In the last few years we have noticed that Galentine’s Day is getting almost as much celebration, marketing and promotion as Valentine’s Day itself. It’s really not surprising as women make approximately 70-85% of consumer purchases in the United States. With those numbers, a day celebrating single or divorced women (50-52% of U.S. women) would be quite advantageous.
We decided to dedicate this blog to ideas for Galentine’s Day celebrations with you and your besties that incorporate experiences, smaller local brands and creating new skills. All will generate moments to bond with your friends and make memories to celebrate Gal-Dom.
UPCYCLE JEWELRY PARTY
Do you have an engagement ring or wedding band that you no longer have any use of? Did you inherit a piece of jewelry that is not to your taste or you may deem too old fashion? Do you have any piece in your jewelry collection that you feel can be updated and glammed up? Well we recommend having an “Upcycle Jewelry Party”.
This requires inviting a local jewelry designer of your choice to a gathering at your home or event place of your choice. You can even host an after hours event at a jewelry boutique with the owner.
Recently I saw the collection of jewelry designer Yael Sonia at one of my favorite jewelry and objects boutique Atelier d’Emotion located in SoHo Village, NYC. The boutique is owned by Alice Sundbom and it was at one of her trunk shows when I told her I had jewelry that did not fit my taste. She recommend that a jewelry designer upcycle and redesign the piece. We thought this would make a great event for Galentine’s Day and all the women who had jewelry pieces or stones that needed a fresh new start. Also if you provide the gem stones, the price of the piece goes considerably down.
Yael Sonia’s pieces are perfect for upcycling stones from rings or necklaces for a fresh out of the box design. A piece that can be translated for your gemstones is her “Spinning Ring”. The ring has an unorthodox design in that there is a circle concave with a 6.5mm white diamond pavé ball inside rolling around in motion. This ring can be recreated to have your stone of similar size and weight roll around. It’s actually a fun ring to own as you can see from the short video below.
Another ring style from Sonia is the “Meteor Brilliant Ring” where a smooth cabochon sits at the center of planetary rings made of 18k gold and diamond pavé. Your stone can replace the stone in this design that can vary in size according to the stone.
If you have any pearl earrings or pearl rings that you feel are quite basic, Yael Sonia has a selection of rings that can breathe in new life to your pearl and transform it into a contemporary piece of art.
Yael Sonia “Tahitian Pearl surrounded by Pave Diamonds”
Have a discussion with your favorite local jewelry designer and see their capabilities and ideas for recreating jewelry pieces and gems that you would love to reinvent and how this can be the perfect Galentine’s Day event.
HAVE A CUSTOM FRAGRANCE MADE FOR YOU
A fun and creative experience to share with your friends is to invite a perfumer over to create a special scent made just for you. This can be done with your local perfumer or you can go to olfactorynyc.com in New York City where you can either go in-store where everyone leaves with their very own custom perfume – bottled fresh on-site! Olfactory provides your party wine and light refreshments (maximum capacity of 25). Olfactory also has On-Site mobile Scent Stations to make it easy to create this unforgettable experience at your home in NYC. If you are not near New York City Olfactory also offers Virtual Guided Instructions, where their scentologists guide you over Zoom in the comfort of your own home where you will be sent supplies ahead of the event. Olfactory is also located in Boston, DC, Miami, Atlanta and Dallas.
Together with your friends you can mix notes with their key 9 fragrances to find your perfect scent.
Your scentologist will help guide you in creating your scent.
You get to choose a name for your perfume, which will be stamped on your unique label, then select a custom label color.
TAKE A DESSERT CLASS TOGETHER
How about you and your friends make your own Galentine’s Day dessert with a dessert class?
You can attend a local cooking school that offers dessert making classes and create your own classic Valentine’s Day dessert. You can also hire a dessert chef to come to your home to teach you and your friends how to make a variety of desserts such as macarons, tiramisu or even Galentine’s Day cookies.
A great choice for dessert classes is CocuSocial where classes vary from $55 to $75 per person depending on the dessert you chose. You will learn step-by-step how to achieve the perfect dessert with your friends, all levels are welcomed and in two hours you will learn a new delicious skill that you and others will appreciate.
You have clothes you love but have not worn in ages or don’t fit you anymore. Dieting to fit into clothes you wore in your 20’s is not an option anymore. You can go on Poshmark and have your clothes ignored as it is a full time job to promote your closets there. You can go to a consignment shop and get insulted at the price they are willing to give you only to turn around and offer it at a ridiculous price. You can donate them but you love them so much and want to make sure they go to a good home where they will be loved and treasured (akin to rehoming your pet). Well may I recommend a clothes swapping party!
Swap parties are reminisce of bartering.
Invite your friends to come over and to bring pieces that they too are not using anymore but love just as much as you love your pieces and see if there are any pieces you all can swap. It’s a great way to recycle your clothes and I bet there are pieces in your wardrobe they have been eyeing for ages and vice-versa. Shoes, accessories and handbags are also great to swap especially the accessories and handbags since there is no issue with sizes. Even jewelry pieces you don’t wear or treasure can be a great addition to swap parties. Add some wine and pizza and you have not only a great evening but a great new wardrobe. Make sure everyone understands to bring worthwhile pieces not that t-shirt that has been at the bottom of your draw for ages. One other added bonus, if you ever want to borrow a piece you swapped out hopefully your friend is generous to lend it out to you.
