Happy Friday! Fragrance Friday is a new column on BrownStyle Magazine that explores the world of perfumes, body care, and beyond. Inspired by Emerald Elitou‘s love for fragrance, the series will highlight personal reviews, layering ideas, and expert insights to help you navigate your fragrance journey. Get ready to be inspired—one spritz at a time!
In my opinion, there’s something rewarding about giving a gift that makes someone feel seen. It’s never about the price—it’s about the thought and emotion behind it. A good gift can instantly remind someone they’re loved. This Mother’s Day, I wanted to capture that feeling by gifting my mom a fragrance.
Gift-Giving Is My Love Language
One of my favorite things to do is give thoughtful gifts. I love thinking about what someone enjoys and curating a little package that feels tailored to them.
It makes the receiver feel special, and often seen or heard, especially when you tap into their interests in ways they might not expect.
This Mother’s Day posed the perfect opportunity to flex my gift-giving muscle a little more. So what do I give to the most important woman in my life? Something she loves— a new fragrance.
Finding A Fragrance That Felt Like Her
Besides sweet vanilla fragrances, my mom loves coconut scents, and I knew I needed to find something that would match both her personality and her overall vibe.
There are so many coconut fragrances on the market, but they’re not all created equal. I sifted through countless scent notes, testing a variety of coconut-forward perfumes, and initially considered LoveShackFancy’s Love On The Beach.
I love that the bottle is feminine and whimsical while the fragrance is a fun, flirty coconut scent with a floral opening. While it smelled amazing, something about it didn’t feel quite right for her. I think it was the ylang ylang. Although it’s a gorgeous floral note, I know that floral notes are not on her top three.
Now that I think about it, I can’t recall her ever wearing floral fragrances unless it was in a body wash—and even then, she’d almost always reach for something coconut-scented. So, I kept searching…
Phlur Scents Were The Perfect Match
Eventually, I came across two of Phlur’s newer releases: Golden Rule and Beach Skin. Both are coconut scents, but they have distinct personalities that, together, felt like they captured my mom in fragrance form.
Golden Rule is a creamy coconut fragrance with a subtle pepperiness and a complementary woodiness that grounded it in warmth. Beach Skin, on the other hand, is lighter—fresher—with a touch of musk that adds softness.
As the household fragrance expert, I took it upon myself to test how the two layered. I wanted to be sure she could wear them together without worrying if they clashed.
Fortunately, they smelled incredible as a duo, thanks to their shared coconut base and the way each brings something different to the table. Plus, my mom already loves the Phlur brand—she owns Moonstone and Mood Ring. According to her, the brand’s scents are “fun, peaceful, and nostalgic.”
That made me feel even more confident that she’d love these new additions.
The Joy Of Watching Her Light Up
When I gifted her the scents, her face lit up in the way I’d hoped. She was excited, touched, and immediately began spraying them to test the scent on her skin. I loved seeing her smile and knowing she felt truly special in that moment.
That feeling—that quiet joy that comes from knowing you got it right—is what keeps me inspired to gift thoughtfully. I look forward to many more years of finding fragrances and little things that make my mom feel celebrated, cherished, and most importantly, loved.
Editor’s Note: This story has been edited and condensed for clarity.
By BrownStyle Magazine in Special Editions
72 pages, published 1/17/2025
