As everyone’s favorite Hallmark holiday rolls around we have been inspired by updating our neighborhood stores and finding conscious gifts that we think will score a home run for Valentines Day. We picked all sorts of categories and price ranges from very affordable to quite aspirational. We have gifts for him, her, they, us, everyone! They are artisanal, from small or heritage brands, sustainable, eco-friendly, unique, thoughtful and made for the conscious customer. Just click on the captions for a link to their online shop and more information.
We also will have a Galentines Day blog coming up with an idea we hope will catch on like wildfire. Stay tuned!
Below are our twelve picks (we had ten originally but just had to add two more gift suggestions).
THE TRIBES OF MOROCCO - MEDIUM ESSENCE OF ATLAS SERVING TAGINE
The Tribes of Morocco - Medium Essence of Atlas Serving Tagine, $65
The Tribes of Morocco, a small store in the East Village that specializes in Moroccan products made by artisans have this beautiful tagine for serving Moroccan food. It comes in a blue and white Moroccan motif inspired by the Atlas Mountains that can equally serve as home decor. It’s the perfect gift for someone who loves to cook. Perhaps a tasty Moroccan meal can be included in the Valentine’s day gift?
MELA - MAKE A BAG
Mela - One of Mela’s bag style Luna in Zest color, $350
Mela is an up and coming award winning vegan handbag brand that not only shuns animal skin but also avoids using petroleum products which can be just as harmful to the environment in creating vegan products. Mela has created a material made from apple skins, an apple leather called Melatex®. We recommend not only the stylish handbags from Mela as a Valentines Day gift but offering their “Make a Mela Bag” an exclusive opportunity to design the Mela bag of your dreams at their Soho store. During your personalized consultation, you’ll explore their range of styles, select your details, and watch your vision come to life through their made-to-order process. In two weeks, your custom creation will be ready to take home! Carefully crafted and sustainably made. If there is no access to the New York store you can always order one of their styles online. To make an appointment click here.
THE CANVAS - AZURE BEADED EARRINGS
The Canvas - Azure Beaded Earrings - $185
The Canvas is a multibrand fashion and design retailer bringing a selection of brands to New York City. The brands are emerging or established, each characterized by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We wanted to recommend a gift from The Canvas and these stunning beaded earrings are a statement piece of jewelry anyone would love for Valentines Day. Handmade by a women’s collective in Mexico, these earrings are a Gold/Silver plated earrings, composed of an assembly of colored beads woven by hand. Approx. 5.25”L x 1”W - 13.5cm x 3cm. Best is that it is a very affordable piece of jewelry.
WICKED AND POUR - CANDLE MAKING CLASSES
Wick and Pour - Candle Making Classes - From $50
A great idea for Valentines Day is to have an experience together creating a beautiful souvenir of the day and that is Wick and Pour, a candle making shop in New York City. Here you and yours can create your signature scent, use vibrant colors, and textures to craft candles that are uniquely yours. The candles are a combination of soy wax and their enticing scents are curated in-house with essential oils and phthalate-free fragrances. It’s a fun and easy experience, affordable and quite romantic.
COMMODITY - THE MINI WARDROBE SET
Commodity - The Mini Wardrobe Set - $75
Commodity is a fragrance brand created by artisans using the best ingredients to create the most innovative scents. This is a sustainable, ethical fragrance brand that believes in transparency of what is in their scents using only clean ingredients which is a growing list of ingredients flagged by global regulatory bodies for potential health or environmental harm. Commodity partners exclusively with perfume houses that prioritize both environmental and social responsibility when sourcing raw materials from around the world and their packaging is more sustainable, as Commodity is working toward fully recyclable, reduced-impact packaging. We love their gifts sets especially “The Mini Wardrobe Set” which contains each fragrance in its best-selling Scent Space version (the container has three different settings a closely-projecting Personal, a noticeably unique Expressive, and a room-filling Bold version.) so that you can rotate your scent. Perfumes are such popular Valentines Day gifts and with this gift set that is unisex and convenient you can’t go wrong.
ONCEPT - TORONTO MEN’S RETRO SNEAKER
Oncept - Toronto Men’s Retro Sneaker in Flame - $300
What’s a quick way to a man’s heart? A smart set of stylish trainers that are also sustainable. In comes Oncept, a brand that strives to have a low carbon footprint. Oncept has a process called “re-speckled” this is a process that uses leftover rubber from other manufacturing and combines this excess material with new rubber to produce new outsoles. Re-speckled is a certified process that uses 55% discarded material which saves hundreds of tons of waste in landfills. They utilize sustainable bio based memory foam made from castor oil (plant based) and recycled rubber. They source their leather ethically and use recycled nylon (made from plastic water bottle) and other recycled materials. That said the brand does not skim on style. Toronto mixes retro style, comfortability and eco-friendly design (seen here in Flame, offered in five color ways). It’s definitely a win/win gift for everyone.
