FAVE is a salve and weighted blanket in the face of the loneliness and rejection, the same kind that inspired the rise of the first black and brown led drag balls. This scent is a reminder that domination does not truly define the default.
FAVE’s sugary sweetness is a tribute to the femme queens who contribute so much to culture and community, many times in danger and secrecy, dating back to 60s/70s The House of LaBeija and The House of Swann long before.
FAVE is also a challenge to the possible role of loneliness in online parasocialism and its cynical exploitation by brands and algorithms. When you buy FAVE, I dare you to do it knowing that a brand cannot be your friend (and neither should it pretend). Does this feel like another rejection? If so, what can be unpacked here (with self-compassion)?
FAVE is here to remind you that comparison is the thief of joy. Compare yourself to yourself, not who is or isn’t around you, and do so with empathy and compassion for yourself.
Design intent
I designed FAVE to draw a sharp contrast to the lack of adequate social systems to foster community in adulthood, the lack of affordable and accessible third spaces, and the siloing of communities by technology and its addictive design.
I wanted FAVE to be a beacon to other people in search of connection, or baby steps if connection is craved but there’s also been too many betrayals. I chose nostalgic and approachable ingredients with a slight rustic charm, aiming to be a conversation starter while putting others at ease. While the act of buying FAVE is a facially individualistic approach to loneliness, perfume is designed to communicate through the more emotionally resonant sense of smell than sight.
Scent memory // actually smells like
FAVE evokes the nostalgia and comfort of found community and chosen family, the repair of childhood innocence, and the inherent intrinsic value within when all seems lost and there’s noone else.
FAVE opens with a sweet, sharp and spicy combo of black pepper and artificial strawberry. This dries down into a warm, earthy and slightly animalic heart of kitchen cumin seed before resting at a nutty and comforting base of cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg that recalls licking the baking spoon.
Hoped impact & legacy
I hope that FAVE can help people feel less alone and remind them that they have goodness inside. I want to challenge the gender binary and get society to ask why it hates and fears femininity so deeply. I want to question the extent of our reliance on external validation, particularly at the neglect of self-connection.
FAVE. | 50 ml Amber, Strawberry Perfume
When something slowly slides in groove, and the rest doesn't matter. Your heart feels warm and tender. You forget you're gently smiling. You share an unspoken compass.
