7 People Asked for My Number the First Time I Wore This New Perfume Out

If you’re a beauty lover (and in L.A.), there’s nothing quite like stepping into Violet Grey’s brick-and-mortar store on Melrose Place. It’s lined with mirrors, plush fabrics, black lacquer, and gold accents, and the impact upon entering the tucked-away threshold is something like how I imagine Cinderella felt upon entering Prince Charming’s castle. The retailer and its iconic code of honor (aptly called the Violet Code) are known for carrying only the crème de la crème, so when I found out a new-to-market fragrance brand was launching there exclusively (first in-store and now, thankfully, on the retailer’s website), I knew it had to be special. 

In a very pinch-me-wow-I-freaking-love-my-job moment, I was invited to privately meet Perfumehead’s founder and CEO, Daniel Giles, to learn everything there was to know about the collection, which features seven truly magical fragrant works of art.

Just moments into our meeting, I was stunned by the thought and supreme intention that went into the brand and each scent’s careful creation. Not to mention I was completely mystified as to how I could have such a guttural oh-my-effing-god reaction to each and every perfume Giles put in front of me. As a picky, jaded editor, that never happens. Never! What I couldn’t get over, however, was how good Giles smelled. Almost immediately after we sat down, I asked which one he was wearing, and he revealed the ultimate plot twist: In the most magical of olfactory accidents, a member of the Violet Grey team had layered two Perfumehead scents (Canadian Tuxedo and Cosmic Cowboy), and the end result was some time of alchemic witchcraft Giles and I could not get over.

The rest is history, and I am now primally obsessed with the glittering bottles of Canadian Tuxedo and Cosmic Cowboy standing atop my vanity. Say what you want about other big players like Byredo, Le Labo, and MFK (I mean, I love them too), but Perfumehead is the newest, coolest fragrance on the block right now, and I guarantee that by reading this, you are the first in your circle to know.