THE MEADOW - CLOUDFATHER VALENTINA DARK CHOCOLATE WITH MAPLE
The Meadow - Cloudforest - Valentina Dark Chocolate with Maple - $12
The Meadow is a much loved neighborhood shop selling pantry goods such as salts, bitters, chocolates and more (plus fresh cut flowers). Since chocolates are an iconic Valentines Day gift for your loved one we have chosen for our chocolate gift a chocolate from the chocolate brand cloudforest, a small Portland, Oregon based chocolatier that uses organic ingredients with unique flavors. Valentina is the flavor we chose that is 75% dark chocolate with a combination of Canadian maple and Ecuadorian cacao (weight: 1.2345 oz). It’s a delicious and affordable gift.
THEO HABERDASHERY - ROLEX MARCONI SPECIAL WATCH FROM THE 1940’S
Theo’s Haberdashery - Rolex Marconi Special Watch from the 1940”s - $1,250
One of the most sustainable and conscious gifts you can give your loved one are vintage pieces. Whether it’s fashion, accessories, art, home decor, objects or jewelry, to find a special piece that has been created by an artisan and was once treasured. Theo’s Haberdashery is a men’s boutique curated to showcase vintage Americana, fine watches and jewelry, and includes their very own cigar line inspired by their namesake Theodore Roosevelt. An exceptional gift for a man is a piece of jewelry and a vintage Rolex is the ultimate gift for your loved one. We love this one-of-a-kind piece for the boutique, a Rolex Marconi Special Watch from the 1940’s. It’s 28mm with a Ghost sector dial, Mechanical wind. In working condition. The watch comes with a one year mechanical warranty. It’s on the high end of spending for a gift but we feel it will be cherished and destined to become a family heirloom.
SPIRITED AWAY - RITUAL ZERO PROOF - TEQUILA ALTERNATIVE
Spirited Away - Ritual Zero Proof - Alternative Tequila - $35
Sharing a Valentines Day cocktail is a romantic way to start an evening or Valentines Day meal. However many people these days are forgoing alcohol yet miss the taste and the social bonding of having a cocktail to toast their love. That is why we highly recommend from our favorite alcohol-free wine and spirits store, Spirited Away this zero proof tequila alternative, Ritual Zero. “Crafted for margaritas, Ritual Tequila Alternative brings the heat to your favorite cocktails. Greeting you with a rich golden hue, a traditional blue agave aroma opens up on the pour. Ripe tropical guava is underscored by the mellow spice of black peppercorn as the flavor grows, going deeper with charred oak and mesquite smoke. Bright Mexican lime gives way to a clean, spicy finish, with a kiss of cracked sea salt for good measure.” Ritual’s tequila alternative has a high taste score of 94 points from the industry-standard Beverage Testing Institute. It’s all the taste and ceremony of tequila without the hangover and poor decision making tequila can incur (speaking from experience).
TORU + NAOKO - CARMIN BODYSUIT
Toru + Naoko - Carmin Bodysuit - $164
It wouldn’t be a Valentines Day gift guide without recommending lingerie. We have chosen a gorgeous piece from the sustainable lingerie brand Toru + Naoko. Toru + Naoko is “dedicated to crafting beautiful lingerie with a conscience. Their 100% female artisan team ensures ethical production, while they source sustainable materials and operate in small batches to eliminate waste. Eco-friendly packaging and carbon offsetting initiatives further our commitment to a greener future.” The Carmin Bodysuit features a high waist bottom thong, attached in the front center with a bralette, with adjustable back and shoulder straps. Also includes a pair of detachable straps that can be attached to the front center. It’s beautiful, sexy, stylish and just keeps on giving and giving. She’ll love this lingerie and will want to wear it daily, you know for the sustainability. ;)
IRVING GREEN - FOXFORD MAEVE CASHMERE & wool THROW
If your perfect idea of celebrating Valentines Day is staying in with your bo having a Netflix and chill kinda evening then may we recommend this exquisite cashmere and wool throw. Just imaging cuddling under this ultra soft cashmere and wool throw from Irving Green, a boutique that curates home decor and gifts from around the world. This cashmere and wool throw, the Maeve, comes from Foxford Mill, a mill that sits on the banks of the River Moy in County Mayo, Ireland. They have been manufacturing the finest wool throws and blankets for over 130 years. The Maeve is woven in a classic herringbone design, and crafted from a soft blend of lambswool and cashmere with a traditional roll fringe. Material: 95% Lambswool 5% Cashmere. Size : 140 x 180cm. Perfect for a cozy night in celebrating Valentines Day.
SANTA MARIA NOVELLA - EMULSIONE ANALCOLICA NON-ALCOHOLIC AFTER SHAVE EMULSION
Santa Maria Novella - Emulsione Analcolica Non-Alcoholic After Shave Emulsion - $65
A gift he is bound to love and appreciate is from the Florence heritage brand Santa Maria Novella, the Emulsione Analcolica Non-Alcoholic After Shave Emulsion. It’s not only women that should have a skin routine, help guide him to the amazing products from Santa Maria Novella, the after shave emulsion has no alcohol and is an “innovative and gentle formula with citrus notes, designed for those seeking an effective post-shave treatment that is also kind to the skin. This milky fluid emulsion boasts astringent, emollient, and refreshing properties, offering an immediate sensation of freshness after both electric and razor.” This emulsion will get the skin hydrated, healthy and smelling light and clean. A skin care routine is a sign of self care and self love and isn’t that what Valentines Day is all about, Hallmark holiday and all?
