REEK is a new feminist perfume brand from created in collaboration with perfumer Sarah McCartney. Designed to make a stand through everyday rebellion, REEK is about empowering women through the commemoration of fierce feminists that have come before. Using the unifying and transcendent power of scent, this is a fresh and exciting take on engendering a conversation around women’s rights and identity. Twin caught up with Bethany Grace to talk badass bitches and what makes REEK smell so good.
How did Reek come about?
In our culture, we don’t memorialise our amazing women, and that means female role models are lost. In the UK only 15% of statues are raised to women, and most of those are to Queen Victoria. So we started thinking of ways we could change that. Scent is so evocative, it’s also a great means of rebellion. No one needs to know you’re wearing a scent that stands for something, unless you tell them.
Who are the women that you were inspired by when creating the perfume?
DAMN REBEL BITCHES was named after 18th century Jacobite women, as badass political activists and dissidents they were the right inspiration for our first scent. The Duke of Cumberland called them Damn Rebel Bitches because they wouldn’t give up on their cause. They were fearless. Jacobean Lady Nithsdale broke her husband out of the Tower of London in 1716 by dressing him in drag. There is no statue of her.
Scent is so individual, what ingredients did you feel embodied a universal sense of heroism, and why?
We work collaboratively with perfumer Sarah McCartney. The scents we picked all pay homage to the women of the 18th century. Blood orange peel was used as a deodorant, clary sage as a herb in women’s medicine and pink peppercorn was the most expensive thing you might have in your kitchen at the time, if you were lucky. Though perhaps not a universal representation of heroism, these are scents that speak to the real lives of powerful women – women stood up for what they believed in.
What kind of things did you look at to develop the scent – were there any fragrances of the past that inspired you?
It’s not necessarily scents from the past that inspire us but the female pioneers in perfume from history. The first prominent female perfumer was Germaine Cellier who broke into the industry through sheer determination in the mid-20th century. There was no question that we wanted to work with a female perfumer to combat the sexism in the industry even now.
How do you know when a perfume is finished, what are you looking for?
I suppose we just close our eyes, sniff and rely on our noses. For REEK it is more than just creating the right scent, it’s creating a present-day memorial. We’re currently developing a new fragrance for next year to commemorate a different set of women. Researching and coming to understand who that woman is takes a lot of work.
How do you see scent as a medium for commenting on the role of women today?
As an everyday rebellion. We still have so much to fight for, and we can’t go forward without looking back. So our first scent is about the strong women we admire, whose stories aren’t widely known, and who shouldn’t be forgotten. At REEK we believe that we need role models in order to be role models. Our campaign features women of a variety of ages and sizes, all un-retouched beautiful bitches. No retouching isn’t a revolutionary concept within the industry but we wanted to reiterate how important it is to combine no retouching with diversity – of race, of size, of age. We could have just taken photos of the perfume and it’s ingredients, avoiding any direct representation of women, but having this medium available to us we took a stand, as we emblazon on our website and t-shirts ‘BITCHES UNITE’.
What do you hope to achieve with the brand going forward?
More perfumes. More amazing women to memorialise. More feminist campaigns. More rebellion.
As the darkest evening of the year snakes quietly towards us, and the autumnal hues give way to a starker and far colder season, nothing is more needed for hibernation than a decadent scented candle. Reader, meet Byredo’s 2016 Holiday Collection: the solution to your winter blues.
This new set of three scented candles, Bibliothèque, Cotton Poplin and Fleur Fantôme, all come in their own coloured glass holders, and offer a perfect compliment to these cold nights in the run up to Christmas. Best enjoyed with a stiff drink and a warm bath. They’d also make the a welcome Christmas gift, if you can bare to share them.
Behind The Scenes With Marion Cotillard As Lady Dior
Christian Dior fell in love with flowers at Granville. Here he developed a knack for form and colour, learning the art of floral seduction that has come to be the house’s signature scent for years since. In the latest Cruise 2017 Lady Dior campaign, French actress Marion Cotillard stars in a series of images, shot by photographer Craig McDean, that were inspired by this these first luxuriant gardens. In the photographs Cotillard appears with iconic handbags in red and black, a combination that marries the signature femininity and allure at the heart of the brand. With campaigns like these, it’s easy to see why we still (j’)adore Dior.