Clothing Swap parties are a guaranteed sustainable way to celebrate Galentine’s Day.
FLOWER ARRANGING CLASS
What is a way to guarantee you will not feel sad about not receiving a floral bouquet on Valentines Day? Learn how to make a bouquet on Galentine’s Day!
Creating your own bouquet on Galentine’s Day is not only a way to walk home with some lovely flowers but it will also help you learn a skill that will always come in handy and be much appreciated especially if you love to entertain or want to give great hostess or birthday gifts.
You can Google your local florists to find classes for you and your friends to attend. In New York City, PlantShed is offering a special Galentine’s Day floral arranging class that includes “a selection of fresh seasonal plants or flowers, a demonstration, tips and tricks from our talented PlantShed floral designers or plant specialists, and all the materials you will need to build and safely transport your stunning creation.” They will also provide a beverage from their cafe and give you a 20% discount for in-store shopping.
Grocery stores like Trader Joes and Wholefoods offer flowers at affordable prices and here is your chance to pick from their selection and create beautiful bouquets for yourself to come home to everyday or give as gifts.
What’s a more productive and heartfelt way to spend Galentine’s Day than to do a volunteer project together!
Volunteering at City Harvest.
Here is a way to bond by making the world better (as women usually do). This can be volunteering for political or social campaigns, protesting (something we seem to be doing more and more these days), helping with food insecurity for organizations such as City Harvest or fundraise for them. There is an organization in New York City called New York Cares that gives you opportunities to do a wide variety of volunteer projects that fit in with your schedule. You can Google to see what organizations near by you have opportunities to volunteer in a cause you feel passionate about.
Rachel Dratch helping promote New York Cares Coat Drive.
Go on a group protest with your friends for Galentine’s Day (and copious amounts of hot chocolate after).
HOST A VISION BOARD PARTY
One of the most fun and creative ways you can spend time together with your friends for Galentine’s Day is to host a vision board party. As someone that has been hosting vision board parties for over 18 years now, it is the modern day version of the old timey quilting bees.
Helping each other make goals is a beautiful way to spend Galentine’s Day together.
Ask your friends come bringing magazines of subject matters they enjoy or are passionate about (and a bottle of wine) and you provide lots of scissors, paste sticks, large pieces of paper or pasteboards, pizza and snacks. You then flip through the magazines and tear out images that resonate to you. You start arranging your board lining it up with images that reflect the lifestyle you desire and want goals to attain (i.e. love life, career, health, travel, family, home, etc.)
Vision Board parties are a very bonding experience.
While you are creating your board you are having a nice catch up with your friends and sharing your goals in life. When done, just give a little show-and-tell and get important feed back from your friends and let them know what you think of their board to give encouragement. Get back together six months later to review your boards and you will be amazed at how much you have accomplished. Then set new goals. If you want any advice on Vision Boards email us at info@thelocalartisanguide.com and we will send you a PDF on the subject.
SPA DAY (OR evening)
Is there nothing a women loves more than a spa day (or evening) with her friends? You can gather a group of your friends to attend a spa together and do spa treatments or take a sauna or steam for rest and relaxation. Or you can host a spa evening at your home and have your friends bring a variety of beauty treatment for all to try. These can be clean products and home made beauty treatments using organic products.
The old cucumber on the eye trick never fails (and is inexpensive).
Have each friend be in charge of a beauty treatment. One can supply under eye masks, while the other gives a honey facial, while another does a manicure and another a pedicure. There are lots of clean, holistic products to use, we love and recommend products from The Alchemists Kitchen, especially their Turmeric Honey Face Mask.
Make sure you have a nice charcuterie board, a healthy mocktail and lots of candles going for this fun, relaxing evening where you can share some juicy gossip, talk about how crazy Ryan Murphy’s latest shows are and let your friends give you some advice on your love life and dating in the wild.
HAVE A POT LUCK DINNER
If there is one thing women love doing is getting together and having a good meal. Why not curate an elegant evening with a gourmet potluck? It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive (unless that’s what you gals want). Cooking for the ones you love is one of the best and more creative ways to show someone you care about them.
Set up a beautiful tablescape to show your friends how special they are to you.
Arrange what everyone will bring. Have a friend put together a colorful charcuterie board, another one make an amazing salad, another friend make some vegetarian or gluten free dishes (there is definitely going to be the gluten free girlfriend attending), another tackle a meat or fish dish, maybe someone bakes a sourdough loaf (my friend are still sourdough crazy from lockdown) and another make an amazing dessert (they took that macaron class). One can even be in charge of being a mixologist for the evening and creating yummy cocktails and mocktails for the crowd. Set a beautiful table, you can go to Global Table to make sure you have beautiful glassware for those amazing drinks. Make a floral arrangement (remember you learned in your class), have all your friends dress up for the evening (with that swap party you have new clothes to wear). Screen a romantic movie after dinner with a strong female lead and have an evening you will always remember with the women in your life that are your support group.