Well that is our selection for conscious gift giving on Valentines Day. We hope the selection helps you out or at the very least gives you a guideline to find conscious gifts that are local from a small, artisanal business. If you are going to celebrate Valentine's Day remember it really is the thought that counts. Happy Valentines Day!
Have you ever walked into a room and realized that someone else is wearing your fragrance? Or even worse, your loved one asks if you can change your fragrance because it reminds him of his last girlfriend (yes that happened to me). This no longer be the case. The fragrance industry has grown exponentially in the last 15 years with more independent artisan fragrances that are more experimental, unisex and connote an experience and memory instead of the usual notes we have been using for centuries. It’s an exciting time to wear a fragrance as unique as you.
That said we are giving you an olfactory tour of independent fragrance boutiques in Lower Manhattan (from 14th Street down) that cover an array of independent artisan fragrance brands that range from local to fragrances from around the world. We encourage not only visiting these fragrance boutiques if you are local to New York City but visiting them online and checking out their array of collections. Many of these boutiques also offer smaller testing and travel size collections plus fragrances for the home, beauty products and more which make for amazing holiday gifts! I highlighted my favorite scent from each shop (click onto the captions for the links to the brands) but I encourage you to investigate how much artisan fragrances have to offer. It would actually be an amazing way to spend the afternoon, hopping from perfume boutique to perfume boutique as many are keen to offer the customer a unique experience whether testing or creating your own scents. Plus the packaging alone in many of these boutiques are reason enough to go.
NOLITA
Nolita has become the place to go to in New York City for small independent brands especially artisan fragrance brands that are local and from around the world.
Olfactory - 281 Mott Street
Besides offering their own collection of fragrances, Olfactory is especially unique in that you can create your own fragrance and even have the bottle named after you or the person you would like to gift. Their scent-ologists will guide you through their scent customization experience. Leave with a personalized signature scent, bottled fresh on-site. While appointments are not required, they recommend them for groups and those coming from out of town. Each custom scent is $85. Talk about a unique gift!
Les Labo has their own artisan collection that they can personalized with charming perfume packaging (refillable) which makes for great holiday gifts. Les Labo also offers their own collection of fragrances for home fragrances, beauty and grooming options.
Made in NYC, D.S. & Durga is a fragrance brand with the concept of creating and recreating memories of people, places and things. Their unisex fragrances and fragrance products are creating with unorthodox scents that make for excellent home fragrances too. My favorite was Steamed Rainbow which they describe as ROYGBIV reflections on soft weightless water steaming upwards forever fresh.
Osswald NYC is a fragrance boutique curated by Tanja Dreiding Wallace who handpicked her favorite fragrances and fragrance products from around the world. Can’t make it to the Marais in Paris to pick a fragrance, don’t worry Osswald NYC may have what you are looking for. Our pick is “I am Coming Home” by FLORAIKU. They description of the scent is: “I am Coming Home” is a tea composition, with Ginger oil, Cardamom oil and White Tea extract, giving a fresh and aromatic start to this spicy fragrance with musky accents. Inspiration: The treasure boat gives the idea of a long and smooth travel that reaches its destination. The lights are like close friends, and the coast, a reassuring place. The sea is calm, nothing to fear, the arrival will be quiet and sweet, like the scent. Other notes: Bergamot, citrus, pink-pepper, jasmin tea accord, cedarwood, guaiacwood, amber notes.
Elorea is a Korea heritage fragrance brand. Elorea is a portmanteau of 'Elements' and 'Korea' inspired by Korea's rich history of fragrance and lifestyle. Their mission is to capture, preserve, and share the stories of their heritage. Our pick is Elorea’s “Be By My Side”, their description of the scent is it was created from the poetic Korean word hūnoni [흐노니], which means missing someone dearly. Warm and glowy, this scent is redolent of a passionate embrace. The bittersweetness of ginseng and rich floral notes of roses and forget-me-nots create a hauntingly sumptuous olfactive experience. It finishes with soft suede and vanilla for a silky, skin-like scent, heightening the sensuousness of this addictive scent.
Kismet Olfactive is a New York City-based independent fragrance studio founded by bohemian-perfumer Shabnam Tavakol. Recognizing her family’s escape from the Iranian Revolution, this fortuitous past, Kismet—from the Persian qismat, meaning “fate,” or, “what is meant to be”—translates the serendipitous moments that make up our lives into wearable scents. Inspired from scents around the world, we landed on “Wedding in Oaxaca” which is described as the story of two lovers bound together in a mystical Mexican city, surrounded by a parade of local music, dance, and friends in wild celebration. A playful fragrance, Wedding in Oaxaca fuses smooth lactonic notes of coconut milk and tuberose with fresh floral violet leaves and woody undertones of vetiver, musk, and sandalwood. May this scent always remind you of a memorable moment in time.
