Every perfume tells a story, and that story always starts with the name. So when you come across a perfume called “Cherry Musk,” it might take your mind to dark places filled with shopping malls and scented spritzes for pre-teens—otherwise known as 1996. But we bring good news! Cherry Musk turns out to be very much a grownup’s perfume.
Let’s take an olfactory Rorschach test. Spray your wrist, breathe in, and tell us the first word that comes to mind. If you said “beach,” you’re not alone. Perfect Coconut Milk from Sarah Horowitz Parfums has been called the perfect beach scent by many, many adoring fans. It’s an instant escape to a place that we all know. But how did this association become so universal? The real beach can smell of seaweed and fish—smells that most people don’t want to bottle up and spray on themselves.
Curious about Cape Heartache? Here's the backstory. We examine this beloved perfume from Portland perfumery Imaginary Authors and see how the perfumer's inspirations and unique choice of materials combine to create one of our bestselling scents.