Smells Like Wealth

09 Sep Smells Like Wealth

“It smells like… wealth… in here,” I slowly tried to articulate my nose to my mom and her friend Ms. Cynthia as we walked through Bergdorf Goodman.

And it did.

The air smelled stale, with hints of the leather handbags, glass cleaner that undoubtedly kept the counters gleaming, glossy lookbook paper, and wafts of expensive perfume.

As crazy as I thought I sounded saying something seems like “wealth,” Ms. Cynthia confirmed she knew exactly what I meant. And went on to tell us about this woman that she met as she and her daughter saw in the Aladdin on Broadway.

The woman, from Dubai, was on holiday with her daughter, taking in the sights. Ms. Cynthia couldn’t stop raving about her Hermes scarfs or the way that she smelled. Apparently, her perfume was something unlike anything that Ms. Cynthia had ever smelled before—and to her it smelled like wealth.

See, I’m trying to tell you, this is a thing.

I got the chance to see what she may have been referring to when I was introduced to Estevia Parfum (new to the United States!) a couple months ago at a garden party in Laudree Soho.

Mushmoom Khan made the rounds with a glass of champagne in well-manicured hand, telling me differences between American scents and what people in Dubai prefer.

Americans apparently prefer floral scents while in Dubai, Mushmoom’s hometown, locals like their scents strong and spicy.

I like a mixture of both. You know I love a good rose scent but also, like it tinged with something naughty, in this case, musk.

Estevia Parfum’s Myrina is a floral woody musk. The top notes are black currant, pear and peach, middle notes are patchouli and musk, the base notes are vanilla and jasmine.

I was right on the money, declaring that this scent smelled like wealth, too. One of Mushmoon’s goals for her fragrance brand was luxury without the hefty price tag. “My motivation for Estevia Parfum came with knowing how women desire luxurious, quality scents but can scarcely find any that aren’t overpriced.”

Now that I have found one, I want to make a good first (but also lingering) impression and this allows me to do that in a way that the aloof, cool girls always can like shaking someone’s hand with impeccably glossy nails and midi rings styles just so. Know what I mean?

It’s that something that you’ve never heard of but can’t wait to try—especially because when someone asks what you’re wearing it comes with a story.

The perfect scent to break out during Fashion Week.