A toast to a special evening with your Galentines friends.
HAVE AN EVENING TO PLAN A FUTURE GIRLS TRIP WITH YOUR FRIENDS AT A CHâTEAU
Or just an Airbnb in the next town. What more bonding moment to celebrate your Galentine’s besties than with a trip to create memories together without the hassles that come with a hen weekend, destination wedding or milestone birthday? It’s just you and the gals having an adventure together in a different locale.
A dancing and bonding moment at Camp Château.
Get together on Galentine’s Day at your favorite watering hole and start planning a trip together! We were only half joking when we recommended to plan a trip to a chateau. At Camp Château in France they offer two châteaux to chose from to have the ultimate posh camp experience with your female friends. It’s an all inclusive, six day/five night experience where you get to curate your own activities by choosing what they have to offer. Some of the activities they offer are; hiking, foraging, flower pressing, candlemaking, watercolors, perfume making, wine tasting, cooking classes, exploring markets, visiting a vineyard, music concerts, swimming, board games, silent disco and so much more!! You sleep together in fancy bunk beds (remember this is bonding trip) but you will still feel like a princess. You can do an activity alone or with your friends. There is a waiting list so sign up fast for this once in a lifetime Galentine experience.
A trip with the special women in your life will always be a trip worth taking.
That said finding time to get away together doesn’t need to be so extravagant. Maybe you have availability to a weekend home or chip in together for an airbnb or vrbo? You can create your own version of a Camp Château by everyone in the group finding fun activities to do together and explore.
It is said one of the reasons women live longer than men is because they share a community, their lives, their feelings , their hopes and dreams with each other which translates to a healthy body and mind. Maybe that is the real reason Galentine’s Day is growing to be so popular. Women are just officially acknowledging a love and companionship like no other. Happy Galentine’s Day!
The holidays are upon us once again and The Local Artisan Guide’s yearly gift recommendations are here to make shopping for you and your loved ones easy to find artisanal, well thought out gifts from small local brands.
We like to write four blogs for the holidays when it comes to gifting. Our first blog is for home decor as home decor is a great gift for friends, family, co-workers and even yourself. We will follow up with separate blogs for him, her and children/pets.
As always we focus on smaller, more local artisanal brands for our gift guide. Home decor is an especially pleasurable topic to recommend as gifts because it involves so many crafts and skillsets. We have made recommendations in multiple categories in all price ranges with brands that also offer their wares on their online shops which can be found by clicking the link in the captions.
City of Scents is a fragrance brand founded in NYC by friends Sebastien Courty and Rose Swarbrick. They decided to start the brand as both are avid travelers and wanted to recreate scents that are inspired by the places around the world that left olfactory impressions on them. For the holidays we recommend the wintery Aspen Room Mist.
This bright, wintery fragrance will fill your home with the essence of Aspen, replete with its perfect green pines, powdery slopes, clear skies and well-heeled socialites.
The crisp scent of Fir needle brings the outdoors in, while vetiver references the earthiness of Aspen’s alpine woodland, balancing this elevated blend. The traditional holiday fragrance, Myrrh, adds a complex spiciness and the essence of campfire provides a woody base, evoking the deep satisfaction that comes after an energetic day shushing off-piste.
Finally, anise infuses this bright and festive home fragrance with a top note that represents the elegance of this majestic mountain retreat and lends this incense an invigorating, and inviting, finish.
The Citizenry is one of the largest brands in the US that focuses solely on artisan home decor products. None of their products are created in factories but in small studios and ateliers from artisans around the world and in the United States all complying with Fair Trade regulations. We love the Torres Leather Storage Ottoman. This ottoman is handcrafted with vegetable-tanned cow leather ethically sourced from Alcanena, Portugal, a small town known as “The Land of Leather.” All made start-to-finish in a fair trade environment. This ottoman is ideal as it not only acts as an ottoman but can also be a coffee or side table and it also includes storage. This ottoman is perfect for parents with young children to make sure they are around furniture that won’t harm them and can also store their toys or any other items you need stored away.
Parachute was founded in 2014 by Ariel Kaye who wanted to provide high quality and affordable home goods that are easy to shop for. We love the Flannel Sheets that make sleeping through winter not only warm and toasty but very stylish. The Flannel Sheet set included one fitted sheet, one flat sheet and one set of standard pillowcases. The set comes in Thyme (as seen above) and Bone. The sheets are offered in Full, Queen, King and Cal King (comes with King size pillows) sizes. Made in Portugal the sheets are made of 100% cotton flannel that are brushed and cozy warm.
Highly curated Clic is a store that specializes in finding special pieces for your home from around the world to help you put your design fingerprint on your home and design style. One of the most important elements in designing your home are your books and library. Your books and your library express your passions and your interests. A beautiful coffee table book is not only aesthetically pleasing but can also offer eye candy for you and your guests. We picked the John Derian Picture Book from home decor designer John Derian who is world renowned for elevating the decoupage technique into fine art. Over the past 25 years, the brand has expanded greatly to include home and general design gifts and products. The book illustrates John Derian’s design inspiration and makes for a spectacular gift.