MALIN+GOETZ was founded in the chelsea neighborhood of new york city in 2004 by founders matthew malin + andrew goetz who set out to uncomplicate skincare. The brand has grown to include multiple categories including fragrance. Our favorite fragrance we recommend is “Leather Eau de Perfume” which is perfect as a masculine not overpowering scent for men. It’s described as “nodding to the centuries old practice of fragrancing artisanal leather goods with custom perfumes, leather is a modern update that marries rawness and refinement. Immediately recognizable and universally appealing, leather is a texture and scent that inevitably evokes feelings of nostalgia. in our formula, muted florals mirror the elegance of smooth leather while rustic wood notes call to mind the softness of a well-worn vintage find. intimately shaping itself around the wearer like a second skin, leather is a fragrance that only gets better with time”.
Adam Eastwood and Franco Wright, who began the first chapter of their perfume journey 15 years ago. In the years since Wright and Eastwood started Luckyscent their online perfume market and opened their first tiny Scent Bar storefront on Beverly Boulevard, West Hollywood they have become a go-to source for independent niche perfumes. In their Nolita boutique we picked ARC, Extrait by Mallo, a Spanish heritage brand. Arc represents a confluence of Eastern and Western natural perfumery. Perfumers Antonio Lasheras and Rajesh Balkrishnan combine rare to obtain natural absolutes and create a fantastical mythical flowering plant that is fully contained in the bottled juice only as a unique fougere. Calming and spiritual, ARC takes its wearers to distant mountainous places where wild herbs and flowers caress the lofty pines.
The Naxos Apothecary is a Greek luxury natural fragrance and personal care brand that passes on and pushes forward the history, culture, heritage, and endemic flora of the Aegean Island of Naxos, a fertile land with lush vegetation, great biodiversity, and unique endemic species. Combined with scientific expertise in phytotherapy, this led to a sophisticated apothecary brand that proposes personalized herbal cosmetic remedies as well as soulful, storytelling fragrances and candles. We loved “Sangri”, which can be described as Oriental & Woody, medieval scents that form a hypnotizing aura. This fragrance stands for monuments of different eras, a blend of various historical influences.
Korres is a Greek beauty and fragrance brand established in 1996 using the wisdom of the traditional and sustainable natural remedies from their grandmothers and the organic farmers of Greece. A fragrance we think would be popular for all ages is “Saffron Spices”, an elevated skin freshener that lasts all day, is one of their finest apothecary fragrances. Perfect to wear on its own or layered with any of their other luxurious body care formula.
Mizensir was founded in 1999 by Alberto Morillas in Geneva, Switzerland. As a perfumer who has been behind many worldwide successes in modern perfumery, he and his wife decided to found a House dedicated to craftsmanship and know-how by offering scented candles and perfumes. Over the years and as a family, they developed a wide selection of scents and collaborated with some of the biggest names in fashion to offer them olfactory signatures. We fell in love with “Lovely Alba”, designed to capture the innocence of a child, this elegant scent offers a surprising amount of intensity. It opens with energizing bergamot, jasmine, and neroli then blends with refreshing orange blossom and powdery iris in the middle. A warm accord of resin and vanilla finishes the fragrance with a layer of sophistication.
Visiting a Fueguia 1833 boutique is truly an olfactory experience. Founded in 2010 in Buenos Aires by Julian Bedel, Fueguia 1833 is a unique concept in the universe of niche perfumery, synonymous with craftsmanship, innovation, exotism and sustainability. Fueguia 1833 is a tribute to the indigenous communities of South America, guardians of the aromatic and medicinal plants of their lands, and an ode to their preservation. The story of Fueguia Basket - a native girl from Tierra del Fuego kidnapped in the early 19th century by British commander Robert FitzRoy and disowned by her family upon her return home years later - inspired the brand name as a symbolic representation of Imperialism’s downside. We highly recommend “Beagle”, an amazing fragrance for men that is strong and hypnotic but not overbearing. The name of this scent comes from Fueguia Basket’s character also appears in ''Voyage of the Beagle'', the journal of a very young Charles Darwin who embarked on the same vessel during the expedition where he would write ''On the Origin of Species''. You will find Gunpowder and rum mellowed by the sweet masculine fragrance of mahogany and copper found on the HMS Beagle.
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella - 285 Lafayette Street
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is was founded in Florence in 1221 by Dominican Friars and continues to use formulas for scents, beauty and grooming products created hundreds of years ago. Its apothecary art legacy crosses eight centuries and is deeply intertwined with Florence history, personalities and social tissue, in a continuously-renewed alchemy of tales and wonders. A fragrance we love is “Gelsomino” which is floral/spicy/woodsy scent. The history behind this scent is brings the special tale of Cosimo III de’ Medici and his Stufa dei Mugherini into our everyday lives: bergamot, tangerine and pink pepper welcome us in the top notes. At the heart, the mystery unfolds with sambac jasmine absolute, geranium and ylang-ylang. Finally, the greenhouse opens entirely with cedar wood and musk.
