Photo of National Arts Club  15 Grammercy Park South New York-HC

On Friday, February 20th The National Arts Fashion Committee presented their Fashion Speak Fridays Series. The topic was  Fragrance as Fashion. And who better to lead this discussion then Sue Phillips (Scentfully Sue) Founder and President of Scenterprises who has worked in both industries. A little background on The National Arts Club; the NAC is a private club located in Gramercy Park in New York City. Founded in 1898 by Charles DeKay, an art and literary critic of the New York Times to "stimulate, foster, and promote public interest in the arts and to educate the American people in the fine arts". The Club's Membership has included distinguished members of various disciplines from the arts such as literary figure Mark Twain and Frank McCourt, painters Robert Henri and Frederic Remington, sculptors Anna Hyatt Huntington and Augustus Saint-Gaudens, architects Stanford White and George B. Post and three U.S. Presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Dwight D. Eisenhower! The Dramatic Arts are currently represented by members Martin Scorsese, Ethan Hawke, Robert Redford and Uma Thurman.  The National Arts Club is proud of its early recognition of new media art forms, like photography, film and digital media. Kudos to The National Arts Club for being one of the few private clubs that has admitted women as full and equal members since its inception. Within the Arts Club, there are twelve (12) Art Committees. The night belonged to the Fashion Committee whose mission is to educate and enlighten through the medium of fashion.

Sue Phillips of Scenterprises and The Scentarium with David Zyla

As we entered the Grand Gallery the pre-scented space was a wonderful introduction to this upcoming evening’s event. The program started at 7 PM with a cocktail half hour meet and greet with Sue Phillips. David Zyla, Fashion Chair, got the event started introducing us to Sue Phillips and detailing her work history with some of the most iconic luxury brands like Tiffany, Elizabeth Arden, Lancome and Burberry to name a few.  Sue started off making a point that with regard to the purchasing of fragrance, packaging/ marketing will get the consumer to the retail counter but it's the juice that will bring them back for a second purchase (lots of nods).

 A  brief history of the origins of fragrance and name (Perfumum, through smoke) from the Egyptians who used fragrances in religious ceremonies and in pre-love making foreplay to 16th Century France to scenting leather gloves led into modern ways that fragrance is being used such as modern ambient scenting whose origin started in Las Vegas. Casinos were searching for a way to neutralize the air fouled with cigarette/ cigar/ booze odors using different various devices. Soon, that led to adding an element of scent to keep the customers engaged. Scenting is now fairly widespread. Used by retail chains (Nike), clothing lines (Abercrombie & Fitch), hotel chains (Westin) as part of their branding initiative. Food scents are very compelling to use. Vanilla (comforting), citrus (positive), coffee (wake-up) to chocolate (one of the most important scents being used) are some of the ones being utilized. Phones are the new frontier in scenting. Adding a scent to a ringtone for different family or friends? It's coming!

Salvadore Dali Surrealistic Flower Girl at The National Arts Club

Fragrance trends really began in the 1920's with the advent of classic scents (Chanel No. 5, Chanel, Guerlain) which were quite daring for their time.  Designer scents had their origins the the '70's (Opium) followed by the first wave of celebrity style scents (Elizabeth Taylor) in the '80s. The resurgence of classic scents and indie and artisan fragrance started with the new millennium.

The takeaway for the attendees was customization. Pioneered on a grand scale by Selfridges and Harrods, having a bespoke perfume created for you is a unique way to be different from the crowd and express yourself in a very personal way through scent. Attendees were encouraged to go sniff the scents with the help of her assistants to discover their scent personality and to take one home.  Sue concluded her presentation with a demonstration on how to wear fragrance for maximum appeal and with the maxim, “smell well and smell often.”

-Hernando Coutright, Guest Contributor and New York City Event Reporter (all photographs by Hernando and cannot be used without permission)

At the Fashion as Fragrance Event, Sue  Phillips of Scenterprises spoke about the different fragrance families specifically concentrating on four main categories ‘ Fresh, Floral, Woodsy, Oriental’ and created four exquisite blends from her portfolio of products. One lucky US reader will receive the four different blends and can enjoy experimenting with them throughout the year. To be eligible, please leave a comment with what fashion trend or era you associate a specific perfume with. Draw closes March 3, 2015

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume