is the last time I’m over going to New Jersey” in a very thick California accent. All drawl and slight valley girl.

I just got back from LA and this seems as good a time as any to try posting from the substack app for the first time.

This was a trip full of firsts that started with my first time in any Disney park. André and I went to Disneyland for his birthday. I liked it more than I thought I would. But this Substack is about perfume and I’m happy to report that I found a perfume shop amongst all the schlocky Mickey Mouse ears and oversized thermoses for sale. It’s a sweet little jewel box of a shop that was built for Walt’s wife who loved fragrance. The woman working the shop pointed out the original chandelier Walt and his wife brought in from New Orleans and the beautiful hand painted mirrors from the original build. Now run by Guerlain and full of their perfumes and makeup. I fell for Insolence, a woody violet with a slight hint of powder. It was my favorite thing I smelled in the shop and I’d definitely add it to my collection. But I do have a soft spot for violet.

Some other good stuff I smelled in LA includes this candle:

Which André said would make a good house scent and I agree. Liis was everywhere which I loved as they’re a great brand out of NorCal:

Jennifer and I also made a trip to what I call the bootleg perfume shop in Santee Alley which I’ve seen on TikTok a bunch. They sell essential oils and a ton of dupes so I have mixed feelings sharing too much from there. Did I buy stuff? Yes. Should I do a post on it maybe for paid only? Thinking about it.

Went to the Byredo in Silverlake. For some reason I always end up buying makeup from them - they have solid eyeshadows that come in really good colors. Did get a couple of samples including Rouge Choatique which I’m really liking.

And then my very favorite part of this LA visit was nerding out on all things scent with André’s friend Liz. Her husband, Gilas, is an old friend of André’s and their house was our last stop in LA. I had never met them and thought we’d have a mellow Sunday lounging around but as Gilas was showing us around their magical rambling home and land he pointed to a little house/shed and said Liz had been making her perfumes there. My ears immediately perked up and as soon as Liz came home I excitedly asked her a million questions. We spent a lot of the day sharing our favorite fragrances, talking about fragrance books, and what we liked about smell. She pulled out all of her essential oils and synthetics and walked me through making my own scent - a project from a class she’s taught on art and the senses at USC.

This made me want to start making perfume too. It’s so much fun to smell the notes on their own. I may just buy some single notes to familiarize myself with them more.

The formula for the sample I made - perfumers sometimes spend years getting a fragrance right and tweaking their formulas which they call mods. It’s a lot of fun to tinker with as a hobbyist!

Liz also has a great collection, this was one of my faves. She pulled out a bunch of samples for me to smell and I shared all the perfumes I was traveling with.

Some of Liz’s collection

I’m finishing this from my hotel in NY where it’s still rainy and overcast. It was a hell of a travel day getting here but excited to share everything I’m smelling in NYC next time. Will be making a special trip to Stéle in Williamsburg, the new indie perfume shop I keep hearing so much about.

My hand hurts from holding my phone writing this so I’m wrapping up! Sorry for any typos or weirdness in this post. Fun to be able to post from the app but I def prefer the computer for writing!

Smell ya later friends.

Did try the Hailey Bieber smoothie at Erewhon and did like.