Find out more at ww.dior.com
Louis Vuitton Presents Its Debut Perfume
For the first time, the maison of Louis Vuitton has unveiled a series of seven fragrances, created by master perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud. The accompanying campaign, shot by Patrick Demarchelier, features the sultry gaze of Palm d’Or-winning actress Léa Seydoux.
Of the range of scents in the premier collection – ‘Rose des Vents’, ‘Turbulences’, ‘Dans la Peau’, ‘Apogée’, ‘Contre Moi’, ‘Matière Noire’ and ‘Mille Feux’ – a full journey of emotions, from dark to light and self-revelation is the aim.
In keeping with the brand’s history of, and with, travel – Demarchelier and Seydoux journeyed to South Africa to shoot the coinciding ads, and wanted the wet-haired nonchalance of adventure to add to the purity of the actress’s natural beauty, mirroring the simple ethos of the perfumes themselves.
“Louis Vuitton is about travel, but it’s also about dreams. Its spirit blends adventure, discovery and emotion. I am very honoured to embody this universe.” – Léa Seydoux
Savoy Steam is a new fragrance from Penhaligon’s, inspired by the Turkish baths that used to sit opposite one of London’s most iconic hotels, The scent sees the brand looking back to their founding story. William Penhaligon – who was originally a barber – set up shop above the steam rooms on Jermyn Street in London some 146 years ago, and the first scent he created was founded on his experience of the Hammam, back in 1872. In the reimagined version, the freshness of the scent is is decidedly modern and you can’t help but want to submerge yourself in it.
Indeed, Savoy Steam is a scent to splash on rather than anoint oneself with; it’s light and crisp, leaving an impression without ever threatening to overwhelm. The perfumer Juliette Karagueuzoglou created a melody of green geranium, rosemary and fresh rose, the scent is the perfect segue into the spring months. The cologne is equally evocative, comprising of lemon, eucalyptus, rosemary, balsam fir, cedar, incense and resins.
Joint Perception: Oliver Peoples and Byredo Pop-Up at Selfridges
In their latest collaboration, Byredo has partnered with Oliver Peoples to create a new fragrance and limited edition sunglass, exploring the cross between both sight and smell. To celebrate, you’ll find a dedicated window and week-long pop-up in Selfridges, London.
Inspired by synesthesia, the joint perception of the senses, Byredo’s founder Ben Gorham found himself in Los Angeles. It was there that he looked upon California’s sights through different coloured lenses and called upon the Stockholm based brand’s master perfumer to translate them into various smells that would then come together to produce one multi-faceted fragrance. “Oliver Peoples has never done anything but glasses,” David Schulte, Oliver Peoples CEO stated. “So for us to venture out and do a scent is a very big deal. I can’t think of anyone better than Byredo to do it with.” Each of the three coloured bottles of the new Byredo scent – which features top notes of Juniper Berries and Californian Lemon – gives a new depth to the smell and correlates to the three different photochromatic lens colours of the sunglasses: indigo, champagne and green.
“I have always admired Oliver Peoples for as long as I can remember and felt their approach to product was similar to ours at Byredo. It was important for me that this partnership had a true reason for being and synesthesia and the idea of joint perception became that. I have met artists, musicians and perfumers that display traits of this so-called disorder, and I have always been fascinated by the clarity of their descriptions,” states Gorham.
The Oliver Peoples and Byredo fragrance, sunglasses and box set is available now at their Selfridges Pop-Up until Thursday 28th May.
Twin’s latest edition explores beauty’s new easy, breezy mood. So Fresh, So Clean sees photographer Liz Collins capture a whirlwind series of aesthetic incarnations, created together with make-up artist Niamh Quinn, exclusively using CHANEL. The message here is clear: One look no longer fits all. Whether you play with bold colour, bravely go bare faced or opt for an all-over glow, nothing says modern beauty like being true to yourself. Take a look, here.
