byredo kabuki
perfume in
gypsy water

When Byredo founder Ben Gorham set out to reinvent the art of perfuming, he looked to an unlikely source: the kabuki brush. For centuries, Japanese actors applied white powdered rice uniformly over their entire faces with a kabuki brush. This practice emphasized the nature of their characters. Inspired by that traditional application, Byredo’s Kabuki Fragrance is housed in a retractable brush filled with microfine translucent powder. Just one click is enough to deposit a perfect amount of scented powder onto the skin. Dust it in the hollow of the neck, behind the ears, over pulse points, or on the tips of hair. “I love to apply perfume with this brush,” says makeup artist Violette. “I find it very soothing and sensual.”

Naturally, the new olfactive applicator wouldn’t be complete without Byredo’s beloved eau de cologne Gypsy Water (it is also available in Bal d’Afrique and Blanche). The sheer oriental scent is a romanticization of the Romany way of life (think: bohemian or nomadic lifestyle). The aroma evokes fresh soil, deep forests, and campfires. Consider it your perfect woody summertime scent.

OLFACTIVE FAMILY: Fresh

TOP NOTES: Bergamot, juniper berries, lemon, and pepper

HEART NOTES: Incense, orris, and pine needle

BASE NOTES: Amber, sandalwood, and vanilla

On a fifth date, when you start to show your true colors; to a board meeting at which your colleagues will appreciate your fresh aroma.