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Holly

@smellslikeanobsession

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Want to nerd out about fragrances? Hey, me too!
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#nosevember is brought to you by @smell.the.artwork Day 3: Eat Jousset Accident à la Vanille Madeleine de Proust @joussetparfums Perfumer: Jimmy Bodin This creamy, apricot-jam-on-buttery-shortbread scent is simply the most delicious gourmand on my shelf. I’m not super into the sweet gourmand category, but this is absolutely delectable. [photo by me, bottle from my personal collection, purchased by me] by @smellslikeanobsession
#nosevember Day 2: Wash Jorum Studio Opaline @jorumstudio Perfumer: Euan McCall I don’t typically enjoy soapy scents in my fragrances, and the “clean” concept gives me a little ick if I’m being honest. Of course I love bathing, fresh towels & climbing into just-changed sheets. But even skin that has just been scrubbed has a faint human scent that underlies every scent we wear on our bodies. So, no surprise, I like laundry scents that aren’t too clean. Opaline smells like tucking into an enormously fluffy bathrobe, skin still very warm from the bath & fully slathered with a classic, almondy-powdery lotion. But because you took a bath & not a shower, this isn’t a hair washing night & the nape of your neck bears that softly musky scent. Join in the #nosevember fun! Thanks to @smell.the.artwork for the prompts & the project! 🫧 [photo by me, bottle from my collection, purchased by me] Music: OutKast “So Fresh, So Clean” by @smellslikeanobsession
WELCOME, NOSEVEMBER! So pleased to mark another #nosevember with @smell.the.artwork If you don’t know about Nosevember, please check out their page & join in the fun! Day 1: Begin Officine Universelle Buly Lichen d’Écosse @officine_universelle_buly Perfumer: not cited (as ever, I do wish they would, and let it be known to the fragrance houses everywhere: name your perfumers!) To me, this scent recalls green, damp ferns and sharp, cold, pre-dawn air. A fitting way to begin. [photo by me, bottle from my personal collection, purchased by me] [audio: Orbital Halcyon + On + On] (Last year I noticed audio clips intermittently becoming unavailable d/t licensing, so for posterity, I’ll include tracks I chose this year) by @smellslikeanobsession
This week we’re getting to know Holly of @smellslikeanobsession , whose love of scent began long before her perfume collection did. From scented markers and pine needles to discovering the wonderfully strange world of niche fragrance, Holly shares how curiosity turned into a full-blown obsession. Part 1: “My deep interest in fragrances long predates my specific curiosity about perfume. Scented magic markers, garden flowers, warm pine needles in the wooded areas my friends & I played, soaps & shampoos all caught my attention. In middle school, I developed a crush on Poison by Dior( just what every tween needs). My early 90s college student budget had room for scented lotions, but I never really connected with much else I encountered in the fragrance counters of department stores in the 90s or 00s. I just figured perfume wasn’t “for me.” Dabbled in a bit of Jo Malone around my wedding in the early 10s, because a thoughtful Nordstrom sales rep asked me if I’d chosen a wedding day scent- it hadn’t crossed my mind at all! I enjoyed the freshness & prettiness of them but they didn’t really get their hooks into me.” Scroll photos to continue…. Then about 2019, a chance sample of Santal 33 stopped me in my tracks. I didn’t love it, perse, I did like it though, and most importantly- it didn’t smell like anything I’d come across to that point. Neither overtly femme or masc, eschewing the shampoo-y fruity florals that made the Sephora perfume wall a place I tried not to get within 10 feet of. Could perfume be THIS? Suddenly I was curious, and by the following summer, deep in lockdown, I heard a literally lifechanging podcast episode- Articles of Interest “Perfume.” And it. Was. On. I became a very heavy sampler, and ! feel like my collection today reflects my interest in going a bit off the beaten path to find scents with specific points of view, unique stories, unusual elements, and personal connections.” Want to share your own perfume collection and story? I’d love to feature you in an upcoming Shelfie Sunday! Just send me a DM by @smellslikeanobsession