Global Table is the go to store in SoHo for all things tabletop. They have been selling tabletop drinkware, ceramics, cutlery, plates, cups, home decor and more for decades. One of the products they offer is this beautiful colorful Venezia Carafe. Designed in Italy by Federico de Majo, this faceted carafe has grip hold dents for easy holding and pouring. The colored glass carafes and tumblers in the Venezia collection are created by the typical Venetian technique of blowing incandescent paste inside a special diamond-shaped mould. Measurements: 3.7" diameter x 8.7" h. with 41 oz volume. The carafe is offered in Amethyst (as seen above), Sky Blue, Amber, Clear and Cobalt Blue.
Founded in 2015 by Shin Won Yoon and Stefen Ramirez, Tea Dealers is a NYC-based tea company. Focused on sourcing premium teas from small farmers in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and India, they offer pure, authentic varieties found no where else. Along with their teas is their incredible collection of teapots that make for truly memorable gifts. It’s quite an extravagant gift however we fell in love with the Hand Hammered Copper teapot that we feel will become a family heirloom. Made in Niigata, Japan by Studio Gyokusendo the teapot is described as “Crafted with a timeless, elegant design this teapot efficiently retains high temperatures, perfect for dark or old teas. The general rule of practice for teapots is that the higher the quality of the tea, the smaller the brewing vessel to create a concentrated taste through shorter steepings and thoroughly enjoy each successive brewing. This teapot features a built-in strainer so you can put the tea directly in and allow it to expand and fully release its magnificent taste. The textured body showcases delicate hammer marks and a rustic handle adorned in bamboo. As it is used regularly, the teapot will develop a one-of-a-kind patina, giving it a unique charm. The natural patina is not painted on but created through a traditional process with raw copper.” Dimensions are 13x8x9cm, 200ml.
Textile designer John Robshaw who is a favorite in the Interior Design world started out as a fine artist before he started his career in textiles. Besides offering textiles on his online shop, retailers around the world and his store in Connecticut, John offers art on his site as art will always be his first love. He believes strongly that all interiors are only better when they include art that you love. One of the images we love is the “Elephant Tapestry”. This fabulous tapestry was hand painted by an artist in Jaipur who also paints John’s hand painted pillows each season. True pieces of art, this tapestry is also part of a foursome of images that include besides the elephant a camel, horse and tiger which are sold individually or as a bundle, grab them quick as these are a limited quantity item. They are easy to hang unframed with the loops, or you can frame them for more of a formal look. Each tapestry is 22" x 26" and hand painted in India.
Plantshed has been a family owned and operated floral and botanical community since the 1950’s that combine a brick-and-mortar boutique plant and flower shop with a quaint cafe experience. We love Plantshed because we feel there is no better gift to make a room feel alive as giving a plant. We especially love the Ficus Lyrata tree, more commonly known as Fiddle Leaf Fig. The Ficus lyrata is a fashionable houseplant with sculptural and broad foliage, that makes a statement in any room with bright sunlight. The Ficus Lyrata is a broadleaf evergreen with large, violin-shaped foliage. As houseplants, Ficus Lyrata typically grows 2-10 feet tall and rarely produce fruit. Requiring bright, filtered sunlight, large specimens perform especially well in corner windows, ensuring light hits all the leaves. One of the most widely used plants by professional interior designers, the Ficus Lyrata adds drama and style to any space. Plantshed also offers a variety of beautiful pots that will make the ficus an even more stylish addition to your home.
Cards Against Humanity is a card game invented by a group of friends who made the first version to play at a New Year’s Eve party. You put the cards together to make ridiculous jokes. If you are giving a gift for someone’s home or a hostess gift for a holiday party, a card game for entertainment is a wonderful idea, especially when it’s going to make you all laugh your asses off. We recommend the “Human Pack”. For Black Friday 2019, they taught a computer to write Cards Against Humanity cards and then made their human writers battle it for their jobs. Wow! Here's the pack the humans wrote which has 30 beautiful cards about the human condition straight from the hearts of our human writers. Goes well with the A.I. Pack, which was written by the computer. They also donate a bunch of money to charities so its a win/win when you buy from Cards Against Humanity.
The New York Public Library has a shop that helps fund the library and in the shop they curate an incredible selection of local artisans. We picked again another version of the legendary “Pizza Rat” who became a viral sensation a few years ago when he showed New Yorkers (and the world) his love of NYC pizza by dragging a whole slice through the NYC subway system. The Pizza Rat ornament is the holiday decoration that bonds New Yorkers together in the coldest and most disgruntled time of the year. It is the perfect gift to place on a Christmas tree, mantle, or keychain for fun. The cute subway rat features a cheesy pepperoni-topped pizza and is wearing an "I Love NY" turtleneck sweater. For the true New York lover and meme lord! It is made of Felt and knitted wool and measures 3"L x 2.25"W x 6"H. It’s the perfect gift to bring to a holiday party so your host can add to their tree.
