“A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” – Coco Chanel
I knew Chanel No. 5 before its connection to my namesake. It was one of the few essentials lining my mother’s vanity, that and endless tubes of lipsticks that were variations of her favorite shades: purples, plums, mauves, and wines. Chanel had a writing of its own in the contributions to my mother’s signature. The glass bottle with its contents of liquid gold evolved to become synonymous with my mother and the scent of a woman. After she twisted the tube of lipstick until its royal velvet met the air and painted her lips, she’d take the perfume and spray it on the pulses at her inner wrists, along the length of her neck, and briefly in the space most immediate to her body. Chanel.
I think it was why my father insisted on that as my middle name because Chanel was very much my mother. It was through her I first learned the significance of the scent of a woman and the magnetism of a signature fragrance. Fragrances are a really personal detail for any woman and can take months or even years to find the right one. Even then, your tastes may change and you might decide on a new aroma that better suits you and your essence as a woman. Signature fragrances can be a plethora of scents ranging from a sweet floral to spicy musk with other notes in between.
The 7 scents below are staples to the women who chose them as signature scents they are currently coveting. Read on, get inspired, fall in love, and maybe find a new signature to call your own.
Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess
“I love this fragrance because it is the perfect scent for summer. It contains two of my favorite scents – vanilla and coconut – and I’m always in love with a fragrance that can do that well. It’s not too sweet and not too fruity and has mostly a floral smell to it, but every time I spray it on myself, I feel like I’m back on the islands, sipping a piña colada.” – Elise, 32
Described as, “A sensuous, sun-drenched blend of Bergamot, warm Amber, Tiare Flower and Vanilla combined with creamy Coconut.”
Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess, $65
[Tweet "“No elegance is possible without perfume. It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory.” – Coco Chanel"]
Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle
“I like perfume that makes me feel more womanly, more feminine, and more elegant and Coco Mademoiselle does that, inside and out. I’ve worn it every day since I first purchased it about a year ago and it has this floral, jasmine, rose scent to it. I always think happy, light thoughts whenever I breathe it on or catch a whiff of it during my day. It’s how I feel sensual. It’s what makes me feel like a woman.” – Monet, 26
Described as, “Sexy, fresh Oriental fragrance recalls the irrepressible spirit of the young Coco Chanel. An elegant, luxurious spray closest in strength and character to the parfum form.”
Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle, $124
Dolce & Gabbana's 3 l'imperatrice
“I’m not big on perfume, but to me, the absolute best fragrance is L’IMPERATRICE. It smells really sweet and delicious. I think it’s like me in a way, unique, youthful, hard to really pin down, but definitely something that sticks with you.” – Alex, 20
Described as, “Succulent exotic fruits and bright pink florals give way to a musky, appetite-arousing base.”
Dolce & Gabbana’s 3 L’IMPERATRICE, $74
Sinne Firenze's Balance Me
“I’m all about putting things in and on my body that are as natural as possible so I use essential oils. I’ve really been loving Balance Me by Sinne Firenze. They are a cruelty-free, vegan, pure, fair-trade, organic – all words that I love and live by – company (laughs). The scent is very woodsy but with a hint of lavender to it that acts incredibly soothing. I feel like I’m enjoying a beautiful summer day or a great book while I’m overlooking the forest. I apply it daily and two to three times throughout the day.” – Evangeline, 35
Described as, “Emotionally balancing and soothing to body and mind. Deep woods with oriental extravaganza embraced by lavender.”
Sinne Firenze’s Balance Me, $19.99 (USD); sinne.it
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Christian Dior's Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet
“I use Miss Dior throughout the year and Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet during the spring and summer seasons because to me it’s the perfect summer scent. I like it because it is a sweeter, more floral version of Miss Dior. It’s really light too. I love what the scent does to my body, I feel instantly pretty.” – Kelsey, 25
Described as, “Its heart holds a tender accord of Peony and Damascus Rose refreshed by a radiant Calabrian Bergamot. The poetic trail is enveloped in soft notes of White Musk.”
