The Air We Share

Fragrance is often treated like an accessory, but it can define us before we even say a word, and lingers long after we’ve left a room. It bypasses logic, going straight to memory while connecting us to places and each other. We would argue that most of us have distinct relationships surrounding scent. A recent text thread with my siblings turned to memories that we all have of the Elsha aftershave our father wore when we were growing up—a woodsy, tobacco, leather-forward blend. Lately, what we’ve been reaching for runs the gamut. There’s the mixing of essential oils that we source from Tenzing MoMo, an enjoyable kind of alchemy that always inspires conversation. Other times call for the botanical notes of Understory from Vintner’s Daughter or the energizing, mood-shifting support from a bottle of Vyrao. There’s a real magic that happens in how scent evolves on the skin, it’s distinctly personal. The power to instantly transport us is what we’re chasing now—back to a sun-warmed vacation, poolside.

Reflections | Golden Rock Inn, Nevis, West Indies | January 2025