I had the pleasure of attending Parfums de Marly‘s grand opening in Beverly Hills, a moment that felt incredibly full circle. Its New York boutique was one that I found as intimidating as much as I adored it: Delina to me, specifically, was the epitome of a woman who had made it. Even if at the time its sweet, almost saccharine floral nature was in direct opposition to my taste (Tom Ford Black Orchid), the powder pink bottle felt like a promise. Manifestation embodied, even—though at the time, that language wasn’t part of my (or the greater) vernacular.
That was nearly a decade ago. It wasn’t until more recently when in the name of research, I was pulled back to the haute perfumerie like a moth to a flame, or a magpie to gold. My god, did I miss the splendor of lavish, sensorial sensuality! (Or dare I say: scent-uality?) Even all those years later, just the feeling of the hourglass bottles within your hand poised to spritz key pulse points—a most intentional detail that pays homage to the feminine and its softness—brought back those feelings of longing, wanting, dreaming. After all, how could it not? A house that pays tribute to one of history’s most decadent eras and prides itself in being a niche label—one that doesn’t “do fashion” but instead, dedicates all time to chasing their passions—could only evoke fantasy and inspire self-discovery. Grandeur aside, the latter remains most important: natural ingredients make up 60 to 90-percent of Parfums de Marly creations in order to let your essence shine. “It doesn’t mean we are better,” Yvan Jacqueline, the brand’s President of Americas explained. (There’s nothing wrong with synthetic; synthetics open up entire worlds for exploration and new storytelling.) It’s just that the more synthetic the juice, the more it will smell the same. “The more natural, the more it will interact with the pH of your skin.” Parfums de Marly fragrances are meant to become yours. You, even.
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xx
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