Christian Dior’s Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet, $65
Marc Jacob's Daisy Dream
“I discovered this perfume after it won that Consumer Choice Award last year and got head over heels for its bottle design. I like fresh, fruity scents, especially during the summer, which is why Daisy Dream is my go-to signature scent. It’s the perfect way to dab on some sweet-smelling fragrance that is there but not overbearing and is light enough to get me through the long, hot day. It’s summer in a bottle.” – India, 31
Described as, “The fruity-floral fragrance has a light and airy touch, bursting with top notes of blackberry, grapefruit, and pear. The heart notes are introduced with a bouquet of jasmine, lychee, and blue wisteria, and a medley of white woods, musks, and coconut water reveal the base notes.”
Malin+Goetz's Bergamot
“My boyfriend and I love this scent! It smells like bergamot and has a lot of citrusy tones to it with a hint of spice. There isn’t a floral scent in sight which I can appreciate and I’m sure my boyfriend can appreciate too (laughs). I wanted a perfume that made me smell clean, not necessarily sweet, but clean. Bergamot fits that. I had their entire body care product line so now that there is a scent, my life’s complete. It’s kind of mysterious, kind of warm, kind of elegant. I can talk about it all day.” – Samantha, 43
Described as, “Hints of fresh green mint and glistening spices add intoxicating energy, while a dry down of woods and musk imparts an elegant, understated sensuality on the skin.“
What is your go-to signature scent and why?
Some women have their whole wedding planned out, from the bridal gown and venue to the bridal party and playlist. However, KJ was not one of those people. “I didn’t foresee a wedding in my future,” she reveals. “I was just gonna be the boss chick, rich auntie. I didn’t force love in my life until recently. I never had an idea of what a dream wedding would look like, it was easier for me to elope.”
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
And to many people’s surprise, that was their original plan – until Skyh brought up a valid concern. He was raised by his grandmother and thought she should be at the wedding, and naturally, that led to KJ wanting her grandmother to be there as well – then her mom – and later her sister – and, you’ve gotta invite the besties too, right? From there, the guest list continued to blossom. Much like the updo and pop of color bold red lip, she wore on her special day, which was initially on her Pinterest board as a soft glam look with her hair hanging on her shoulders, KJ is okay with changing her plan if it brings her and her loved ones happiness.
So let’s get into the wedding, which took place in Malibu, CA. The first thing you should know about the celebrity couple is that they’re non-traditional. They know, and they don’t care. So, in true unconventional fashion, they shared the morning of the wedding together.
“I woke up with Skyh, we walked our dog, had black coffee, and said good morning to the people who stayed at the venue with us,” she says.
Now, it was time for hair and makeup. While she was getting glammed up, she had Black-owned McBride Sisters wine and champagne (which ties into The Black Experience theme) on deck with her mom and friends, had her besties help rework her vows, retried on every outfit (sis is very Type-A), took photos, and ended the early-celebration with prayer and meditation. It seems very non-Bridezilla, I said.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company,” she explains. “The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
Things moved quickly, and before she knew it, it was time to line up to walk down the aisle.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company. The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
KJ Smith and her bridal party
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
Since everything started with their grandmothers, the couple wanted to ensure they honored them and planned to keep an element of their wedding traditional. Although we’ve all seen the reception videos and photos online, you may have noticed visuals from the wedding itself are harder to find.
“We planned for it to be traditional, but we’re not like that, so we tried to create those moments. We jumped the broom and had a salt ceremony (where the bride and groom individually pour salt into a glass container, symbolizing their lives becoming one.) But honestly, still, nothing was traditional about it.”
She goes on to explain that her mom caught the holy ghost coming down the aisle, her glam team was on deck, and she became so nervous with excitement that she had an anxiety attack – something she struggled with for years, she explains tearfully. Her friends had to literally cheer her down the aisle because of how overwhelmed she felt until she eventually calmed down.
“Skyh was standing there with his hand on his heart; we have our own little language, and I could feel the support,” she shares.
It was surprising to hear all these emotional moments happened before the party we saw online. That is until she once again got into the backstory.
“As a Black woman actress, for so long, it was popular to be mysterious and secretive, but that’s not who I am or what I like. Plus, we both wanted to create an experience for everyone there. We are the people who always host family and friends,” she says. “Like for me, the first order of business was getting sandals for the women so they can dance all night long. We had oxtail, D'ussé, and a coffee and sativa lounge – which is part of Skyh and I’s lifestyle and routine. We wanted to bring them into our world.”
