Glossier’s foray into the fragrance business is in line with everything else the brand does: stripped down, non-fussy, and very simple.
by SunHee Grinnell
“We wanted to create more of a skin enhancer than a perfume,” says Emily Weiss, the 32-year-old beauty mogul in the making. She’s speaking of her very first fragrance for her brand, Glossier, aptly named Glossier You. “We wanted to make something that blends in an alchemic way to create your own scent and no one else’s.” Meaning, the Glossier You perfume works with each individual’s body chemistry to produce your very own signature scent.
She worked with Dora Baghriche and Frank Voelkl (the famed perfumer behind cult-favorite Le Labo’s Santal 33), both of Firmenich, but it took Weiss 36 tries to feel satisfied and happy. Because Glossier You possesses mostly base notes, it acts more as a "skin smell-enhancer" that varies based on the wearer. Weiss is the first to introduce this concept of fragrance making, where the wearer of the scent already embodies the “head and the heart” notes (as we say in fragrance terms), and Glossier You provides the base. “So, it’s this really addictive, animalistic response scent that has skin-like musky notes only,” explained Weiss. “...together, you make the perfume complete just for you."
Very much in keeping with the Glossier brand, the whole concept is stripped down, non-fussy and very simple. The “it” becomes you and not the other way around—because, in Weiss’s mind, the woman should wear the perfume and not the reverse. Glossier You is an open-ended fragrance that becomes unique to the individual wearer.
And to further enhance the not-so-typical perfume, Weiss decided to do something experiential for the public—or, as she put it, “Why not do something fun and weird?” She came up with a space where visitors can emerge themselves into a performance installation with multi-sensory surprises complete with voices from the beyond. Think, Sleep No More, without the mask.
The installation is open to the public starting this Sunday, November 5th through December 31, 2017 Monday-Friday from 12pm-8pm and Saturday-Sunday from 11am-7pm, on a first come, first serve basis. 20 people will be allowed in at one time.
The Glossier You experience space, designed by Max Zinser and Kate McCollough along with sound by Charlie Klarsfeld, is located at 123 Lafayette Street on the ground floor of Glossier’s headquarters. Take note diehard Glossier fans: Only Glossier You, the perfume, will be available for purchase at this time. But no matter; the line will surely go around the corner anyway. [$60 for 1.7oz.; glossier.com]