Being an editor is the dream career path for beauty enthusiasts who like to stay on-the-go, practice smart shopping habits, and stay on top of new launches, and enjoy sifting through hundreds of sub-par products to find the stand-outs. It takes a keen eye for design, knowledge of specific formulations, and a journalistic fervor to communicate everything we know about a product into a story that can help cut out all the extra steps it takes to learn what you can about it, and then go in for the buy. Yes, Who What Wear Beauty Editors are pros out identifying the best beauty finds for our audience, but what about for each other?
With all the time we spend in each other's company (or, for some of us, remotely in shared Slack chats) enthusing over everything from our top volume-boosting dry shampoos to mistake-proof highlighter, we've gotten to know each others multi-faceted personalties and preferences pretty well. So, when the entire team came together for the first time in a couple years to celebrate this year's Who What Wear Beauty Awards in June, we dove into discussion over fragrances like clockwork. Naturally, I decided to conduct an experiment and investigate what makes a fragrance perfect for someone by asking my fellow editors to select a twin flame scent for each member of the team.
Since everyone has a different perception of the people they sit across from or message with every day, I fully expected to see dramatically different results with varied explanations as to why a certain perfume was selected as the twin flame of a beauty editor… but, that's not what happened. Below, I'm sharing the 24 scents that embodies members of our beauty team: from an altogether fresh and nostalgic scent by Henry Rose to one that exudes all things academia by Byredo.
Scents For Erin Jahns, Beauty Director
(Image credit: Courtesy of Erin Jahns; Nordstrom, Bluemercury; Sephora;)
Phlur
Father Figure Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: warm woods
Notes: waterlily, fig, cassis buds, orris root, iris flower, jasmine dew, skin musks, Madagascar vanilla, patchouli leaf, sandalwood
“Maybe this is considered cheating, because I know Erin loves this perfume, but I really think it suits her personality. It has a cool, zen-like quality, thanks to notes of fig, jasmine dew, and cassis, yet it's also comforting and down-to-earth, thanks to warm vanilla and creamy sandalwood. It's a scent for someone who has quiet confidence, an inviting aura, and always maintains a keep-it-cool perspective, even amid a stressful schedule and looming deadlines.” — Kaitlyn McLintock, Beauty Editor
Nette
Thé Vanille Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: warm gourmands
Notes: salt accord, cardamom, turmeric root, maté extract, narcissus flower absolute, magnolia flower, orris, vanilla
“If you’ve ever even seen a picture of Erin, you know she’s the definition of effortless glam—but after one conversation with her, you’ll come to know her sweet demeanor and warm, welcoming disposition. Because of this, I’d liken her to this cool, unisex vanilla scent I recently discovered and surprisingly approved of (I tend to dislike vanilla scents, but this one hit the sweet spot). It opens with a lilting vanilla base but plumes on the skin with notes of green tea and salt, making this fragrance deliciously unisex and perfect for anytime you want to smell sophisticated, yet inviting—just like our fearless leader, Erin.” — Alyssa Brascia, Associate Beauty Editor
D.S. & Durga
Rose Atlantic Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: warm floral
Notes: bergamot, petals, lemon oil, linden, rose accord, dune grass, muscone, salt water, white moss
Erin has one of those warm, welcoming personalities that can put anyone around her at ease. She has a sort of laid-back charm to her that, while it comes across as being effortlessly chic, is also incredibly inspiring. The D.S. & Durga Rose Atlantic Eau de Parfum is my pick for her since it exudes the same soft femininity as our beauty director with blooming notes of petals and rose accord set against sweet bergamot, rusting dune grass, and just a whisper of muscone and salt water. It's a cozy, warm floral I think everyone should have in a well-rounded perfume collection, and gives Erin Jahns energy.