Day 7 of #blackownedfragranceweek brings @octaviamorganla Dark Rose- a plummy, vanillic fruitchouli (which has layered stunningly over that Trader Joe’s vanilla orchid body butter). I’ve only recently gotten this sample set & this one and Legendary are the frontrunners for me. I look forward to spending more time with the line! 🌹 @blackownedfragranceweek by @smellslikeanobsession
Today, day 6 of #blackownedfragranceweek, I’m wearing @manuelmathieuparfums Île Noire, a creation inspired by Haitian breezes carrying jasmine, salty sea air, and rich earthy tobacco & vetiver. Manuel Mathieu is a visual artist who works in many mediums, early on in photography & video pieces, and later developing as a painter, ceramicist, and ultimately founding his own fragrance house. The bottle he created is an organic shape recalling the mountains of Haiti. Mr Mathieu appeared on @emmavern ‘s @perfumeroompod in October ‘25 & they had an excellent discussion about his fragrances, his Haitian roots, and his art. It’s well worth seeking out. @blackownedfragranceweek by @smellslikeanobsession
Day 5 (already?? Might have to flow into a 2nd week, I have so many more to wear & share ❤️) of #blackownedfragranceweek is @zernell.gillie Blues- a rich, dense concoction of apricot, coffee, brandy, and molasses that perfectly matches the idea of a deep late night blues jam. I love Zernell’s line, and if you want to know more, please seek out the episode featuring him on @luckyscent @stevengontarski’s It’s Just Perfume pod from October’25. It’s an hour very well spent. @blackownedfragranceweek by @smellslikeanobsession
Day 4 of #blackownedfragranceweek has me wearing @maya.njie.perfumes Vanilj, a stunner of cardamom & cedar in a wonderfully airy composition. The vanilla is dry & sophisticated, not sweet. Maya Njie creates fragrances that have their roots in her Gambian & Swedish heritage (her use of cardamom is next-level, subtle & evocative). @blackownedfragranceweek by @smellslikeanobsession
Day 3, part 2 of #blackownedfragranceweek brings the inimitable @funmimonet Exalté. A delicious, lush vanillic rose with zing from pink pepper 🌹 Word is Ms Monet is diving deep into perfumery knowledge and great things await. If Exalté is any indication, the world needs to buckle up. @blackownedfragranceweek by @smellslikeanobsession
Day 3 of #blackownedfragranceweek called for @ourside.nyc Moon Dust. An aromatic anise/peppermint/palo santo brightened beautifully by grapefruit. Founder Keta Burke-Williams has brought such a clearly joyful and rich vision to this brand. I hope the next year or two brings more of the story (but she is a new mom & I wish her all the best in her latest role ❤️- all in good time!!) @blackownedfragranceweek by @smellslikeanobsession
Part 2 of day 2 of #blackownedfragranceweek- I usually apply fragrance at bedtime as I find it such a pleasant & relaxing ritual. I don’t choose things that are especially challenging or bombastic, but rather soft, pretty, and comforting. Souk Honey from @ouithepeople is one of my go-tos at night. It’s a balanced orange blossom & amber with subtle spice and the caramelized golden sweetness of dates. It lingers gently on my pillow til morning. Founder Karen Jones found inspiration in the self-care traditions of her Guyanese family, from her grandmother covering her in coconut oil to her uncles using single-blade razors for immaculate shaves. She started the company focusing on shaving & skin care, then in 2025 branched out into fragrance with this gorgeous scent. (Sadly I missed the limited-release Island Milk, but I hear it’s making a short return in a travel size soon 🤞 I’ll be ready this time!! Cashew milk, cardamom & black pepper?? Say less!) @blackownedfragranceweek by @smellslikeanobsession
Continuing #blackownedfragranceweek, for February 2nd, I’m wearing @harlemperfumeco Billie. I just adore this scent- a creamy, woody, musky gardenia that floats me right off my feet. The brand founder, Teri Johnson, speaks of how she wanted to connect the creativity and deep significance of the Harlem Renaissance era and a lifelong passion for the transporting nature of fragrance. This tribute to Billie Holiday (and her signature gardenias worn in her hair) is just stunning 🤍 @blackownedfragranceweek by @smellslikeanobsession

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