This is a sign to throw a perfume party with your friends.

Finding community in simple ways.

Me, very proud of my domestic goddess abilities.

Welcome to the forty-seventh issue of Black Girl Perfume Club.

Hello, my lovelies.

I haven’t written on this platform in a while and it was simply because I wasn’t feeling inspired. As you may have read in my last post, my grandmother passed away in September and I was feeling dejected. My love of fragrance was largely built by her, and losing her really took me out of my element. As we cleared out her things, I gave one special request to my mother: “Please let me have Too-Too’s perfumes.” And she gave them to me without a hitch. I created a mini shrine to them in my apartment, and pick them up to wear on occasion when I need to feel her spirit.

Some time passed and Valentine’s Day, one of my favorite holidays despite being single, came up. So I reached out to my friend, Amy, about throwing a Galentine’s party. Amy runs a queer book club at our local bookstore, and I decided we should merge our love of books and fragrances together in one small get-together.

We invited about 10 of our closest friends to her home for a book and fragrance swap. Everyone left with a new book and two fragrances to take home. She provided the decor, and I procured the provisions to imbibe and snack on, cultivating a small party that everyone was slow to leave.

I left with two body mists—’Love Spell’ by Victoria’s Secret and ‘Champagne Toast’ from Bath and Body Works—two very nostalgic scents that serve as a pick-me-up from time to time. I’m actually wearing ‘Champagne Toast’ as I write this note.

If you need an excuse to host, please give a fragrance swap a try. It’s such a great way to delve into your friends’ taste profiles and build community with those you know, while encouraging them to bring a friend.

As a parting gift, here’s the Spotify playlist for the party.

Love you, bye.