DOWNTIME WITH JESSIE WILLNER

Written by LENA RAFF

Jessie Willner probably created your favorite cool girl’s favorite brand. To the LA-born, London-based co-creator of Discothèque—the second company she founded and led before her 35th birthday—the concept of time off can be... elusive. Willner began her career at the ripe old age of 14 as a graphic designer, was independent and supporting herself through creative work by 17, founded The Mighty Company (a fashion line lauded by Vogue and The New York Times, and worn by notable clients like Gigi Haddid), at 24 before launching Discothèque in 2022 with her close friend and co-founder Hanover Booth. Work occupies a fair amount of her time, but Willner takes play just as seriously—after all, her complex, unexpected fragrances are olfactory odes to the electric and fleeting moments experienced on, or in close proximity to, the dance floor. The bottles look like disco balls and sport names like “All Night Until First Light.” So, for a wunderkind for whom career and leisure are so closely linked, what does true downtime look like?

YOUR BRAND IS BASED ON THE PERFECT PARTY—ARE PARTIES WORK OR PLAY NOW?

The best part about Discothèque is that it’s both. I’ve magically found myself in a world where work and play are synonymous.

WHAT DOES BALANCING REST AND ENJOYMENT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

I’ve always been an introvert-extrovert. I can stay in and work for sixteen-hour stretches of time in the same exact position. But when I go out, I want to have the time of my life. I’m a person of extremes, so I try to divide and conquer.

HOW DO YOU RECOVER FROM A MEMORABLE NIGHT OUT?

I love an everything shower. I need to be completely immersed in water. After that I slather on all the hydrating skin care and oils you can imagine, and try to rebuild myself molecule by molecule.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO START THE DAY?

Waking up with my dog Lenny on my pillow. Nothing ever makes a morning better than she does. Once I’m up and ready, I always pick my fragrance like I pick an outfit: based on my mood. A lot of my daily rituals have scent as a part of them, since my life revolves around it. Also, nothing gives me a hit of dopamine faster than the perfect perfume! As a layering foundation or by itself, I’ve been wearing Next to Me or Nothing for the last year while we’ve been testing and developing it. I love fragrances as a conversation starter and I’ve never gotten more compliments from strangers. I famously kept needing refills from our lab (strictly for personal reasons). From there, I’ll layer All Night Until First Light on a beautiful day (or when the weather is grey in London and I want my day to be sunnier). When I want to smell intoxicating, I always wear Lola at Coat Check Out. When I know I’m going to be dancing all night, I pick Sweat, Tears, Paradise because it mixes so well with skin when it warms up. The bottles are black or clear based on if they’re more night-to-day or day-to-night, but also, rules are made to be broken and I love to experiment with every combination.

YOU HAVE A POCKET OF TIME FOR A SELF-CARE INDULGENCE: WHAT IS IT?

Reading an amazing book. It’s one of the only things that makes my mind completely power down and relax.

WHAT SELF-CARE RITUAL DO YOU ALWAYS MAKE TIME FOR?

Writing and sketching! I always have a sketchbook on me and it’s the most cathartic thing for me to just draw out ideas or whatever scene is in front of me. Also, I'm obsessed with my family and we always do family dinner on Sunday night with whatever combination of us is in town. We’ve done it for almost two decades and never miss a Sunday. My week doesn’t feel complete without it.

WHAT BEDTIME RITUALS HELP YOU WIND DOWN?

I’ve never had a great talent for rest, but in my 30s, I think I’ve finally found a way to give myself more of it! The perfect combination for me is something like... the warmest-colored lighting at the dimmest setting, soft bedding and linen sheets (truly heaven if it’s a freshly made bed), lighting a gorgeous candle (the one I have right next to my bed is Crisco Disco), my phone hidden in another room, a book that I can’t put down. I also love the Ross J Barr sleep patches. Ross is the best human and acupuncturist here in London and is good at everything he does—I’ve even sent my dad to him.