Trudon is one of the oldest perfume brands in the world. Founded in 1643 in Paris by Claude Trudon, he became the owner of a store on rue Saint Honoré in Paris. There he sells spices and candles eventually becoming the official Royal perfumer to the kings. A popular scent is “Vixi” which is the perfect unisex scent that leaves a freshness that runs on the skin, leaving a desirable trace of amber and leather on the surface.
Byredo is a European luxury brand founded in Stockholm in 2006 by Ben Gorham, with an ambition to translate memories and emotions into products and experiences. Byredo is reinventing the world of luxury through a new approach, where creation is led by emotions, expressing a full and limitless brand universe. Byredo is a great brand for unisex fragrances that connote experiences and memories that make the fragrances an original and unique experience when trying on. I love the names of the perfumes which peak my curiosity and from that “Mojave Ghost” is one of my favorite scents. It’s described as suspended between dreams and reality, from gnomes and mythical creatures to anthropomorphic plants and animals, the fanciful imaginings bring an emotional connection to holiday traditions and folkloric enchantment.
The Alchemist Kitchen is a destination for holistic healing and carefully curated products that also include beauty and fragrance. They carry the Heretic Parfum line, founded by perfumer Douglas Little, to disrupt the status quo by focusing on botanical ingredients that are inspired by Ayurvedic benefits derived from plants. Each fragrance is vegan, blended in organic non-GMO alcohol extraction, without synthetics, offering exceptional quality. A popular scent in the Heretic collection is “Smudge”. Celebrating the ancient practice of using ceremonial smoke to clear energy, this super-pure fragrance envelops you in an exquisite blend of juniper, labdanum, frankincense, and tonka bean.
Atelier D’Emotion is a unique boutique in Soho that curates many categories including the Olfactory Arts. One new independent perfume brand they carry is the Bubble Collection which is a selection of different perfumes inspired from different exotic places around the world. We absolutely loved “Marrakesh” which made me want to be the woman it stood up for. The scent can be described as “Take a stroll through the souk, filled with dazzling aromas of sunny citrus, scintillating spices, sumptuous florals and supple woods. In the shade of a flying carpet, you will find yourself entranced by the complex rhythmic patterns of hand-dyed wool, the elegant arabesques on silver platters and gilded tea glasses in rainbow hues. Tendrils of steam from your tea mingle with swirls of sweet tobacco”.
Kilian Paris is an artisan perfume brand by Lilian Hennessy who is part of one of France’s most illustrious dynasties in fine liquors. Kilian Hennessy translates the sensibility and vision inherited from his ancestors into the realm of perfume. Kilian Hennessy has created his contemporary vision of French perfumery with a nod to artisans of the past. A true Master of Scent, working closely with renowned noses as he directs the creation of each fragrance. Known for his long-lasting accords that recall luxury French fragrances of former eras, Kilian Hennessy is uncompromising on the quality of ingredients, privileging the raw and rare and harkening to a rich legacy that stretches from centuries past. The resulting fragrances create a passionate dance between conventional and unorthodox. One of the most seductive scents is “Love, Don’t Be Shy”. It can be explained as First love’s innocence makes itself known with juicy honeysuckle and plush rose softly caressed by the sweetness of luscious marshmallow sugar accord, satisfying the craving pang of new love. A warm amber base lends a pulsing touch of sensuality, hinting the possibility of soon knowing another soul, inside and out.
Born into the world of perfume, with more than thirty years’ experience, Frédéric Malle is the foremost expert in perfumery today. An unconventional and unclassifiable aesthete, he offers artists the opportunity to excel themselves, encourages them to develop their own idiom, and celebrates their creativity. And so, from each collaboration, a masterpiece is born—a perfume whose creator is proud enough to sign it with his own name, for the very first time. The brand collaborates with perfumers around the world and with that his collaboration with Maurice Roucel, one of our favorite scents was created, “Uncut Gems” which is made with a lot of “fresh naturals, and musk, it is not only magnetic but quite chic”.
Founded by Julien Sprecher Far from the etiquette of Versailles, the privileged guests of King Louis XV's "Perfumed Court" met at the "Marlys": sumptuous receptions under the banner of festivities, arts and of course perfume, which embalmed even fountains. Parfums de Marly brings the essence of the palace to life with a spirit of splendour and audacity that animates each of its creations. From the name of its fragrances to the glasswork of its bottles, a unique heritage shines through each perfume. We love the unisex fragrance “Herod” which is personified by its blend of diverse notes, exuding a smoky vanilla scent. This eau de parfum opens on spicy top notes of cinnamon and pepper to then show its powerful heart of tobacco leaf, incense, ciste and osmanthus. These peppery notes are further surrounded by vanilla pods, musk, patchouli and woody accord at the base. An elegant and discernible perfume, for both men and women, it is the epitome of old-world sophistication.
