A little while back, I was invited to meet with actress Kate Walsh to learn about her new fragrance, Boyfriend. While I usually pass on anything fragrance-related (especially if it’s a celebrity fragrance, eye roll), my curiosity was sparked by the interesting name of this perfume and the idea behind it. After meeting with Kate, my skepticism was fully squashed, first by her infectious enthusiasm and high level of hands-on involvement in the brand, and more importantly by how amazing (and creative) the scent is!
Following a breakup, Kate found herself missing her former flame’s scent as well as that warm and fuzzy boyfriend feeling. With the sudden flip of a metaphorical light bulb, the idea for a perfume that encapsulated that feeling was born. “So many women I know wear men’s fragrances, and what really appealed to me was the idea of the boyfriend story. Everyone has one,” Kate explains.
Fast forward a few years and from that epiphany, a delicious fragrance that strikes the perfect balance of masculine and feminine came to be.
The best way to really describe this scent is with a scenario. Imagine that you and your boyfriend are getting ready to head out for the day. You’re both showered and doused in your designated scents when suddenly desire takes hold and you’re back in bed, entangled in each other bodies for just a brief bit before you slip back into reality. You head out the door with traces of his scent lingering on you and can’t help but smile throughout the day anytime you catch a whiff. I think we’ve all experienced some form of this scenario and now you can reclaim that amazing fluttery feeling, and savory scent concoction–no man necessary!
What distinguishes Kate from all the other celebrities out there who have slapped their names onto fragrance bottles is that she didn’t do a fragrances simply to do a fragrance. She did a fragrance to represent an idea and a story that resonated deeply with her, bringing something new and different to a over-saturated market flooded with much of the same. “Story for me is what drives everything–fashion, fragrance, all of it,” she explains. “I knew specifically what I wanted the fragrance to be–a nod to the boyfriend, his scent softened by on a gal’s skin– then I hired fabulous people.”
This fragrance definitely took me off guard because, well, I really really loved it!
I am a tough critic when it comes to fragrances, probably because I discovered what would become my signature scent at the age of 14 and never looked back (even though the perfume was discontinued and is now very difficult to track down, now that’s loyalty!). Over the years, a few other perfumes have caught my nose and have wedged their way into the rotation, but none have really stood the test of time and had me coming back for more. While I’m still loyal to my tried-and-true, Boyfriend has become a staunch opponent. Oh, and I should mention that guys absolutely love the scent, go figure!
You can get your Boyfriend in a perfume bottle (prices range from $35-$65 depending on the size) a body cream ($45), or get Boyfriend Kit ($95) which includes a mini fragrance, body cream, dry body oil, pulse point oil, and miniature candle in a funky travel case.
For more information, visit YourBoyfriend.com.
– SABRINA ALEXIS
Written by Sabrina Alexis