Chloé
Atelier des Fleurs Cedrus Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: smoky woods
Notes: cardamom, bergamot, pink peppercorn, rose, vetiver, sandalwood, cedarwood
“Erin exudes calm. She’s always poised, put together, and has the ability to immediately put you at ease, even when you know she has a million projects going on herself. An Erin-inspired fragrance should bottle this chic, laid-back energy, which makes me instantly think of Chloé’s Atelier des Fleurs Cedrus Eau de Parfum. Like our beauty director, it’s elegant and refined yet familiar and comforting.” — Jamie Schneider, Senior Beauty Editor
Scents for Jamie Schneider, Senior Beauty Editor
(Image credit: Courtesy of Jamie Schneider; Nordstrom YSL Beauty; Sephora)
DedCool
Mochi Milk Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: sweet gourmands
Notes: marshmallow, peach nectar, incense, sweet rice milk, vanilla bean, jasmine petals, Australian sandalwood, amber, white musk
“If I had to describe Jamie in just three words, I would choose ‘smart,' ‘savvy,' and ‘kind.' While I can't fully explain it, she gives me a distinct Dedcool vibe. While I could reference multiple scents from the brand, I have to choose just one, so I'm going with Mochi Milk. It's a skin scent, which means it doesn't scream, it whispers. Much like Jamie, it's warm, grounding, and has an effortless air, thanks to notes of rice milk, marshmallow, and white musk.” — McLintock
Clean Reserve
Skin Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: sheer spices
Notes: bergamot, orange blossom, honeysuckle, warm skin accord, vanilla orchid, sun-kissed peony, salted praline, fresh musks, white cedarwood
Jamie gravitates towards sweet gourmands with mouthwatering vanilla notes set against a base of warm spices that border on skin-like, which echoes her warm and welcoming personality. Whether you've known Jamie for a day or a lifetime, talking to her gives the same familiar feeling of talking to an old friend (which can definitely be attributed to her calm and collected personality). Clean Reserve's Skin Eau de Parfum combines sun-soaked notes of orange blossom, honeysuckle, and peony with a warm skin accord, vanilla orchid, and salted praline for a scent that captures her essence to a ‘t'.
Yves Saint Laurent
Opium Eau de Toilette
Scent Type: warm spices
Notes: mandarin, bergamot, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, carnation, vanilla, patchouli, amber, myrrh
“Jamie is truly one of the smartest, chicest, and on the sly funniest, people I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Maybe it's her fabulous '70s bombshell hair, but I 100% picture her as a Studio 54 regular if she had lived in NYC 50 years ago. Thus, I landed on YSL's iconic scent Opium. Not only did it launch in 1977, in the heat of the aforementioned Studio 54 era, but the bottle itself looks like an invitation-only party. The notes are spicy, but completely timeless—think mandarin, bergamot, myrrh, jasmine, and carnation.” — Erin Jahns, Beauty Director
Pehnaligon's
Fortuitous Finley Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: fresh spices
Notes: violet leaf, salty pistachio, leather
“I can’t explain it, but smelling this scent after stopping in the Penhaligon's store in NYC’s Soho immediately made me think of our lovely senior beauty editor, Jamie. A lover of gourmand scents, Jamie favors the sweeter things in life, but I think she aligns with the sophisticated, grown-up version of this saccharine scent. From the artistic packaging to the way this fragrance dries on the skin, this scent exudes sweetness and grace, just like Jamie. It’s slightly earthy and even bookish, which encapsulates her smart, sophisticated, and kind demeanor perfectly.” — Brascia
Scents for Kaitlyn McLintock, Beauty Editor
(Image credit: Courtesy of Kaitlyn McLintock; Sephora; Nordstrom; Bluemercury)
Oscar de la Renta
Bella Tropicale Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: solar floral
Notes: pineapple agua fresca accord, red coral accord, citrine accord, ylang-ylang orpur, coconut water, orange flower, roasted tonka bean, sandalwood, ocean mist musk
“To me, Kaitlyn is summer—warm weather, bright colors, anything that reminds me of the color pink. Because of this, the fragrance in my collection that reminds me most of her sunny aura is a scent I picked up a few years back that thrives in the summertime: Oscar de la Renta’s Bella Tropicale. This fair-weather scent sparkles with citrine accords, solar florals, and notes of ylang ylang that whisk you away to a hibiscus-laden island with a single spritz. A whiff of this scent conjures images of Kaitlyn’s beach escapades in my mind.” — Brascia
Henry Rose
Windows Down Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: fresh citrus
Notes: grapefruit, bergamot, jasmine, earl grey, musk
When I think about Kaitlyn, images of lazy days spent lounging by the pool, blue skies without a speck of clouds, skin that smells fresh with just a hint of musk and something else…. maybe soft florals? Windows Down smells exactly like this, but with the addition of zest grapefruit, bright bergamot, and black tea. The later, when combined with the musk, is the perfect pick for her, since Kaitlyn's personality is down-to-earth and friendly. This is the fragrance for the girl next door you can't help but want to be friends with.