Byredo Launches Hair Perfume Collection at Selfridges
Stockholm based fragrance brand BYREDO has launched a new collection of hair perfume exclusively at London’s Selfridges.
Utilising a unique silicone and polymer formula, the new products create a light, invisible veil that leave the hair nourished and luminous whilst scented with one of BYREDO’s signature scents Gypsy Water, Bal d’Afrique and Blanche. “People are more experimental today, applying fragrances in various forms.” states Ben Gorham, BYREDO’s Founder. “At BYREDO, our focus has been very much on the smells, we now want to focus on innovative ways to apply perfume.”
These long lasting scents will be showcased at the Selfridges Pop-Up until April 22nd. Although the collection will still be available at the department store after this date, we recommend taking a trip today or tomorrow to see the stunning display and test these new creations for yourself.
Set in a beautiful Georgian townhouse, The Drawing Room is the latest hair salon in the heart of East London, established by renowned hair stylist Oskar Pera and James Ollerenshaw. Charming, with a comforting and luxurious atmosphere, The Drawing Rooms prides itself on the ultimate personal approach. Twin caught up with Co-Founder Ollerenshaw to talk about his latest venture.
Tell us about The Drawing Room and how it started… The Drawing Room has been open for a year, but the gestation of the concept probably began when Oskar Pera gained his first experience managing a hair salon in Palma de Mallorca approximately ten years ago. This deepened his ambition to open his own salon, but he wanted to develop his career both commercially and creatively before taking that step.
He moved to London in 2006, styling in leading Shoreditch salons, before leaving to work independently as a session stylist for fashion labels, magazines, models and artists, and private clients. Fashion brands Oskar has styled for include Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Kenzo, Chloé, Erdem, Fred Perry, Lacoste, JW Andersen, and Peter Pilotto. He has delivered creative editorial work for magazines such as Vogue, GQ, Ponystep, Volt and Dansk. Models and artists served include Florence Welch, Cara Delevigne, George Michael, Sharleen Spiteri, The Alpines, Trudie Styler, and Kate Nash.
The Drawing Room prides itself on exclusivity and the personal approach, tell us a little about that… When creating his own salon, Oskar wanted a space and experience that would offer the glamour and exclusivity inspired by his session work, but his years of experience on the salon floor taught him that clients most value an approach that responds to their individual needs and preferences. He has trained the team at The Drawing Room to always to be professional and pay close attention to detail, and never to be less than warm and genuine, putting clients at their ease and making them the centre of attention. Every appointment begins with a consultation so there is an opportunity to listen carefully to clients’ wishes and to talk with them about their lifestyle and personal style. This conversation build rapport and allows each stylist to build a picture of their client’s character and daily life, helping them to create a manageable style that is uniquely theirs.
What’s in the name? The name of the salon reflects this ethos of personality and the style of the building we occupy. The Drawing Room has been created within a 1750s town house and we wanted to maintain the sense that you are entering a beautiful, almost domestic space. There’s none of the feel of a busy chain salon. Clients sit in capacious styling chairs facing antique or bespoke dressing tables. We shake their choice of cocktail or offer artisan coffee or fresh tea. There are hot towels to refresh and, on most days, Poquito the salon dog provides additional entertainment!
Which hairstyles are particularly on trend for this summer? Following on from fashion week events in London and Paris, Oskar notes that natural-looking, lightly wavy, air-dried styles are very popular at present. They look effortless, but to work really well you’ll need an exceptional cut and skilful colour. If this natural look suits your taste and hair type, here’s how you can achieve it.
For medium length hair, after washing and conditioning, towel dry taking care to ensure moisture is removed from the ends. If your hair is frizzy, apply a rich leave-in conditioner. If you have smooth hair, use a salt spray to create texture. Part the hair and, holding the hair dryer above you head, blow downwards using a medium temp. Adjust the amount of waviness by using your fingers like a wide-toothed brush, smoothing out the hair to reduce waves, or scrunching to increase them.