A Perfume Goldmine is home of “The Zoo” fragrances. The Zoo® NYC fragrances compose a menagerie of personalities like exciting creations in a zoo. They were launched in 2017 and are housed in four The Zoo® NYC habitats: Fresh, Sexy, Forbidden, and Raw. Each requires constant feeding with a large palette of ingredients sourced from around the world. They are composed by Christophe to deliver comfort, surprise, or intrigue. Each will shine some fun and ignite a dream with a twist: to be found in our vivid descriptions under each item.We are crazy for “Kiki’s Plant Sex” the new fragrance from contemporary artist Kiki Smith, designed in collaboration with the award-winning French fragrance designer, Christophe Laudamiel. Kiki is a study of balance and contrast and is unabashedly green and fresh while deeply and unexpectedly, lush, warm, and dynamic. The fragrance evokes Kiki’s most significant olfactory memories: musks, boxwood, patchouli and sandalwood next to fresh, ripe foliage, and fig leaf notes. The uniquely soothing, enveloping warmth and herbaceousness of blue chamomile and the bright and summery smell of narcisse create an incandescent, satisfying and fearless scent that is diffusive and illuminating.
Well known independent jewelry, accessories and footwear designer has created a fragrance for her brand made in France titled “DIANA BROUSSARD Eau de Parfum” By DETAILLE, Paris. At the beginning of the XXe century, the Maison de Parfum Detaille was founded by the Countess de Presle, one of the first women to buy a premier automobile. Her modernity, the risk taking nature of her spirit, and her great affinity for beautiful scents, are the traits that Diana Broussard wants to portray in her first signature scent. The scent Is delicately woody. It's heart is built around saffron and Moroccan cedar. Faceted by an accord of oud, bergamot and cistus, and lying on a bed of tobacco, oud, cedar, and patchouli. A fragrance that is sophisticated, elegant, toujours chic, and a touch risky.
Bond No 9 is the first New York parfumerie to be headed by a woman--our founder and CEO, Laurice Rahmé, who oversees every aspect of Bond No. 9--from creating the New York-centric concept behind our eau de parfum collection, to guiding the development of each fragrance and bottle design, to designing the interior of each Bond No. 9 boutique. There are so many scents we love here but we are happy to select our unicorn pick which is quite outrageous in price at $1,300 but a truly unique gift to others (or yourself), “New York Forever” Limited Edition Swarovski Disco Ball perfume. This sexy new anniversary tribute fragrance gets a fabulously festive limited-edition revamp reminiscent of a tinsel-strewn Studio 54. Bond No. 9 embellished the iconic Silhouette Bottle with a mix of bold tile-shaped Swarovski crystals that dance and shimmer like a disco ball on your vanity. In what Rahmé calls “a powerful fragrance for a powerful city.
Perfume boutique Aedes de Venustas , which translates to "temple of beauty" in Latin, opened in 1995. The idea behind AEDES is providing personalized service and exclusive scents that could not be found in department stores. The result: a seductive fragrance sanctuary with scented candles, potpourris, perfumes, soaps, skin care products all displayed on ornate etageres and damask-covered tables. Besides the Aedes de Venustas collection their fragrance library includes many prestigious brands of independent perfumes. It is hard to pick a favorite in this stunning perfume boutique but we chose “Grenadille D’Afrique” A tribute to ancient African Blackwood and its majestic home. From crackling sap to balmy resin. Smoky wood to sun-seared stone. Purple dusk to ink-black night. GRENADILLE D’AFRIQUE expresses not only its namesake tree, but also the primal landscape in which it grows.
Fragrance is such an personal gift that shows you care and as we said now that perfume brands are creating experiences and scents that recollect memories of places and objects we think you will appreciate the journey of finding a scent for you or your loved ones.
This year our annual Father’s Day Gift Guide is just as thoughtful, artisanal and sustainable as ever! We at The Local Artisan Guide take enormous pleasure in highlighting the small brands that create amazing and unique gifts for your one of a kind dad (or dad figure in your life). This year we have ten suggestions that cover all categories and price points. There is bound to be one that your dad will truly appreciate. Just click onto the captions which will provide you the links to go and show your father (or father-figure) how much you love and cherish him!
Your dad will love the limited edition fragrance, “Mister Marvelous” by Byredo. Mister Marvelous turns the classic men’s cologne on its head with a modern, citrus-led twist. Brimming with charisma and exuding the scent of a confident character, the sweet opening of mandarin leaves and neroli flower leads to a fresh heart of bamboo and green lavender. Like the ideal gentleman, full of gestures that delight, spicy notes of black amber and white cedarwood provide a final dash of intrigue. A fragrance that surprises and delights as it unfurls, much like the experience of knowing a Marvelous man.
