My New Signature Scent Smells Like Someone Bottled Up a Sunset

Of all the beauty products we apply on a given day, none is more personal than a signature scent. These fragrances often feel as much of a part of who we are as a dry sense of humor or a weird scar, and give us a way to communicate some small part of ourselves with the world. I’ve been wearing the same perfume every day since I was 14. The springy floral made me feel like a woman long before I could vote or rent a car, and gave me a sense of home no matter where I was in the world. But with my thirtieth birthday afoot, I recently realized it was time for something new. And when Ellis Brooklyn’s new scent, Bee, came across my desk, it made the decision as easy as a single spritz.

When the brand’s founder, Bee Shapiro, was developing her namesake fragrance, the message she wanted to convey was “confidence”–and the combination of notes that she came up with is unlike anything I’ve ever smelled before. “Perfume has always been about attracting others. But while going through a rocky period in my life, I wondered, what about falling in love with myself? There’s nothing more attractive than a self-confident aura,” she’s said of the fragrance.

You might notice that shopping on this page is a little different than what you’re used to. Never fear; we’ll talk you through it. With the Well+Good SHOP, you can now add products to your cart right from this article page. Just click on a product below and more details will pop up in a new window. Hit “add to cart” and voila! That’s it! As you read more SHOP articles, you can keep adding products to your cart and check out when you’re ready (look for the cart icon on the right side of your screen).

This spirit of self-love comes through seamlessly in the scent combination she came up with, which is truly unlike anything I have ever smelled. The perfume combines notes of vanilla bean, sandalwood and cocoa absolute, and the resulting fragrance evokes memories of a summer sunset on a farm. It’s deep and sweet without being overpowering, like honey mixed with earth, and is unique in a way that says “here I am” with the type of confidence that I’ve always hoped to portray. It makes me feel like I’m literally surrounded by a golden glow of warmth, and gives me a sense of being attractive both to others and to myself.

The fragrance is a full, million mile departure from my usual florals, and that’s a decidedly good thing. As I grow, I want a scent that helps to convey that growth to the world, which is exactly what Bee’s woodsy vanilla notes help me do. Not only do I get dozens of compliments every time I wear it, but every time I get a whiff of it on my skin, I feel empowered. Searching for a signature scent is just about as personal as it gets, but this one feels like me in the most uplifting of ways.

Want to be the first to hear about the latest (and greatest) SHOP product drops, custom collections, discounts, and more? Sign up to have the intel delivered straight to your inbox.