Diptyque
Ilio Eau de Toilette
Scent Type: fruity floral
Notes: barbary fig, prickly pear, bergamot, jasmine, iris
“Considering Kaitlyn’s warm, sunny aura, I knew I wanted to pick something bright. A solar fragrance, maybe? Then I remembered a recent meeting we had, during which she revealed her ultimate dream job was to become Nick Parker from The Parent Trap with a sprawling vineyard in Napa (same). I immediately thought of Diptyque’s Ilio, which is fresh, green, and basically a golden sunset in a bottle—just swap Napa for the sparkling Mediterranean sea.” — Schneider
Violette_FR
Avec Amour Perfume Oil
Scent Type: sheer spices
Notes: ylang-ylang, bergamot, amber, santal, coconut water, vetiver
“Considering her unmatched love for the beach, nature, and all things French, I'm convinced Kaitlyn was a mermaid haunting the turquoise waters of Cannes or St. Tropez in a past life. I happen to know that Violette_FR is one of Kait's all-time favorite brands, makeup-wise, and this chic perfume oil epitomizes her effortless and grounded air. To me, the notes like coconut water, white musk, santal, bergamot, and vetiver make it the quintessential summer by the beach scent, which in turn, makes it the perfect Kaitlyn McLintock scent.” — Jahns
Scents for Maya Thomas, Associate Beauty Editor
(Image credit: Courtesy of Maya Thomas; Nordstrom; Sephora)
Parfums de Marly
Delina Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: floral woods
Notes: rhubarb, lychee, bergamot essence, Damascena rose, peony, vanilla, cashmeran, musk, vetiver
“When I think of Maya, I think of soft, romantic, whimsical beauty. For one, I know she loves a Rom-Com blush moment. But I also adored watching her fall in love with New York City by way of strolls in Central Park and hours at The Met; she’s inspired me to romanticize the city I’ve called home for nearly seven years. That said, I wanted to select a fragrance for her that has a similar uplifting, idyllic energy. Parfums de Marly’s Delina could not be a more perfect pick with its delicate notes of bergamot essence, Turkish rose, peony vanilla, and musk.” — Schneider
“To me, a ‘Maya' scent would be one that's classic, sweet, and emits a sort of graceful aura, so obviously, I thought of Parfums de Marly Delina. With notes of Turkish rose, bergamot, and lily of the valley, it gives me ‘balletcore' vibes in the best way and encapsulates Maya's lyrical voice and timeless style. ” — McLintock
Dior
J'adore Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: warm florals
Notes: ylang-ylang essence, Damascus rose essence, jasmine grandiforum, jasmine sambac, lily-of-the-valley, sambac
“When prompted to think of the sensorial equivalents of our teammates, my first twin flame connection was to Maya. This classic scent from Dior immediately popped into my brain when imagining her dreamy, bright aura—Maya always being a sophisticated, put-together sight when I see her. A lover of art and the finer things in life, this elegant floral fragrance twines the wearer in a shroud of ylang-ylang, damascus rose, and jasmine, offering an elevated, summery scent that I reach for when I want to smell as chic as Maya.” — Brascia
Maison Margiela
‘Replica' Springtime In A Park
Scent Type: fruity floral
Notes: pear accord, bergamot essence, blackcurrant accord, lily-of-the-valley accord, jasmine absolute, rose damascena absolute, musk accord, vanilla accord, ambrox
“If you know Maya, you know that she has this smiling, radiant energy that instantly lights up the room. She's a spring baby, she typically gravitates toward musky scents, and she also has impeccable, very elegant taste. Replica's Springtime In a Park Eau de Toilette feels like her ultimate twin flame scent IMO—it has this perfectly regal balance of musks, florals like lily of the valley, and fruits, like green blackcurrant and juicy pear. You know when you take a walk outside right when the season is turning and you instantly feel lighter? That's how it feels when you get to know and spend time working with Maya.” — Jahns
(Image credit: Courtesy of Alyssa Brascia; Nordstrom; Bluemercury; Sephora)
Scents for Alyssa Brascia, Associate Beauty Editor
Maison Margiela
‘Replica' Under The Stars Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: warm spices
Notes: black pepper essence, cinnamon leaves essence, cypriol essence, Virginian cedarwood essence, labdanum resinoid, oud infusion, leather accord
Alyssa has an outgoing, bold personality and never shies away from a bit of edge and unexpected color in her fashion and makeup choices. While all WWW beauty editors know a thing or two about putting together an on-trend look, Alyssa can bear her soul in every accessory and lipstick shade she wears and make it a high fashion moment. Maison Margiela's ‘Replica' Under The Stars Eau de Parfum is reminiscent of her because it combines notes of black pepper and leather with cinnamon leaves, oud infusion, and more for a show-stopping fragrance.
