VEGBEAUTY

vegBEAUTY Good SCENTS

WHEN IT COMES to your beauty arsenal, liquid eyeliner is key and a creamy lipstick can make all the difference. But a good fragrance wields a special kind of power. Whether fresh and zesty or alluring and flirty, you can wordlessly speak volumes about who you are with a simple spritz before heading out the door. So this holiday season, choosing a signature scent for yourself or a loved one is the ultimate, intimate, personalized gift. Skip the animal-derived ingredients (musk, castoreum, and civet are a few to be on alert for), and select from the growing number of brands catering to the demand for luxuriously cruelty-free scents. Beauty Editor ARUKA SANCHIR spent hours sniffing spritz after spritz, and here are her top 10.

▲ Chantecaille Pétales, $185

Classically romantic, this fragrance from the French natural beauty pioneers Chantecaille is redolent of a warm summer’s evening in the South of France. The star of the show, gardenia, mixes with woodsy balsam, sensual jasmine, and rich tuberose to remind us of our favorite season. chantecaille.com

▲ Cultus Artem Ilex, $225

Vegan-friendly Texan fragrance house Cultus Artem aims to integrate traditional craftsmanship with modern luxury through distinctive scents handmade in small batches at its San Antonio atelier. Smoky South American mate leaf melds with verdant jasmine for a unique, sensual perfume complemented by sweet narcissus. cultusartem.com

Laboratory Perfumes Atlas, $96

Inspired by travels to Morocco, the British scent specialists at Laboratory Perfumes spent hours finding the right earthy, aromatic tobacco note. This warm, gender-less fragrance layers rum, vanilla, and hay with spicy cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper, plus a whisper of fine cognac. laboratoryperfumes.com The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods, $85

On a mission to empower others, Canadian brand The 7 Virtues sources its ingredients from nations rebuilding after war or strife. In this sophisticated fragrance, sustainably sourced Madagascan vanilla fuses with caramel, pear, rose, and amber for a deliciously inviting scent. the7virtues.com

▼ Gallivant Tokyo, $174

For the explorers dreaming of roaming around the world, UK brand Gallivant draws inspiration from modern cities such as Los Angeles, Berlin, and Amsterdam. The playful, balanced scent evokes its namesake with notes of citrusy yuzu, woodsy hinoki, spicy wasabi, and warm amber. gallivant-perfumes.com ▲ Henry Rose Smyth, $120

Actress Michelle Pfeiffer was in search of allergenfree, non-toxic fragrances after becoming a mother, but couldn’t find any that met her standards. So she created her own. This crisp, Granny Smith apple scent is rounded with apricot nectar, sheer sandalwood, and salty, oceanic notes. henryrose.com

Kai Eau de Parfum, $80

Cult-favorite fragrance brand Kai has managed to create an easy-towear, universally liked aroma fit for any and all occasions. The floral yet woody gardenia-forward scent is beloved by celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron, and Julia Roberts. kaifragrance.com ▲ Clean Reserve Skin, $98

Eco-conscious Clean Reserve has nailed the allseason, comforting-andgrounding aroma. Inspired by the feeling of a warm embrace, salted praline and white cedarwood act as base notes—and are complemented by creamy vanilla, bergamot, orange blossom, and honeysuckle. cleanbeauty.com

Shay & Blue Blood Oranges, $90

Gender-neutral and responsibly sourced, Shay & Blue’s refreshingly zesty bestseller melds the scent of woods and smoky leather with tangy, radiant blood oranges for a unisex scent perfect for every season. shayandblue.com

▼ Floral Street Black Lotus, $84

At the center of this sensual perfume is the centifolia, a delicate French rose with 100 petals that blooms for only one month. British brand Floral Street added to this complex fragrance by blending sweet and dry papyrus with dark and spicy saffron for an intoxicating edge. floralstreet.com