So there are our holiday recommendations for home decor that you can give to your friends, family and most importantly, yourself! These small brands strive to create unique gift giving experiences while giving back to the community. All the recommendations can only make a home a beautiful, calming place to be while showing the essence of the homeowner.
The Local Artisan Guide usually posts one blog for Valentines Day however this year we will post four: one for her, one for him, one for Galentines Day and one solely for chocolates.
This year we picked five Valentines Day gifts for the woman in your life. We choose a range of ideas, categories and price points. All are unique, thoughtful, come from small artisanal businesses and will be greatly appreciated as well as romantic and that is in the end what you are going for.
Ilenia Corti Vernissage, “My Heart is Yours” Red Necklace, $805
Ilenia Corti Vernissage is an Italian jewelry designer whose aesthetic is definitely maximalist with intricate scenarios of nature, the insect world and for this piece, the human heart in all its anatomical glory. So when you say to your loved one, “You have my heart”, her “My Heart is Yours” red necklace literally takes the cake. Sold on the Artemest online store, the description for the piece reads:
A tribute to the heart, the mysterious source of deep feelings such as love and sadness, this fascinating necklace includes a thin, beaded chain and a marvelous silver pendant in the anatomical shape of a heart. Bright red enamel is used to emphasize the already vivid details, making this piece of jewelry a true work of art.
Handmade in Italy the dimensions are (in): W 1.18 x D 0.79 x H 0.39 and $805.
The Edinburgh Natural Skincare Co., 3 Luxury Hand Cream Bars Mixed Fragrance Pack, 25.99 English Pounds
Not a soap, not a lotion, The Edinburgh Natural Skincare Co. based in Edinburgh, Scotland offers a solid hand creme bar in three fragrances (The Queen Bee, Golden Rosewood, and Luxury No.1). All bars are made using the purest, most natural ingredients nature has to offer. Handmade in the garden of Scotland and never tested on animals, they’re all free from chemicals and impurities. The descriptions of each bar are:
The Queen Bee
The Queen Bee Solid Natural Hand Cream Bar is an indulgent formula that helps moisturise, protect, and soothe your hands. Forming a barrier against the wear and tear of the day, it gives you deeper hydration, longer-lasting softness and visibly clearer skin.
Golden Rosewood
Introducing the Golden Rosewood Solid Hand Cream Bar – rich in moisturising and hydrating essential oils, it’s infused with Coconut Oil for quick absorption and hydration. We’ve enriched the formula with a blend of the purest natural extracts to re-vitalise and nourish your skin.
Luxury No.1
Our Luxury No. 1 Solid Hand Cream Bar is like walking into a luxurious spa. Prolonging the voluptuous aura of Luxury No. 1, this perfumed Solid Hand Cream Bar intensifies the scents of essential oils with light citrus and spicy top notes of Lime and Clove, with warm subtle mid notes of Sweet Orange, Frankincense, and Myrrh and sensual base notes of French Provencal Lavender and Rose Geranium.
The cream bars have a non-sticky texture that melts into your skin, they are also sustainably sourced and packaged and are great for traveling as they are acceptable as on-flight luggage for on-the-go hand care. The Hand Cream Baris 6.5cm in length, 4cm in width, 2cm in depth and 9.5cm in length, 6.0cm in width, 2.5cm in depth in the tin. Its an affordable and beautiful skincare product to gift for Valentines Day (for all sexes).
Tasty Slice, Handcrafted Chocolate Flowers Box, St. Valentines Day Collection, $50
The Local Artisan Guide found out about Tasty Slice and their magnificent chocolate flower arrangement from Atelier d’Emotion (one of our favorite boutiques for jewelry, art and design). Tasty Slice has created a beautiful box of chocolate flowers (that also includes stationary). The description for the chocolates are:
Discover the delicious flavors of Tasty Slice ruby and white chocolate flowers by awakening your taste buds with exotic flavor combinations. Each chocolate candy is made with the finest ingredients from around the world. 100 grams of chocolate.
It’s almost a two in one; chocolates AND flowers! Win/Win!
Los Angeles based perfume brand Heretic has set themselves apart in the perfume industry by creating small batch fragrances by using organic non-GMO sugarcane alcohol so you can experience the Ayurvedic benefits of the powerful plant materials, plus Heretic uses all the parts of the plants to create even more unique scents that are vegan and cruelty free. Heretic also does not use the chemicals and additives used by standard perfumes to artificially extend wear. For their scent, “Floragasm” the description for the fragrance is:
Bright, seductive Jasmine flirts with Bergamot, a tingle of Pink Pepper, and a burst of Orange Blossom, in this 100% natural floral fragrance that stimulates creativity and passion.