Byredo
Eleventh Hour Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: citrus woods
Notes: bergamot, ban timmur, rum, carrot seeds, wild fig, tonka beans, cashmere woods
“Alyssa is cool. There’s no other way to slice it. She has a sharp eye for both beauty and fashion trends, pairing zebra print with paillettes and making them look like they were always part of a two-for-one set. So for her, I wanted to pick a bold perfume with a unique blend of notes—enter Byredo’s Eleventh Hour. A scent profile with carrot seeds and rum might make you raise a brow at first glance, but trust me, the potion just works. It does take a very cool girl to pull off one of Byredo’s more underrated scents, so it’s perfect for AB!” — Schneider
Frédéric Malle
Portrait of a Lady
Scent Type: cloral chypre
Notes: rose, blackcurrant, raspberry, clove, cinnamon, patchouli, benzoin, sandalwood, frankincense
“I love Alyssa's cool, individualistic, and edgy sense of style. When I was thinking of what scent would encapsulate her spirit, I immediately thought of Frederic Malle's Portrait of a Lady. Why? Because it was iconic when it came out 15 years ago, and it will remain iconic. It's bold, yet sophisticated, and instantly recognizable thanks to a unique formulation of rose, patchouli, sandalwood, and incense. While the original glass bottle will do, I think the limited-edition red bottle really says, ‘Alyssa.'” — McLintock
Perfumehead
Cosmic Cowboy Extrait de Parfum
Scent Type: gourmand musk
Notes: galbanum, cinnamon bark, orris, lavender, cacao, whiskey a go go, angelica root, tobacco leaf, tonka bean, amber, cacoa blanc, suede black musk
“Alyssa is like that effervescent cool girl you instantly want to be friends with and have a girls night out on the town with. She's passionate, incredibly artistic and creative, and just plain fun. I instantly knew that one of Perfumehead's cult-loved scents would be her twin flame, but it took me a little while to put my finger on the perfect one. Ultimately, I landed on Cosmic Cowboy. It's hands-down one of my favorite perfumes of all time, but the brand's description of the fragrance i.e. “the Sunset Strip in the ’70s and neon and smokey club” feels like ‘essence of Alyssa,' bottled.” — Jahns
Scents for Sabrina Talbert, Assistant Beauty Editor
(Image credit: Courtesy of Sabrina Talbert; Nordstom; Noyz; Unifrom; Sephora)
Unifrom
Florum Perfume Oil
Scent Type: fruity floral
Notes: pear, tuberose, white amber
“Vibrant, cool, and collected, Sabrina is no regular perfume to me. I recently tried this crisp and clean floral perfume oil from Unifrom that sparks images of Sabrina in my mind, what with its functional wear (perfume oils last longer on the skin), sleek aesthetic, and easy-to-tote rollerball packaging (perfect her girl on the go lifestyle). Its intricate layers of white florals are accented with pear and white amber to create a clean scent that has surprising depth, and its slim body is easy to throw in a purse or gym bag, which I know Sabrina would appreciate.” — Brascia
Noyz
Lost + Found Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: citrus woods
Notes: Italian lemon, Australian pink pepper, jasmine petals, rhubarb, raspberry blossom, cedarwood, crisp amber, pink sugar
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Henry Rose
Jake's House Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: fresh aquatics
Notes: fresh marine, neroli, peony, jasmine, ambroxan, musk
“Sabrina has a fresh perspective on all things beauty, so naturally, I associate her with a fresh scent, like Henry Rose's Jake's House Eau de Parfum (it's one of my favorites). It's a crisp, aquatic scent with notes of marine accord, neroli, and musk. I would like to think it fits Sabrina's sleek style, calm demeanor, and sporty lifestyle.” — McLintock
Abel
Golden Neroli Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: citrus floral
Notes: neroli, matcha tea, petitgrain, ylang-ylang, jasmine sambac, East Indian sandalwood, vanilla
“Sabrina is our resident sports girl on team beauty, so I of course have to shout out one of my favorite gym scents, Abel’s Golden Neroli (which is being slowly phased out, so I might just have to cop it for her, stat). The bright floral is at once sweet and clean, meant to evoke basking in the late-afternoon sun. It has a fresh quality to it that reminds me of the outdoors without being too on-the-nose as a green scent. I could easily see Sabrina spritzing this on before heading out for a run or one of her evening dance classes!” — Schneider
Byredo
Bibliothèque Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: aromatic woods
Notes: plum, cinnamon, leather accord, violet, birch woods, patchouli, vanilla
“Sabrina exudes an epic combination of poise, thoughtfulness, and focus. She's incredibly hard-working and has a rare, gentle and kind disposition that instantly puts you at ease—which can be a bit of a magic trick when you work in a fast-paced industry like ours! Byredo's Bibliothèque is such a classically lovely scent, and it's one I associate with comfort and warmth, just like Sabrina's wonderful aura.” — Jahns
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