Clever and intriguing, the Commodity fragrances sound almost too puzzling to ignore. With scents like Gold, Rain and Book, this new to Sephora brand had me at ‘libations’. Strongly believing in the power of cocktailing (AGREED!), the line up of scents is both quirky and chic. Divided into Black and White Collections, each Commodity offering can be taken neat or mixed to create a personal signature scent. Introduced via super convenient travel sprays, I’ve been making my own rules with: Moss, Book, Paper and Tea.
Part of the Black Collection, Moss is luckily not as dark as I was afraid. Quite possibly my favorite Commodity good, it is earthy but clean and perfectly green to be cool enough among men and women alike. Featuring some sophisticated floral notes of Italian Bergamot and Orange Blossom, Moss is crisp and alluring. Not moody but with plenty of personality, it dries with hints of White Musk and Cedarwood yet never feels heavy. With an unmistakably urban vibe, Moss is the Tribeca loft resident who visits friends in rural Connecticut on weekends.
Book, another scent from the Black Collection is equally unisex and almost as captivating. Inspired by some of the greatest works ever written, this blend of spicy and herbal notes is eloquent and approachable. Wordly but far from pompous, Book opens up with light and fresh Cucumber that remains a constant behind a veil of woodsy notes of Amber and Haitian Vetiver. It does not smell like a book or a library, it’s more refined than that! With a couple of twists courtesy of Lavender and Eucalyptus this unusual fragrance is mysterious, cultured and just a little bit dark. Book is the striking stranger sipping a clear martini with a copy of an Edward Rutherfurd novel at a bar.
Transitioning into the White Collection and intended to evoke light, easy, and airy scents, Paper is the stripped down version of Book. Pure in concept, it is representative of our natural aura making my goal in life to smell exactly that upon waking up every single morning. With an opening note of Iso E Super, a popular synthetic compound that mimics the pheromone-like aroma of human skin, Paper is subtle but has distinct presence. Ideal for daytime and perhaps a bit more feminine than other Commodity scents I’ve tried, it wraps up with slight warmth from Cedarwood and Amber. Unassuming and neutral yet fascinating in its simplicity, Paper is the eccentric and stunning model off duty type.
Also part of the White Collection, Tea is bright, sunny, and citrusy. Somewhere in between proper and casual and inspired by a refreshing beverage from a beachside cafe in Thailand, it is breezy, carefree, and very well traveled. Borderline effervescent, Tea opens with a burst of Sicilian Lemon and transitions with hints of Freesia into a cool and almost aquatic scent that highlights Watermint Leaf in the drydown. A perfect addition to any summer fragrance wardrobe, this Commodity fragrance is energetic and exotic. Tea will remind you of the amazing vacation you extended spontaneously, which is why you’ll need the travel size with you at all times.
Available at Sephora.com in select variations, Commodity offers their fragrances in 100ml ($99) and 10ml ($24) sprays. Explore the entire range at www.commoditygoods.com.
Top article. Might give Moss a try if it’s still around!