Patent of Heart, Alba Accordion Flap Crossbody /Clutch, $189
Handbag and small leather goods brand Patent of Heart is ideal for a Valentines Day gift for her not only because she will be in possession of a beautiful handbag or small leather good (whose logo involves a heart) but because the designer and founder Elif Ayadin is passionate about creating sustainable fashion AND giving back to the world. In this case proceeds of her profits go to organizations that encourage education for girls worldwide that have obstacles in attaining an education. The leathers for Patent of Heart are sourced from dead stock and sustainable materials. Further details for this multi purpose clutch AND crossbody are:
Dimensions:
8.5"Length x 7.5"Height x 2.5" Depth ( Open Depth: 6.5" )
2 accordion compartments
1 flat inside zipper pocket
removable chain strap
Fully - lined with leather
We hope you find the selection of Valentine Gift ideas for her helpful. Just click on the name brand of each image and the link will take you to the site and provide further information on the product.
We are dedicated to finding artisans who create small batch production of unique, thoughtful and romantic gifts in all price ranges that your loved one will be touched to receive as they will appreciate the originality of their gift.
The Local Artisan Guide has seen so many amazing artisans this pass year that one gift guide for the holidays is not enough so we will have “The Twelves Days of Christmas Holiday Gift Guide” with each day highlighting a different gift category. For the first day of our gift guide we will feature our picks for fragrances for both men and women. The following five choices can all be considered unisex fragrances as they inspire to capture a feeling and an experience instead of just floral and woody notes.
The third part of this trilogy of perfumes dedicated to Madame Antoinette Poisson, mistress of King Louis XV, focuses on the latter part of their relationship when she was more his confidant than an active mistress. "Tison", with its notes of smoky and woody notes, reminds the quietness and warmth of the fireplace, the incandescence of the embers in the crackling wood fire in the petit salon. The flame that has long animated the Marquise de Pompadour still burns.
D.S. & Durga have created a fragrance enhancer with transparent radiance that gives any perfume a certain, as the French say, “I don’t know what.” With top notes of bergamot essence, heart notes of iso e super, vetiver acetate and base notes of civettone, firsantal and ambrox super, this fragrance is definitely a ‘Je ne sais quoi’
“Mixed Emotions”, an epicene scent designed to reflect the tumultuous nature of our times. Drawing on the Byredo philosophy of translating fragmented memories and abstract ideas into scent, “Mixed Emotions” presents an olfactive sketch of our current, collective state of mind. Comforting notes of maté and the sharp sweetness of cassis sit within a wooden framework; the reassuring scent of black tea disturbed by violet leaf synthetics.
Combining astrology with aromatherapy, this unique process will dive deep into your chart to craft your unique signature star scent. An Astroman by Design reading is your personalized aromatic blend to support your intention, goals and life purpose through your soul’s map and blueprint that is your natal birth chart and desired aromatic profile.
Drawing from the science of aromatherapy and the art of astrology, together we custom craft a synergy scent particular to your desire and actions. Using your soul’s astrological blueprint through your horoscope we are able to source valuable information to align particular plant aromas to support your core essence. Upon purchasing they will need your astrological information to get started. Visit their sister website and share your birth chart information so that they may begin the Astroma process.
HOUSE OF POTENTIA, “BLACK SMOKE EAU DE PARFUM” AVAILABLE AT ATELIER D EMOTION
House of Potentia created a perfume that brings to mind desire journeys through hope and doubt. The great “I am” emerges and takes its eternal stand. Rich Incense, Sandalwood offer solace through the haze.
All these incredible fragrances come from perfumers who are changing the face of the fragrance world by offering more of an experience that a certain scent that crosses over the line of gender for a unisex memory embodied by the art of olfactory. All these brands offer multiple scents that are worth exploring and expanding your aroma library.
Once on a date with a fairly new boyfriend a few years ago my new beau presented me with a beautifully wrapped package. As I tore into my unexpected gift I uncovered to my dismay a fancy bottle of perfume. I was quite frankly a little insulted. “Is he having a problem with the way I smell?” immediately went through my mind. He sensed my reaction and tried to put me at ease by saying he was gifting me the perfume because the scent I was wearing reminded him too much of an ex-girlfriend he would prefer to forget. He gave me a very expensive bottle of perfume that at the time I had never heard of, Annick Goutal’s Eau’d Hadrien (yes my new beau was loaded). I was ignorant at the time of the great gift he had given me, obviously he thought if he was going to ask me to change my scent it would be less offensive if the perfume was one of the world’s most expensive at the time. Since our sense of smell is the sense that brings a memory back the most vividly, I didn’t want him remembering his ex when we were together so I gave up my mixture of Issey Miyake’s L'eau d’Issey with a base of Fresh’s Milk Body Lotion (now discontinued) and started wearing the Eau’d Hadrien
I was not exactly thrilled about this because my signature scent of L’eau d’Issey and Fresh’s Milk Lotion was my calling card at the time, one that had strangers telling me how wonderful I smelled. The Eau’d Hadrien did not mix well with my skin chemistry, it smelled like bug spray when it hit my skin so after awhile I just went without scent. My new boyfriend turned out to be a playboy and we broke up so I gave the bottle of Eau’d Hadrien to a friend of mine and she smelled like a lovely citrus and orange grove the moment it hit her skin (which I believed is what you ideally smell like when you use Eau’d Hadrien).