Skyh Black (L) and KJ Smith (R)
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
She went on to discuss the dance routine she did for her husband at the reception, which has taken over the internet. Apparently, that’s another thing that didn’t go according to plan. According to KJ, she had promised a performance at their joint bachelor/ bachelorette party, but her outfit got stolen from her car. So, Skyh ended up performing for her – complete with a strip tease. Still, she never forgot her promise to dance for him.
So, she hired her friend as a choreographer, learned the routine, made friends and family watch it endless times, and attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance show a few days before for a confidence boost. It ended up being a show to remember. But that wasn’t all the night offered. Lil Mo performed, and the guests received special goody bags featuring their favorite Black-owned products like journals, hair care, and more.
“We made sure everyone was taken care of all night. That kind of stuff makes us happy. I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives,” she says.
But naturally, the internet is going to internet, and while there were countless people praising the event and applauding the newlyweds, some thought it was too over the top. I was curious to know her thoughts on some of the criticism.
“It’s cool. We did what we wanted to do. I’ve decided to share my world with people. Just how I went on social media platforms and found inspiration, I want people to do the same,” she explains. “I don’t think it's fair to my supporters not to give that out. There’s so much I wanna share with brides, specifically Black brides. I love that people are adding it to their Pinterest boards."
"I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives."
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
“I’m happy with it because we did what we wanted to do. They can do what they wanna do. Don’t be cruel, though, because you will get blocked,” she said, laughing.
The more I spoke with her, the more her sense of freedom shined through. People are always going to have their opinions, but at the end of the day, it’s you who has to live your life, and it seems like the couple realizes that and embraces that power. She also stressed the importance of not living for others and the lessons life has taught her.
“I’ve been to countless weddings, and I’ve been in countless weddings. I’m a generally older bride. So when women in my demographic get married, and you and your husband are busy working people like us, you deserve to have the one you want to have,” she shares.
“This is what we wanted to do. Our loved ones love and support us. We did so much to honor them, but we also wanted to start our own tradition, legacy, and creation. I'm not going to be pulled back into ideas of the past when I’m trying to create a future with my partner. “
If you’d like to see more of the couple, you probably won’t have to wait long. Although no content is planned yet, she admits to being an oversharer. “Me being open and transparent about my experiences lets people know it’s okay to have flaws; it makes you human, and for many years, I didn’t believe that was okay. I had pressure to be perfect, and I’d crumble every time,” she explains to xoNecole.
Now, she owns her flaws and uses them as a superpower to connect with her community and feel and express her love.
“Some people give us [Skyh and KJ] a hard time because they say we just seem too perfect. I’m like, why is that a bad thing? I love the people I love. From my man to my mama, to my friends - unabashedly. We move through time and space how we want to move. If we did it another way, we’d let ourselves and our union down.”
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Feature image by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
Talking to Allure, the entrepreneur shed light on her beauty and skincare routine. While she enjoys glam, she knows that beauty comes from within and makes sure to instill that in her 8-year-old daughter Zhuri. “Whether you are done up to the gods or at home with a pimple patch and bonnet on, you're beautiful and it's enough,” she said. “You don't have to do any more than that if you don't choose to.”
Below are four essentials that make up Savannah's beauty space.
Vanity
@allure/ Instagram
The video starts off with Savannah showing us her vanity, and everything is organized and labeled. “I love makeup,” she said. “All of my things have been organized for me, which makes it easy to find the things that I need because it’s a lot in there.”
Affirmation Corner
@allure/ Instagram
As she continued showing off her vanity, she also gave us a glimpse at the affirmations she has on star sticky notes posted on the mirror. Some of the affirmations say, “I am loved,” “I am capable,” and “I am strong.”
Soaking In The Bathtub
@allure/ Instagram
One of her favorite ways to relax is by taking baths. “I take probably five or six baths a week,” she confessed. “It’s the best thing in the world. I go through bags and bags and bags of Epsom salt." She continued, “Usually, my kids and my husband know that if they can’t find me, this is where I am.”
Skincare and Haircare Drawers
@allure/ Instagram
In her bathroom, Savannah has two drawers that she calls her “go-tos.” They are her skincare and haircare drawers. The skincare drawer has items like makeup pads, gua sha, and wrist towels ( for when water drips down your arms when you're washing your face), and her haircare drawer includes scrunchies, clips, wig pins, and more. “I am obsessed with skincare. I’m a skincare junkie,” she revealed. “I just think it’s one of the parts of my self-care routine that is a non-negotiable.”
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Feature image by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