What better gift to dad than your company playing a competitive game of Backgammon? Chess Forum, a much beloved game store in Greenwich Village offers a map theme Backgammon board game that your father would be proud to own .The set is a generously sized 18 inch backgammon set with a vintage map design! This set, is adored for its map design case and the non-stitched, screen printed points that make it easy for pieces to glide over the board's surface. Tan Case Measures 18 inches. Case is Constructed of Vinyl - Wipes Clean with Ease. Includes Chips with diameter 1.243 in., Dice and Felt-lined Cups
What a way to add a touch of luxury to your dad’s life. These stretchable, breathable silk pajamas are warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Made to move with you, the Men's Striped Silk Stretch Pajama set has been created using an innovative technique that combines silk with spandex for a more comfortable fit. These pajamas are also super stylish, with a self-colored stripe running through the shirt and matching pants. Buy two pairs to wear with your significant other, who knew dressing up to stay in could feel so good. Also the silk used in Lilysilk is a more sustainable silk because the silk worms are fed with the more eco friendly Mulberry bush.
It’s always five o’clock somewhere! Treat your dad to these ultra hip slippers with one of his favorite cocktails embroidered on the front toes. Soludos, a sustainable footwear brand with a marvelous sense of wit and humor make their slippers with organic cotton for the upper canvas and are working on creating a low carbon footprint for their brand. Besides comfort and style, your dad also gets to show off his part time hobby of mixologist through his footwear. Win/Win!
One great and affordable Father’s Day gift is the gift of reading and books. If your dad is a book worm and loves sitting down to a good read may we recommend The Mysterious Bookshop, a bookstore that specializes in mysteries. Our choice is Cornell Woolrich’s “Deadline at Dawn”. The synopsis of the books is as follows: When Quinn first meets Bricky, she’s working as a partner-for-hire at a dancehall and he’s struggling to shake the anxiety of his guilty conscience. Earlier that day, the young man took advantage of a found key and used it to rob a stranger’s home. Now, with the purloined money in his pocket, Quinn is unable to escape the memory of his wrongdoing―and not even a night spent dancing is enough to silence his nagging thoughts.
When the dancehall closes, he and Bricky―linked, after many intimate hours, by a budding romance―return to the scene of the crime intending to restore the stolen fortune and begin a new life together, only to discover, upon arrival, that the owner of the property has been murdered. There’s evidence present that easily links Quinn to the crime, and he expects that, as soon as day breaks and the authorities learn of the gruesome scene, he will be arrested straight away. Which means that he and Bricky have only a few short hours to find the true killer and clear Quinn’s name for good.
Wow! I think even mom or you may borrow this book when dad is done!
A stylsih and utilitarian bag for dad is always a good choice of gift for Father’s Day and we love the Postman Eclair in navy (comes in other colors too). This classic French postman bag from Bleu de Chauffe is avaialble at sustainable design brand Kai D Utility and is 100% made of organic leather. Removable leather strap and comfortable leather shoulder pad lined with natural felt. Two side pockets and one pocket in the front. 11 and 13 " padded inside laptop pocket. The Inside cotton pocket is the support of the Bleu de Chauffe label, signed and dated by the artisan. Patina handmade. 100% made in France. Size: 15" x 11" x 3.93"
A classic fedora is a piece of slow fashion your father is sure to not only appreciate and wear but hand down as a family heirloom. We are big fans of The Hat Shop NYC where they offer a classic fedora made from Panama straw and a variety of trims to choose from. Just give them your dad’s head measurements (how you choose to get those measurements without surprising him is your dilemma) and he will receive a bespoke fedora, perfect to protect him from summer rays in stylish form. Crown: 4” fedora. Brim: 2” brim.
This gift is a bit pricey and aspirational but if you have the dash, may we recommend a vintage, limited edition watch by renowned artist Jeff Koons? Available at Rowing Blazers, this collaboration between Ikepod and Koons was inspired by Koon’s 2006-2010 exhibition piece “Cannonballs”. The work takes inspiration from the Marvel comic character, The Hulk, in molecular form. Koons described his sculpture by stating: “This stack of cannonballs is actually The Hulk. If you would take the Hulk and break him down, in a molecular-like structure, this would be the proportions. Of his greens, his violet and his black. This piece is having a dialogue with minimalism and making a reference to Sol Le Witt.”
The watch’s introduction in 2009 served to make an impact on the lives of others with the proceeds directly going towards the Koons Family Institute to help missing and exploited children. This example is being offered in new and unworn condition, with the stickers on the front and back of the case remaining in place and untouched. It also includes the original leather case and outer cardboard box. The strap design was used by Apple on the Apple Watch. Curated by Wind Vintage.
If your budget for Father’s Day is not an expensive vintage watch may we suggest a candle made in the Bronx by Urban Monk Balm Candle that is masculine yet not overpowering. The scent is “Brave Brother” and it has notes of Vetiver, patchouli, cedarwood, clara sage, bergamot, Egyptian amber, cardimon and star anise. Ingredients feature natural essential oils, organic soy wax, organic cotton wicks, designed for enhanced release of essential oil fragrances. Scent brings up our memories so have your father always remember you when he lights this calming candle.
