If you aren’t familiar with luxury fashion brand Maiyet, now is your chance. Inspired by Maiyet’s global travels, their debut fragrance (in collaboration with Barneys New York) incorporates elements from exotic locations and infuses scent notes inspired by artisan communities where Maiyet works. Created by Maiyet co-founders Paul van Zyl and Kristy Caylor in collaboration with master perfumer Ralf Schweiger, the Maiyet fragrance is wildly intoxicating with notes of saffron, jasmine and sandalwood from India, patchouli from Indonesia, and myrrh from East Africa.
At first I felt the scent was a bit too strong for the office but it quickly settled into a very wearable and comforting fragrance. It’s discreetly sexy and feels like you’re on a vacation (even if you can’t escape your desk). I can’t help but sniff my wrists.
The 100ml Maiyet eau de parfum ($195) is available Barneys.com and all Barneys New York flagship stores.
Disclosure: sample provided for editorial consideration.
I truly admire women who have a signature scent. It’s their calling card. Their “thing.” I once harassed a coworker in an attempt to find out what perfume she wore solely because she wore it everyday (okay and it smells GREAT on her #creeper). I’m too all over the place to rely on one scent. I see fragrance as an extension of my mood and I like to switch it up. While I will never understand committing to ONE fragrance, I can see how people can get hooked on a particular perfume and wear. it. out. This summer I’ve been rotating between four fragrances that I’m seriously in love with.
Almost Bare I’ve had this little routine where I purchase Bobbi Brown’s Beach the minute summer arrives. This year, I took a leap of faith and purchased Almost Bare ($72) instead after being drawn in by the Italian bergamot ,white freesia, white amber blend. It’s warm but not winter-y and unlike Beach I won’t associate it solely as a summer scent.
Bvlgari’s Omnia Indian Garnet A flanker for the brand’s Omnia perfume, I’m actually surprised I like this. It started off great but at one point, I could have sworn my headache was a result of the perfume. Bvlgari’s Omnia Indian Garnet ($65) is floral and woody making it feminine yet a little bit sexy. I’d make this my “date night” perfume but considering I don’t go on dates (#womp) let’s just call this my nighttime scent, mmkay?
NEST Fragrance Midnight Fleur ($65)
Oh NEST. Is there anything you can’t do? The NEST Fine Fragrance collection is amazing and there isn’t a perfume in the collection that I don’t love. That said, I’m always drawn to two in particular:Midnight Fleur (pictured above) and Passiflora ($65 each). With patchouli, black amber, jasmine, and vanilla orchid among some of the notes Midnight Fleur is sensual and another one of those scents that I wear at night. It’s sensual. It’s beautifully composed and I can’t get enough of it. Passiflora is my daytime fragrance since it’s so lush and floral. I typically hate floral scents but this is just so beautiful and not like the cheap florals that are out on the market.
While I may switch these up as the year continues, I can definitely see myself running back to them.
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Disclosure: samples of NEST and Bvlgari were provided for editorial consideration.
With every scent comes a memory and when I received a sample of Valentino’s latest beauty, Valentina Assoluto, something about it reminded me of my mother.
Isn’t that where it all begins for some girls? Seeing mom get ready, playing with her makeup and knick knacks, spritzing perfume, and pretending to be a grown up.
Valentina (left) and Valentina Assoluto (right)
Let’s start from the beginning.
There’s Valentina (launched in 2011) which is a floriental (floral oriental) that features a few of my favorite note most notably bergamot, tuberose, cedar, amber and vanilla. It’s somewhat light but sensual. The type of fragrance you apply and forget about until you catch a whiff while taking off a scarf or something. It’s beautifully composed and lasts all day.
Then there’s Valentina Assoluto. Assoluto is a much more sensual and seductive interpretation of Valentina. It’s definitely more womanly. The formulation for Assoluto has a chypre base that makes it a bit stronger and elegant. Where I might wear Valentina during the day, Assoluto is for night when I’m heading out with a guy. It’s intense and not for the faint of heart.
It’s amazing how the two are similar but strikingly different. If you’re a fan of warmer fragrances pick up Valentina Assoluto, apply, and fall in love.
The Valentina Assoluto Collection includes: Eau De Parfum Spray (2.7 oz.) for $117.00; Eau De Parfum Spray (1.7 oz.) for $88.00; and Mother’s Day Set (2.7 oz. EDP Spray and 6.8 oz. Body Lotion) for $117.00.
To celebrate their newest fragrance, I’ve partnered up with Coach to share what I “heart” the most and their newest campaign.
While I love many things and people in my life, nothing stands out as much as my love of Haiti (the MOTHER COUNTRY!). I’ve spoken about it before but my parents come from Haiti and having been raised there, I feel a deep connection. There’s such a rich history and culture - whether you’re talking about music (Kompa), movies (Jesifra is probably one of the funniest characters of all time), or the way they dress - it’s truly fascinating. While the country is (still) having a rough time getting back on its feet, I still jump at the chance to visit and see my family, feel the Caribbean sun, and lounge around drinking actual coconut water.
Now onto the new fragrance by legacy luxury company, Coach. Coach Love is described as a “feminine floral with warm, sensual woody undertones,” meant to capture modern love in a bottle. It opens up with sparkling notes (mandarin, dewberry, green violet, freesia) and transitions into a playful floral with magnolia, jasmine and gardenia at the heart of the fragrance. The dry down is warm and seductive with notes of patchouli, sandalwood and musk among some of the notes.
This goes back to my earlier question: what do you love? Visit the Coach Facebook page to upload your photo and share your thoughts. Mine is above! It’s an actual photo I took after climbing a MOUNTAIN - albeit a somewhat low mountain - but a MOUNTAIN nonetheless.
GIVEAWAY: The good folks at Coach has offered to host a giveaway for one lucky MissWYA reader. You will win the Coach Legacy Duffle and their new Coach fragrance. If the bag looks familiar it’s because I’ve been craving one for DECADES now (that and the Willis bag — so good!). To enter, simply enter via the rafflecopter widget below. Open to US residents only. Giveaway is over and the winner has been contacted. Thank you to everyone who entered! Giveaway is over and the winner has been contacted. Thanks for entering!
Attention ladies! Swarovski has introduced a new beautiful fragrance and I need to spill the tea. Guess what? It’s inspired by the brand’s sparkly evening bags created for starlets for the Cannes Film Festival, the Academy Awards and the Toronto International Film Festival. Fancy, right?
Shaped as a clutch (see what they did there?) Swarovski Edition ($70) is your own piece of elegance. A fruity floral this scent transform as you wear it with a musk and cedar undertone. It kicks off with clementine and red currant jam, giving it a fruity scent, then foes into a floral tone with wild rose and gardenia. Lastly, you’re left with white musk and cedar at the base. I wore it over the weekend and couldn’t help but be smitten with the scent. It’s not an annoying fruity scent since the floral notes temper it a bit. Additionally, it’s not a heavy musk so there’s no need to fear.
The eau de toilette spray is available at Swarovski boutiques nationwide.
Created by Maiyet co-founders Paul van Zyl and Kristy Caylor in collaboration with master perfumer Ralf Schweiger, the Maiyet fragrance is wildly intoxicating with notes of saffron, jasmine and sandalwood from India, patchouli from Indonesia, and myrrh from East Africa.
I’ve had this little routine where I purchase Bobbi Brown’s 
A flanker for the brand’s Omnia perfume, I’m actually surprised I like this. It started off great but at one point, I could have sworn my headache was a result of the perfume. 
Valentina (left) and Valentina Assoluto (right)