Once you find a perfume, fragrance or cologne you love, you claim it as your own and state to the world, “this is my signature scent!”. Well that is fine but for the last few decades there is a great chance that many people around you are shopping around the same places to buy their scents (department stores, Sephora, airport duty free shops) so as you walk into a crowded room don’t be too surprised if your scent is not as original as you think it is.
That is why I recommend you start looking off the beaten path for a scent that is your’s truly and also offers an olfactory experience when seeking it out.
In the last few years there have been a few brands both old and new that have created a magical, lovely and at times a bespoke experience when seeking out your signature scent. Many of these brands have gone back in time to how fragrances were created hundreds of years ago and have followed the model of the apothecary. Some brands have gone into the future and have reinvented fragrances by creating them to recall olfactory experiences from around the world that are more unisex in nature.
Here are a few picks of artisanal brands and olfactory destinations located in New York City but available world wide that are making it easier to truly find a signature scent that you can feel quite confident no one else in the room is going to be wearing.
On the cusp of the Lower East Side and Chinatown, as you walk down gritty Orchard Street with its small contemporary art galleries and fashion forward independent brands there you will find Aedes Perfumery. The shop is petite, dark and romantic. You almost feel trepidatious by entering but once you do you enter you are immediately enveloped into Aedes’s world of highly curative perfumes from over 75 small independent brands all over the world. Their excellent staff is trained to educate their customer on different olfactive groups and let you explore their scents and what works for you. Aedes also has their own perfume, AEDES DE VENUSTAS. Housed in aubergine glass that is baroque yet futuristic, AEDED DE VENUSTAS offers nine very different scents and experiences, it is definitely a boutique you can lose a whole afternoon in. They also offer candles and home fragrances which make for unique gift giving.
In neighboring Nolita, the neighborhood has lately become a destination for artisanal perfume and fragrance brands lining the small streets along with other high-end independent boutiques. One of the latest brands to join this unique enclave is Claus Porto. Just entering the shop is an experience in itself with a 42 ft long archway made entirely from Portuguese cork, which visitors can step into and admire Claus Porto’s signature products. The brand is over 130 years old and stems from Portugal and built its name on hand-crafted, artisan fragrances which draw on ingredients from Portugal’s lush countryside. All the artwork is from their decades old archives and besides fragrances you can find soaps, candles, diffusers, bath and body and stationary, all which make for perfect gifts.
Its easy to step into Olfactory from the outside as the boutique is an explosion of all the colors of the rainbow. That is when the Olfactory adventure just begins. The friendly staff will guide you into their process for creating your very own perfume. First you will explore their core scents that are created using the finest and natural and sustainable ingredients. Second you will explore different variations of your core scent by adding accords that help enhance and customize the scent. Third you will chose the color of your of your bottle and help personalize it and like magic you have your very own custom scent! A plus is that the ingredients are vegan, organic, sustainable sourced, Phthalate And Paraben Free and the packaging is sourced locally. Scented candles, body lotions, body wash and gifts are also available so you can shop for yourself and your loved ones in a sustainable manner.
Is a perfume brand founded in New York City in 2006 and has a mission to customize your scent with a made-to-order bottle to ensure the freshest fragrance at the time of purchase. Created in collaboration with the world’s top perfumers and using only the highest-quality essential oils, Le Labo creates scents that are vegan and cruelty free. The brand’s fragrances, hand-dipped candles, and body products are designed to enrich the senses. Once you select your scent they will freshly blend your bottle and then personalize and engrave your bottle for you. There are also grooming, hair, body, home accessories and an eclectic set of oddities available at this rustic and earthy shop that helps ensure you are creating a unique experience for yourself.
When Christophe Cervasel and Sylvie Ganter first met, little did they know that their love for cologne and scents would spur a brand that is dedicated entirely to cologne. Hence Atelier Cologne was created so colognes could be worn as pure perfumes. With six olfactory groups they have created over 38 scents that range from flowery scents to nights full of the essence of tobacco. All made in France using ingredients native to France. Atelier Cologne products are with 0% paraben, paraffinum liquidum, GMO, animal derived ingredients, colorants, sulfates and made by artisans and craftsmen. Their charming boutique also offers candles, bath and both, travel sizes and gift sets.
Malin+Goetz is a skincare brand that operates like an apothecary using the simplest ingredients to provide a healthy product for your skin. They have a curated collection of fine fragrances, each inspired by a traditional perfumery ingredient with a modern interpretation and are perfect unisex scents. The shop shares its owners spare, less is more philosophy with clean minimal lines that is reflected in its packaging. The brand also offers besides skin and fragrances, candles, hair, body products, soap, beauty and gifts.
Deceim, the beauty brand that has been revolutionizing the beauty world has created a brand of unisex perfumes and fragrances called Avestan. And just like Deceim has brought new concepts to beauty, Avestan has brought new concepts to fragrances by focusing on experiences and scents that bring back memories from world travels. Wonder what an aromatic visualisation of firewood near a tent in Tanzania smells like? Or what the inside of a violin atelier smells like? The smell of copper in a Budapest architecture? Well with Avestan you will be privy to these unisex fragrances that work with the magic of olfactory memory. Currently they have over 15 scents that all included besides fragrances, candles, body and hair products.
