Spoiler alert: chocolate isn’t solely accessible in a plastic wrapper any more. You can consume it every time you inhale. Yes, I’m talking about NEST’s new Cocoa Woods perfume.
Sure, second spoiler alert: chocolate is not a new ingredient in fragrance. You got me. But unlike the typical, sugary-sweet gourmands that favour the good-enough-to-eat theory, Cocoa Woods is not your expected candied confection.
Pure decedent sophistication, Cocoa Woods infuses bittersweet cocoa with dry sequoia wood, creamy white sandalwood and exotic hints of tiare blossom and Thai ginger. The overall effect is warm and spicy with a quality that is best described as sultry, soft and intriguingly commanding. Which should come as no surprise considering it’s the liquid personification of the brand’s founder Laura Slatkin. As a powerful beauty entrepreneur, this fragrance guru is as equally recognized for her fearless leadership and sensibility, as she is her stunningly beautiful botanical emblazoned bottles.
So while homage needs to be paid to Mugler’s 1992 cult-hit Angel for paving the way for swirling the delicious smelling treats of our childhood, like cotton candy, vanilla, brown sugar, toffee and bubble gum into the elixirs we’ve been judiciously spritzing on for over two decades, this eau de parfum is setting a new standard.
NEST, Cocoa Woods, $98 for 50 ml, available at Sephora.