Out of all our Father’s Day gift recommendations this may be the one he actually would use the most. If your dad shaves, have him do it in style with one of the oldest grooming brands around Costella 1828 from Genoa, Italy and available at Santa Maria Novella. Costella 1828 offers a shaving brush made from the finest materials. This shaving brush is pure silver badger-hair with a brass handle. Turned from untreated brass, then painted with nanotechnology products to protect from oxidation without modifying the natural finish. Your father will be sure to treasure this unique piece of grooming equipment for years to come.
Well those are our recommendations for an artisanal, unique and thoughtful Father’s Day. Being a father (or father figure) is an important task of love and labor and if done well should be recognized and rewarded. Your presence and time with your father would perhaps be what they want the most but these gifts we feel will be a close second.
We did our choices for HER for Valentines Day, now we are going to do our blog for Valentines Day Gifts for HIM from The Local Artisan Guide. We have chosen five gift ideas that range in categories and price points yet are romantic, thoughtful, artisanal and unique. We know he will appreciate that you think he is original enough to shop artisanal.
This Brooklyn based perfume brand has created an amazing scent that can definitely be unisex in nature. Super Amber can best be described as:
Ever imagined perfume as a texture? Meet SUPER AMBER, a cozy, super warm, addictive scent that envelops like a cashmere blanket on warm bare skin. SUPER AMBER is the beautiful marriage of cutting edge olfactive technology (made with minimal environmental and social impact) and clean perfumery (it’s free of fragrance allergens). Unlike traditional fragrances, SUPER AMBER is not structured with top, middle and base notes. Rather it blooms once it interacts with your skin's own unique chemistry. It's unlike any perfume you've smelled.
What we love about this locally made in the USA perfume brand is the amount of eco-friendly responsibility that goes in creating their scents. It scores a AAA rating (green, social impact, environmental impact) for the EcoScent Compass, it is PETA certified vegan and cruelty free, the scent uses up cycled Virginia Cedarwood with a biodegradable musk. The bottle is composed of glass and can be reused or recycled. Remove cap and any spray parts, including the dip tube. Rinse out glass portion and reuse or recycle. It has a Bakelite Compression Cap: This cap is biodegradable and contains no petrochemicals.
Ghylain Rouge Chocolate Heart Box
Ghylain Rouge Chocolate Heart Box, $37.75
Originally from Québec, Canada, Ghyslain Maurais found his culinary passion while working in the field to fund his architectural education. Soon after, he changed career paths and became a renowned French pastry chef specializing also in chocolate décor, candy making, blown/pulled sugar and bread making. He relocated to his wife’s hometown of Union City, Indiana to establish Ghyslain Chocolatier. We love his original Rouge milk chocolate heart box that includes six of Ghyslain’s Valentine hearts, presented in a window box with red satin bow and watercolor tag. The chocolate heart flavors include:
Mango Margarita, Coconut Rum, Peach Daquiri, Jivara, Chocolate Raspberry and French Vanilla.
They can be ordered on the website and delivered straight to your loved one’s door. Hearts within a big red chocolate heart is the gift that keeps on giving.
Brooklyn based jewelry designer Bernice Kelly's is originally from Northern Ireland which has had an enduring influence on her approach to jewelry design from Ireland’s rugged landscapes and the warmth and tenacity of its culture. She has designed a collection of jewelry for men called “The Men’s Room” where her signature Signet rings date letter collection utilizes a strong British tradition which requires precious metals to be officially stamped. A symbol represents the metal the piece is created in, and the date letter represents the year it was made, by law only available for that particular year, there being a 26 year wait before this letter can be marked again. Classic large square signet ring in sterling silver with British hallmarks. The Lion represents Sterling Silver. 'X' is the hallmark for 2022. Specifications for this signet ring are:
Sterling silver. Face of ring measures at 11mm x 13mm. Band is 5.5mm at back
Kempton and Co., a handbag and leather goods brand founded by English designer Fiona Kempton who based her brand in Red Hook, Brooklyn offers plenty of Valentines Day gift options for him and that includes this Brass Stud Freddie Pouchette. In a buttery soft cowhide leather, the Freddie Pouchette can hold a passport, checkbook, or notepad holder offers an urban chic edge with a row of distressed brass studs down the center. Add a vintage pen for the ultimate gift. The pouchette includes:
Buttery soft cowhide leather exterior
Soft cotton twill interior
Solid brass clasp and studs that get better with age. We think the tarnish looks lovely. Prefer it shiny? No problem, it buffs up in seconds.
The Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella from Florence, Italy plants its roots back to 1221. Creating multiple products for men’s and women’s beauty and skincare for hundreds of years now, the Shaving Foam is a special way to contribute to your loved one’s skincare routine. This moisturizing shaving foam is enriched with plant oils, for all skin types and mildly scented with Tabacco Toscano cologne. He’ll be forever grateful you have unearthed this product for his manscaping ways.
Clicking onto the title links will bring you to the products website featured in this blog. We feel very strongly that your man will enjoy and appreciate the unique gifts you were able to procure for him this Valentine’s Day that are artisanal and as unique and wonderful as you think he is too.