Santa Maria Novella is a apothecary brand from Florence, Italy that can trace the beginnings of its formulation from 1221 with the official pharmacy opening in 1612. Thus the Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (Perfume and Pharmaceutical Oficine of Holy Mary Novella) was born with an emblematic name that gave precedence to perfume or the ephemeral rather than the curative aspect of more spiritual inspiration, the medicinal or pharmaceutical. They catered to royalty, nobles and merchants worldwide and today Santa Maria Novella offers a multitude of aromatic waters, colognes, candles, home accessories for both men and women (even pets). Its a brand draped in history and with a staff that is more than happy to help explain the centuries old formulas that have been past down the ages.
MiN NY is a fragrance brand that operates on a conceptual philosophy of our definition of what constitutes a fragrance. Set in Soho’s Cast Iron District, MiN NY have created over 17 fragrance with such names and experiences as “Shaman” for mystical time travelers, “Moondust” because the moon it is said the moon smells of gunpowder after a desert rain. “Old School Bench” to bring back memories of pencil shavings and vintage desks. The brand also offers candles, haircare, gifts, eyewear and a highly curated selection of artisanal perfume brands from around the world.
Fueguia is an Argentinian sustainable perfume brand that uses only certain natural ingredients, being often very unique and used for the first time in perfumery. These ingredients being used in perfumery are also a great challenge due to the fact that climate change affects the availability, quality and prices of the different botanical species. Because of the scarcity of these ingredients, Fueguia 1833 produces only limited series of fragrances, using the finest natural ingredients available at the time of production. Each bottle shows the year and the lot number of the fragrance that is enclosed – a progressive number from 1 to 400 being engraved on a crystal bottle of each perfume. The boutiques are dark with well crafted vitrines highlighting the scents and adding to the luxurious and unique event of sampling the limited edition fragrances.
Marianella Soap Bar is the brainchild and passion project of mother and son team Marianella and David Foote who recreate the soaps and scents of Marianella’s nostalgic travels and her Venezuelan childhood spent making soaps and beauty products by hand in her grandmother’s kitchen. The fragrances and soaps makes the most luxurious one of a kind bath and body products with no Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, No Parabens, No Harsh Chemicals and No Animal Testing, all made in the U.S.A. Their beautiful, light, airy and cheerful shop features their custom fragrances, soaps, beauty, bath and body, home fragrances and gift sets (they just started a monthly subscription box).
The Scentarium is by appointment only and once there, its owner Sue Phillips will help you create a bespoke signature fragrance that captures the essence of you and gives you a custom perfume to wear and cherish. Whether its just you or a party of 50, Sue Phillips will educate you on perfumery and help you decide what is right for you by introducing you to groups of scents and then mixing and matching to get the unique scent that you desire. Sue also offers her own scents that she has created throughout the years.
Bond No. 9 New York is the first American parfumerie to be headed by a woman, Laurice Rahmé, who gives homage to New York City by giving every New York neighborhood a scent of its own. The brand is very civic minded, campaigning for and spreading peace internationally and raising funds for the cause via their universally loved “Scent of Peace”. The store itself is a Alice in Wonderland experience that will have you browsing through the city via your olfactory senses.
Founded by Kilian Hennessy, Kilian is a luxury perfume brand that seeks to create perfume the way it was made in the late 19th and the early 20th century, but adding a contemporary twist at the same time. Kilian’s concept of their “eco-luxe” philosophy that each bottle can be refilled and kept for a lifetime help put them on the map worldwide. There are over 35 scents in the collection, each telling a story with names like “Arabian Nights”, “Asian Tales”, and “In the Garden of Good & Evil”, every scent evokes ultimate sophistication and timeless luxury.
Think of Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle as a publishing house for the industry’s very best Perfume Designers. As their editor, Frédéric Malle guides them individually through their creative process to ensure that they are always transcending their limits. Together they create works of art that will be the perfume classics of tomorrow. With a team of 13 perfume designers, the shop resembles an elegant home, a contemporary interpretation of a 1930s Parisian apartment with the clinical design of a fragrance laboratory. There are celebrated features including Frédéric Malle’s own signature smelling columns and refrigerated perfume cabinets. Besides helping educate the customer on olfactory elements, there are limited editions, candles, home scents, beauty and gifts.
Twisted Lily is a unique fragrance boutique and apothecary featuring hard to find niche, indie and natural fragrances from all over the world. This Brooklyn bright and cheery boutique curates fragrances that are created from just a few blocks away to the far side of the globe. Twisted Lily also features modern apothecary products such as skincare, grooming and beauty lines.
So there is a small sample of olfactory experiences in New York City. There are also a few honorable mentions such as Alchemlogie,Joya, Annick Goutal and more.
Besides finding your signature scent, all the brands mentioned are perfect destinations for thoughtful, unique, beautiful gift giving for the holidays.
I am now confident when I walk into a room that my scent is as personal and unique to me as my fingerprint. I will not reveal the brand or formulation I chose because this is truly “my signature scent”. My fragrance will forever bring up vivid memories of just..me.
