there was once a scent-based tinder, frag art galore, events
+POLITICS CONTINUE TO DIVIDE
You're on this list because you subscribed to smelling good! Each edition brings you local NYC perfume news, fun fragrance events, and exclusive features to spark your scent exploration.
Hi friends! Nadia here 🙂
As we reel from last week’s election—and the last five years—there’s no denying the profound changes around us. Every industry and community is going through a reckoning, and sometimes it feels like we’re more divided than ever. There’s a lot of emotion, perspectives, and heated discourse right now, but I want to say this: it’s okay to step away—and it’s even more important that we stay kind to each other.
We’re the custodians of this time, and our legacy will be shaped by how we treat each other when everything else is falling apart. Be kind in everything you do—never let anyone walk over you, but remember not to step on others to make a point. And always—smell good. <3
Today’s newsletter covers upcoming events, scented art exhibitions, & revisiting the BO-based dating service that started in 2016 New York City.
SOTD: Venice Rococo by Arquiste ($205)
I stopped at Venice for two days when I was en route to the 2018 World Cup. It’s always been on my bucket list as it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world—so when I got the chance, I took it. And I’m so glad I did; life always gets in the way and nowadays you don’t know what may or may not be around anymore to appreciate due to natural disasters or global conflict. I would imagine capturing Venice in a scent would be easy but also challenging—there’s so much beauty in Venice and you can find scented stories everywhere. But, can you live up to those stories? Arquiste’s Venice Rococo captures this essence. It hits me with a soft whiff of sophisticated baby powder (is that a thing?), iris, and orris that is dry and dusty. As it settles, the powder blends into a creamy, milky rose on me, which was a pleasant surprise.
Aside from this romantic moment, Venice Rococo instantly takes me to one of my favorite places: the top of a baby’s head. It’s light, calming, tender, and just... beautiful. There’s something angelic about it—maybe it’s the chamomile or the “frothy clouds, delicate garlands and mischievous cherubs” it’s inspired by. This scent could easily be made into an incredible body lotion—I’d slather it on daily.
Since I turned 34, the question my husband and I can’t seem to escape (or answer) is when we’ll have a baby. Honestly, I’m in a bit of a pre-baby crisis—is this the right time? Is there ever a right time? How can I fit perfume and a bébé into my budget? The website description paints Venice Rococo as an ode to 18th-century rococo romance, but to me, it feels like the scent of the baby I hope to have someday. Maybe if I keep this fragrance close, I’ll feel a little braver about stepping into parenthood. If it’s anything like Venice Rococo, then maybe it’s something beautiful to embrace.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Guided Aromatic class with Amy Anthony at Olfactory Art Keller (11/13)
Virtual Class on Scent & Memory with Perfumer Lakenda Wallace (11/14)
Opening reception for Edel Kelly’s Pandanus Odoratissimus this Friday at Olfactory Art Keller (11/15, 6–8pm)
Snif is dropping a new scent dubbed “Naughty Nonna” tomorrow. It’s expected to be candied, boozy, and spicy. They’re popping up to celebrate at Italian bakery Bianco Latte in Williamsburg this Friday. (11/15, 2-5pm)
A bunch of fun perfume classes at Fragrance Alliance Network this weekend (11/16)
Stéle x Frassaï — Join for an exclusive evening with the Founder Natalia Outeda, who is the first woman to establish a niche fragrance house in Argentina (11/21)
ScentXplore Convention is around the corner, tickets still available
NEWS & ‘FUME TALKS:
The perfume industry was not unscathed from division after last week’s election.
Here are some resources parts of the community has gathered: black perfumers directory, diverse talent in fragrance, & independent perfume brands.
We published a correction to our Buchart Colbert fragrance spotlight.
I went to the Locavore book launch last Thursday at their Variety Store and had so much fun checking out local brands—including perfume and incense. I found Enfleurage, Demeter, The New Savant, & City of Scents.
Get your perfume bottle engraved by NYC calligrapher Khalia Monét at Bloomingdale's SoHo.
Elorea launches their first diffuser inspired by baekja, Korea’s iconic white porcelain (11/13).
Danielle Bernstein, founder of WeWoreWhat, is launching a fragrance.
Talk about taking blind dating to the next level.
shared their 2016 experience with Smell.Dating in an interview with Haloscope. Smell.Dating was a legit service that matched people based on—you guessed it—body odor! You’d send in a T-shirt you’d worn, then get a few ‘stinky’ shirts from potential matches to sniff and rate for attraction. You would wear the t-shirt for three days and three nights without deodorant, tell them whose you liked, and they would facilitate an exchange of contact information. Artists Sam Lavigne and Tega Brain of Useless Press (an experimental, digital art group) spearheaded this project out of Brooklyn in 2016. You can read more about it here.
SCENT ART GALLERIES GALORE
Missense at Olfactory Art Keller: On view through Christmas, this collaborative exhibition by artists Sean Raspet and Maxwell Williams (of UFO Parfums) features a scent that smells unique to each person based on genetics. Dive into the sensory exploration of fragrance and individuality.
Sensorium: Stories of Glass and Fragrance at The Corning Museum of Glass (through Feb 1, 2025). This exhibition explores the centuries-old bond between glass and scent in a boutique-style gallery. Experience perfume bottle evolution and the art of fragrance.
Faux Flora by Fischersund at the National Nordic Museum in Seattle (sorry NYC!) through Jan 11, 2025. This unique show by Icelandic collective Fischersund immerses you in five stages of plant life, symbolizing human experiences. Expect a full sensory experience, from scent to 3D visuals and soundscapes.
Special Events at Olfactory Art Keller
Today 11/13: Amy Anthony hosts the third of a series of seasonal aromatic encounters with a focus on the Protective Spirit Moon. This time of year, with most leaves fallen, invites us inward. This guided encounter explores seasonal themes through the scent molecules of local plant Eastern Red Cedar, supported by other botanical ingredients that convey the feeling of this time of year. Enjoy a cup of herbal tea and two guided scent encounters featuring exclusive essential oil blends. purchase tickets here.
And don’t miss the opening reception for Edel Kelly’s Pandanus Odoratissimus this Friday, November 15th, from 6–8pm. Kelly’s Project Room installation is infused with a pure Kewra attar, a fragrant celebration of nature that harmonizes with Kelly’s triptych of the pandanus plant.
That’s all, friends!
x
Nadia
Thanks for reading Perfumeverse NYC :) If you enjoyed this, please send it to someone who is getting sick of online dating.
Missed something? Let us know
Interested in contributing or partnering? Email us to see if we’re a fit