The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, known as the Javits Center, is New York City's premier convention facility. NY NOW is held here twice a year, the Winter Market in February and the Summer Market Show in August. Three days of seminars, wine tastings, trend talks and book signings, take place along with the product displays presented by 23,000 brands hailing from 66 countries. The August show is a favorite since the focus is on the Holiday Season. So you might see Christmas trees and ornaments that can magically alleviate the August oppressive heat (well, temporarily) and lift the spirit! Some brands only present at the Holiday show while others do both, joining the numerous first-timers exhibitors. The event is varied, complex and overwhelming due to logistics and time constraints unless you focus on one sector. The Collections at NY NOW 2018 are categorized as Home, Lifestyle, and Handmade. Highlights of NY NOW August 2018:
New and Noteworthy
Los Angeles based Birthstone Scents is a new line with twelve talisman fragrances inspired by ancient tradition. The individual scents are infused with a gem for a full lunar cycle to harness the power of the stone to heal and protect. The line is available in candle, roller ball, and diffuser format. Created in partnership between gemologists and renowned perfumers. A most pleasant discovery.
SoH Melbourne is an Australian house that produces bespoke candles and perfumes. Founded in 2013 by husband and wife team, Nathan and Kristine Brown. She is the nose behind SoH together with perfumer Francois Merle-Baudoin. Baptiste, Freya and Oud Royale got my attention along with their latest release, Bondi.
Bees bring on the buzz: and for good reason, the honey bee is the world's most important single species of pollinator in natural ecosystems and a key contributor to natural ecosystem functions. So kudos to those that respect the bees. Here are two brands that do just that:
Peoria, Illinois based Just Bee Cosmetics launched 2010 by husband and wife team, Ben and Sarah Mitzelfelt. Their oils, lotion bars, lip balms and more are all made in small batches with carefully-chosen ingredients and subtle natural flavors and scents.
California based Joan's a Keeper is back bringing the buzz. Since last years show they launched their fragrance line consisting of Room and Linen sprays, scent oils, and Steamy Shower Mists. As you would expect, the brand is all-natural.
Coast to coast intriguing artisanal candle brands:
Brooklyn Candle Studio is Tamara Mayne's line, inspired by nature and travels, use 100% soy wax and blend with the purest essential oils and phthalate-free perfume oils. The new limited edition holiday Disco Pink candle collection, Fireplace, Prosecco, and Cypress was debuted.
Los Angeles based P.F. Candle Co. is DIY husband and wife team Kristen Pumphrey and Thomas Neuberger's line that is all about high-quality candles and fragrances for the home and body.
Erbario Toscano USA is a brand known worldwide by devotees of the Tuscan style. Its products for body and hair care, perfumes and home fragrances, are witnesses of the authenticity of a region that is in touch with the everyday life of those who live elsewhere. This thanks to the ability of unique an international reality that has been able to transform everyday actions into rituals of self-care and of the home. Erbario Toscano is the experience of a “lifestyle”.
This NY NOW 2018, beautiful installations by NEST Fine Fragrance and Voluspa command your attention for the both the quality and variety of their offerings.
New York City-based LAFCO is a pioneer in the natural-luxury fragrance market.Their approach resembles a traditional European apothecary, handpicked using the purest ingredients. Jon Bressler, Founder, and President presented the latest candle releases, Vetiver Sage and Lavender Amber. All their candles are hand poured in the USA with a burn time of 120 hours.
Brooklyn based MCMC Fragrances, founded by sisters Anne and Katie McClain and launched in 2009. The line features perfume, perfume oils, and home fragrances. All products are small batch and bottled by hand. The most recent collaboration with Brooklyn jewelry designer Mociun, Mociun #1 and #2 are real gems
USA niche fragrance distributors were on hand at NY NOW 2018:
Abaton Brands curate and promote niche market European brands many steeped in Italian heritage. Their brands feature the Chinotto Collection, Premiere Note, Acqua di Sardegna, Sandalia, Luxury Overdose and the very French Absolument Parfumeur, whose Absolument Absinthe has enjoyed cult status for nearly ten years.
AMERIKAS is the USA exclusive distributor of fine European brands Bioderma, Berdoues, Bois 1920, Jovoy, Jeroboam, Moliabal, Floris London, and The Different Company. CEO, Jose Penalba, presented the latest releases Berdoues Péng Lái, Floris 1927 along with a new soon to debut fragrance (sworn to secrecy) to be released on 09/06/ 2018).
Although CaFleureBon has written about it extensively after Esxence 2018, for me, an interesting feature of the show was the Wide Society-Le Parfum de Liberte "Travel Solutions for Perfume Lovers" kit which is a collaboration between The Different Co. Luc Gabriel and his wife Sophie with perfumers Emilie Copperman and Alexandra Monet.
EUROPERFUMES is the premier USA niche fragrance distributor and best known for their wide range of covetable fragrance and home fragrance brands including Fornasetti.
Some of their well known brands are Amouage, Aether Parfums, Montale, Juliette Has A Gun, Mancera, CoSTUME National, Eight & Bob, Carner Barcelona, Etat Libre D'Orange, Molinard, Abel, and Maison Francis Kurkdjian. From the UK , Ormonde Jayne and Roja Parfums, with Ormonde Jayne's collection recently launched in the US and selling out as fast as they hit the shelves. This year they changed the focus of their booth and focused on just a few collections:
The Perfumer’s Story: Azzi Glasser is an award-winning perfume designer who specializes in creating bespoke fragrances, servicing the world’s top fashion designers, beauty brands, Hollywood actors, musicians, artists, and supermodels. Her client portfolio includes Jude Law, Justin Timberlake, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Kylie Minogue, and Cindy Crawford. The collection of over a dozen perfumes is inspired by characters and style. For example, Old Books Formula No. F3236703 is based on the “The memory of picking up that old book in grandma’s attic, and watching it fall apart. Almost alchemical notes Frankincense, Myrrh, Patchouli, Amber, and Cedarwood really bring the scent of old books to life.
Another new to the USA brand is Tobali, a Japanese brand of fragrances and candles with a creative and avant garde aesthetic founded by Muneki Hashimoto which will be exclusive to 10 Corso Como NYC until October.
NY NOW returns to the Javits Center February 3-6, 2019
–Hernando Courtright, Senior Event Contributor and Brand Ambassador with Contributions from Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief
All photos of NY NOW 2018 Summer Market by Hernando Courtright.
Thanks to Abaton Luxury Brands, Doctor Lip Bang, Inis the Energy of the Sea, Joan's A Keeper, Greenmarket Purveyors, Just Bee, and many others for contributing to our NY NOW 2018 Gift Bag for one registered reader in the USA. Be sure to register or your comment will not count. To be eligible please let us know what appeals to you about Hernando's NY NOW 2018 Summer Market Event Report and which brand(s) caught your eye or nose. Draw closes on 8/22/2018
We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like ÇaFleureBon and use our Blog feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.