For long hair, follow the same steps as above, but when your hair is 95% dry divide it into four quarters across your head and then loosely plait each section. You can leave to dry naturally for around half an hour, or if you’re pressed for time apply some heat by using a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment. Once the hair is fully dry, undo the plaits and shake out your hair to a natural finish.
The Drawing Room, 41 Artillery Lane, London, E1 7LP
Taking the phrase ‘for your eyes only’ to another level, Eyeko has launched a bespoke mascara service at Harvey Nichols.
During a one-to-one consultation, Eyeko’s mascara editors will match your ideal brush with a custom-made formula. With over a 100 combinations, the result will be the ultimate mascara that will allow you to style and manipulate your lashes. Each Bespoke mascara is made instantly on-site, before being places in a monogrammed box that is wrapped in couture packaging that is sure to set beauty addicts a-flutter.
London Fashion Week starts tomorrow, and with it comes a host of shows, exhibitions and events, all in celebration of the season ahead. In preparation, we’ve gathered together four key products that will prove to be rather handy over the next five days.
It’s as though all sense of routine is thrown out and a diet of Propercorn, caffeine and alcohol becomes the norm. To hide the effects of dehydration, we’ll be applying Aesop’s Elemental Facial Barrier Cream at every chance. Lord & Berry’s Twistick will provide our lips with ample moisture, while leaving a sheer yet pigmented colour. For fragrance we’ve turned to UÈRMÌ, a new line inspired by fabrics such as denim and silk, so now our scent can reflect our sartorial choices. And to keep our hands and body ready for the long days ahead, we’ll be calling upon Rodin’s Luxury Hand and Body Cream.
Let’s set the scene: A lone candle burns at the end of the room, filling the air with it’s sweet aroma. You become calm and content, ready for a cosy night at home. Now if this sounds like your idea of bliss, take note.
We’ve rounded up the best new launches from luxury candle brands to find those burning delights that will warm your senses. From Byredo’s Winter Collection, Rachel Vosper’s hand made Winter Fig scent, Mila’s new invigorating green seaweed, musk and amber fragrance Isla, to Laura Mercier’s signature Golden Honey Musk; each candle boasts a unique fragrance, causing tranquility, homeliness and warmth.
Rachel Vosper 2 Wick Glass Jar Candle in Winter Fig, £34, rachelvosper.com & Byredo Parfums Safran Candle, £60, liberty.co.uk
Tailored by No. 5 is a recently launched, new salon in East London that offers a bespoke hair experience, completely tailored to you and your lifestyle. Twin sent Online Editor Mariella to visit the exclusive top-secret location to find out what the Tailored by No. 5 experience is all about.
Walking into Tailored by No. 5 I was welcomed by the most adorable grey Shar Pei. Having my hair cut can evoke feelings of stress, however this little puppy had me at ease; the glass of prosecco that was waiting for me also helped. We sat down around a lone desk in a bright studio room filled with photography tomes and magazines for a very informal chat, talking everything but hair. Feeling extremely relaxed now, having uttered nothing of my last holiday – something I find myself preparing before my time in the chair – we turned our attention to my dishevelled mane. Talking previous cuts, washing techniques, styling products and personal taste, I was able to suggest ideas that I wouldn’t feel comfortable bringing up to a new stylist, like a short, edgy fringe for example. But walking me through the cutting process I knew I was in very capable hands.
The worst thing about leaving a salon is that sometimes you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see. Worst still, you don’t feel like yourself. Leaving No. 5 I felt like an improved version of myself. My hair had even been styled the same way I would at home, so there was none of that rush-home-and-style-yourself business. The products, a paraben and sulphate-free brand called Unite left my hair soft, nourished and much shiner than it has been in previous months. I left feeling great, my hair looking new and improved, and with a head full of styling and cleansing tips and tricks tailored just for me.
Did you ever dress up in your mother’s pearls and lipstick when you were a kid? Watching your mum’s beauty ritual has probably profoundly affected your own make up routines and tricks. But this can work two ways – Dove’s latest research reveals that 34 per cent of mothers admit that their child mimics their negative beauty behaviour. So keeping this mind, Dove has created a new film to inspire women to pledge their positive beauty legacy, and asks them to share who in their life inspires them using #FeelBeautyFor. The film, Dove: Legacy, highlights how important it is to see your own beauty so you can instil these qualities in younger women around you.
This is the latest instalment in Dove’s Self Esteem Project, which has reached over 14 million young people with self-esteem building programmes.
A serum can tend to be rather pricey, but when all you need is a pea-sized amount, those concentrated formulas will last a long time. Think of them as the holy grail to skincare; they target damage and can fight certain skincare issues such as acne, sun damage, ageing or dehydration. The smaller molecules found in them are absorbed by the skin faster and deeper than a moisturiser, and they contain fewer thickening agents, such as nut or seed oils. Most serums are water-based, eliminating oils altogether, leaving your skin feeling nourished and ready to face the day. For best use, apply after toning, wait to dry and then moisturise.
We’ve searched high and low, testing products to give you four of the best serums on the market for all your skincare needs.
Codage Serum N°2 Mattifying and Repairing, £64, selfridges.com & This Works Skin Deep Youth Elixir, £38, thisworks.com
Verso Super Facial Serum, £95, goodhoodstore.com & Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum, £45, aesop.com
The perfect body scrub should gently exfoliate, remove any dead skin cells and invigorate your skin, leaving it silky smoothe and prepared for the sun. Now it might not be the perfect weather in London to go bare legged today, but with the hope that the rain will clear soon, Twin has chosen four scrubs to help you get your pins prepared.
It seems as though we are all either booking, packing or dreaming of that summer getaway. To help you prepare for that coveted holiday, Twin has picked out the key products to take away with you. Whether your thinking of a beach retreat, a city-break or even if you prefer to party festival style these four beauty saviours will protect your hair, your body and your skincare routine.
Sisley Restorative Fluid Body Cream, £88.50, uk.spacenk.com & Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil, £21.50, aveda.co.uk
Blended by perfumer Daniela Andrier, under the creative direction of Miuccia Prada, Candy Florale is the latest fragrance from the Italian Fashion House. The idea for the new scent stems from an imaginary flower, one created for Candy herself. The flower had to be wondrous and sophisticated, simply unique. Its lush blossom contains an uplifting mix of floral notes, embodying the many facets of Candy’s character, while the warmth and honey accents reflect Candy’s sensual essence.
Candy is Léa Seydoux. The beautiful French actor stars in the Prada Candy Florale’s advertising campaign, where we find her in both film and print visuals created for Prada by Steven Meisel. He captures Candy in a dreamlike state, where the frangrance is lifting her up, defying gravity.
It’s one of those can’t-leave-the-house-without-it-on products, one that has the power to make you look more awake at 8am on a miserable Monday morning. That’s a great power indeed. Mascara just so happened to be big news at the Prada AW14 show in Milan. Pat McGrath created a clumpy lash look for Miuccia Prada’s vision which saw models walk the catwalk with large defined eyes that complimented their fresh nude faces. This look is also a SS14 favourite, so here Twin picks some of the best mascaras on the market today.
Meadham Kirchhoff’s London Fashion Week shows are a favourite among press and fashion enthusiasts alike. For the past nine seasons their shows have been scented by Penhaligon’s and this April they are taking the collaboration further with a new scent, Tralala. The London frangrance house sent Master Perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour to Meadham Kirchhoff’s East London studio to immerse himself in their world and capture the essence of their brand – the outcome, an opulent, hedonistic blend of saffron and whiskey, layered over soft and supple leather, resins and balsams, then enfused with musk and vanilla.
“We do not have a signature but rather a handwriting. We like to tell stories in different ways.” – Meadham Kirchhoff
Tralala will launch on 21st April exclusively at Harvey Nichols.
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