Want to instantly go to your happy place? It’s as easy as one, two, spritz when you find a signature scent. We asked a collection of beauty mavens — who work with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Karlie Kloss and Padma Lakshmi — to share their favorite fragrance and what they love about it. They all admit that it transports them — mentally, anyway — to someplace fabulous, be it a tropical beach or a cozy leather chair. Having a preferred parfum is an extension of your personal style, so if you haven’t found one yet, perhaps one of these will be your olfactory utopia.
Kirin Bhatty
Bi-coastal makeup artist known for using colors in a bold-meets-elegant way for regular clients Awkwafina, Freida Pinto and Kate Upton.
Signature Scent: Byredo Gypsy Water.
When Gypsy Water was debuted, Bhatty rushed to Neiman Marcus to “see what the buzz was all about” with this unisex woody aromatic. Why Neiman’s? “The perfume counters there are so special and it’s a glamorous experience to be around all those gorgeous fragrances.”
Since the 2008 debut of the fragrance, it’s been the scent she chooses for dinners and outings with friends and date night with her partner, though she eschews wearing it for work, keeping herself “as neutral as possible” when working with clients. “It makes me feel connected to the generations of women in my family who came before me. Perhaps it’s the notes of sandalwood and amber, but every time it’s on me, I feel connected to the warm summer nights my mother, grandmother and great grandmother spent in Lahore [Pakistan].”
Suzanne Somers
She made her name as Chrissy on the sitcom Three’s Company in the late ‘70s. She’s also passionate about healthy living and has a beauty line, Suzanne Organics.
Signature Scent: Chanel No. 5.
For decades, the scent — arguably the world’s most famous — was her go-to. “I have always related to Marilyn Monroe and loved her response when asked what she wore to bed and she said with a flirtatious smile, ‘Chanel No. 5’.” Somers called it “a luxury she could finally afford when she went from being a single, broke mother to a star on the number one show on TV.” She says the fragrance, which debuted 100 years ago, “was subtle and sexy and made me feel special.”
Unfortunately, her husband, producer Alan Hamel, “became extremely allergic to chemicals and manmade fumes” about 10 years ago, “and sadly, he could no longer tolerate my beautiful Chanel No. 5.” Turning a negative into a positive, the actress created a line of Suzanne Organics Essence Rollers with four scents “that drive Alan absolutely wild.” But she still has her bottle of No. 5 on her dressing table. “It brings me back to a thrilling time in my life when a hometown girl got her big Hollywood break and the glamorous life unfolded.”
Melissa DeZarate
A New York-based groomer with an extensive client list: Ben Platt, Billy Porter, Henry Golding, Kumail Nanjiani, Taika Waititi, Andy Samberg and others.
Signature Scent: Maison Martin Margiela Replica Beach Walk.
“It was gifted to me by one of my dearest clients when we were getting him ready for the Vanity Fair Oscars party. I immediately put it on because I had been eyeing it for a while,” and it’s been part of DeZarate’s daily prep ritual ever since, including when she travels. “With how much hair and makeup artists typically travel (normally), there’s something really nice about having a consistent piece of home that comes with you,” she says. “No matter where I am, I am feeling more comfortable” with her Beach Walk travel spray and Beach Vibes candle. “There have been plenty of stressful times where I take a deep breath in and it brings me back to a zen zone.” Notes of bergamot, coconut milk, ylang-ylang and pink pepper give it a “lovely tropical island feel, even in the dead of N.Y.C. winter. And trust me when I say, it helps.”
A word of warning, this spritz tends to garner a lot of attention: “I’ve been stopped countless times by men and women asking what I’m wearing. I even occasionally have a little kid that will start sniffing my hair. It’s always really cute.”
William Scott
This makeup artist, known for creating masterfully groomed brows, frequently works with Padma Lakshmi and Karlie Kloss.
Signature Scent: Diptyque Eau Moheli.
“The smell reminds me of nights in my hometown of Miami when the smell of night-blooming jasmine would cross under my nose — even though the fragrance is ylang-ylang. There are a similar smoothness and warmth,” says Scott, adding that “It’s a very soothing scent.”
The pro, now based in N.Y.C., was on the hunt for a new scent, “And I always gravitated toward floral fragrances.” (Along with ylang-ylang, the unisex Eau Moheli has subtle notes of vetiver, pink peppercorn, ginger and patchouli.) “The first day I wore it out, I put on a spritz before leaving my apartment and said bye to my sister. She texted me in all caps: ‘YOU SMELL SO GOOD WHAT ARE YOU WEARING’ and that’s when I knew it was my signature scent.”
Lisa Aharon
She’s Rachel Brosnahan’s makeup artist and frequently works with Gwyneth Paltrow, Florence Welch and Julia Stiles.
Signature Scent: Fiele Fragrances Santalum and St. Rose Vigilante.
“I alternate the two or wear them together — they complement one another beautifully,” says Aharon. “Both fragrances are high quality, natural, vegan and environmentally conscious.” She adds that although they are “different from one another,” they “share similar ingredients and evoke the same cozy feelings.” These shared notes include sandalwood, jasmine, patchouli, bergamot and cedarwood. The New York-based pro discovered the scents at Sunja Link, her “favorite clean beauty shop” in Vancouver’s hometown.
What kind of feedback does she receive when she wears it? “People freak out over it and I get told how amazing I smell…often.”
Mia Jones
An N.Y.C.-based makeup artist known for the glowing skin she imparts on clients, who have included Riley Keogh, Ashley Benson and Chelsea Handler.
View this post on Instagram
Signature Scent: Tom Ford Tuscan Leather.
Jones says, “When I was younger, I dreamed of owning a gentleman’s club for all sexes, with club blazers, books and every version of a leather chair. Somehow Tom Ford captured every element of these experiences for me within Tuscan Leather.”
Along with the obvious leather notes, the scent is infused with raspberry, saffron, thyme, jasmine, suede and amber. She discovered the scent at Bergdorf Goodman in New York, which “has the loveliest team at Tom Ford and that’s where I first learned I loved it years ago.” She’s been wearing it most days since, spritzed on a blazer. “A deep leather chair, in my blazer, with a book, is my idea of simple happiness.”
Tobi Henney
She puts her makeup artistry skills on display via the faces of Megan Fox, Ashley Graham and Barbara Palvin.
Signature Scent: Byredo Mojave Ghost.
“My friends would call it ‘yummy’ — our expression when we love the smell or look of something,” says Henney of this woody scent inspired by the Mojave Desert. She discovered the scent while living in N.Y.C. “It always reminds me of New York, particularly now, as I am back in Sydney, Australia. I love how a fragrance can bring back memories of a place.”
Since launching in 2006, Byredo has amassed a cult following, with Anne Hathaway, Lily Aldridge and Victoria Beckham among fans. Henney calls the scent’s unusual mix of ambrette, magnolia, sandalwood, violet, cedarwood and chantilly musk “beautiful and fresh” with a “cool twist that makes it very unique.” She loves it so much she also wears the coordinating hair fragrance: “It’s great to travel within summer to keep you smelling fresh.”
We only recommend products we have independently researched, tested, and loved. If you purchase a product found through our links, Sunday Edit may earn an affiliate commission.
