All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through links in this article.
Welcome toThe Sniff Test, a column about everything that smells good.
Illustration by Channing Smith
For each edition, we speak to interesting people about what they and their spaces smell like.
Charlotte Palerminowill happily cross an ocean for abody wash. A good one is worth the plane trip.
TheDieux Skinco-founder has made plenty of beauty discoveries abroad, specifically at the drugstore.
Courtesy Charlotte Palermino
Some of what she picked up isn’t available stateside due to ingredient restrictions.
“Anyone know legit sources on where to buy these?
Lmk,” she writes at the end of the video description.
In a different country, no less.
Body Washes and Lotions
I like to shower in the morning.
I’m obsessed withJordan Samuel’s body cleanser; it smells like oranges.
I know a bit about the psychology behind different scents because I learned about consumer behavior in business school.
Orange and citrusy scents wake people up, it’s very much a thing.
I also likeHumanrace’s body bars.
I love anything that’s a scrub body bar, but these have no fragrance.
[When I want one,] I’ll useMethod’sSea & Surf Exfoliating Bar Soap.
It’s like five bucks.
It’s honestly the fuckingbestand makes your skin feel really nice.
If you have eczema, you’re not going to want that.
But for me, I’m like, “load up me on the fragrance, it’s fine.
“Caudalie’sVinosculptbody cream smells so good.
It’s like a vanilla-y, gourmand key in scent.
They did such a beautiful job with it.
Shea butter has a lovely scent when it’s not rancid.
I have a pretty bad memory.
This cream just brings me back to my mom, and it also works really well.
I love that combination.
Your hands are often close to your face.
And so it’s really nice [to get a whiff].
You know how toddlers can have fine hair that breaks and is very easily tangled?
Well, it’s fucking annoying.
Kids love it because I have special combs and brushes forourhair.
I also color my hair now.
It turned black during the pandemic, jet black.
I look back at pictures and my eyebrows are a totally different color.
Stress can do crazy things to your body, and I think that was one of them for me.
Now that I’m doing that, I’m usingK18.
I don’t think it has a discernible fragrance.
Oh, chef’s kiss.
Their products are a bit heavy for my hair because, as I said: toddler hair.
Then,there’s Briogeo beautiful, beautiful scents.[ed.
collection has a soft, slightly floral powdery-clean smell.
]Whoever’s their perfumer deserves a raise.
They are so good.
Courtesy Charlotte Palermino
I don’t really know that much about perfume.
But I was recently in Greece, and found outKorresmakes beautiful fragrances that I knew nothing about.
Their body washes are beautiful, too.
Honestly, I was so impressed.
I was with two of my friends, one of which is obsessed with fragrances.
She bought a whole wall of Korres’s while we were there!
I mean, look at how beautiful the packaging is.
And it’s $40!Cashmere Kumquatis the scent that I’ve been really into.
I actually found it quite helpful that the bottle lists the top, heart, and base notes.
You know when you’re like, why do I like a scent?
This helps me figure that out.
Now I know what to ask for.
This one is kumquat, mandarin orange, orange blossom, jasmine, almond I fuckinglovealmond.
Then cashmere, cedarwood, and vanilla.
I was like, oh, okay.
It’s French Cacharel.
It’s so iconic, basically, every kid had it.
Must have been a French thing.
Anyway, I know it’s not “cool” to like vanilla, but I like vanilla.
This one fromViolette, Avec Amour, is part oil, part perfume.
you’ve got the option to keep it in your purse.
That was my problem.
And I’m like, “Thank you.
It’s sunscreen.”
Somebody finally gave me context!
They complement each other pretty nicely.
Having a little bit of a fragrance is actually quite comforting.
I feel like leaving your home is uncomfortable now.
And for some people, it’s really scary, if you’re immunocompromised.
So it’s one of those things where fragrance has actually been an incredible comfort.
I think that’s why I got into it.
I’ve always loved candles.
Let’s go through all the ones I have!
I feel like their candles last a long time.
I find them to be very comforting because I grew up with a lot of firewood as a child.
The one I have is huge and it lasts forever, plus it smells like a portable fire.
It’s so cool.
Another reason why I like this brand?
They also break down the notes for you.
I want to knowwhyI like this.
I actually really appreciate that brands helped me understand the science of why I like the scent.
Amber and sage, too I love an ambery scent.
It’s a collaboration with Emilio Pucci,Notte de Stelle.
I really likeMaison Margiela Replicacandles as well.
I think they’re beautiful scents but I also love how they look.
Let’s stop gendering everything.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
Like things that smell good?
Get into this content:
Now, watch Emma Norton’s 10-minute beauty routine: