At times, the fragrance world can be as overwhelming as it can be exciting. It sometimes feels as though the global perfume counters are hosting an infinite parade of new flankers ("Eau de Extreme Summer Edition 2013 … Noir"), limited editions, celeb-du-jour fragrances and gazillion-dollar ad campaigns, all accompanied by more behind-the-scenes drama than a Bravo reality show ("The Real Housewives of the Fragrance District"?). Whew. Sure, you gotta love it, but sometimes one needs to take a step back. Though, admittedly, it is intriguing to read the Magna Carta-sized lists of notes which accompany some of today's releases ("waterfall accord", "Red Bull accord", "iced unicorn tears" — okay, I may have fabricated the last one), this over-stimulation has prompted in me a yearning to return to basics. While the world waits for "Honey Boo-Boo Pour Femme," I am catching my breath and enjoying a much-needed respite in the tranquil landscape of simplicity.
Seeing the world through this new prism, I spotted a collection of bath and body products at Anthropologie called Barr-Co. The packaging of the line, mostly blue and white, some tied with bakery twine, appeared to have been inspired by vintage apothecary labels and conveyed the look and feel of a simpler time. Each item in the collection–candles, bath salts, soaps and salves–proudly display the words: "Original Scent," comprised of "milk, oatmeal, vanilla and vetiver." It was then I noticed another item in the set: "Eau de Parfum." Here it was, the smell of sweet simplicity, as creamy as a milky oatmeal bath, as comforting as a warm fluffy towel.
John Barr and Kelley Hall-Barr
Kelley Hall-Barr, of Brentwood, M-O, USA, began making bath, beauty and body products in 1988, and established her family-run company, K. Hall Designs, in 1997. The success of the products led to a large retail space in her hometown. On her website, Ms. Barr shares her ideology in her own words: "We love scents and goods that make people feel soothed and relaxed. We wanted to make products that were minimally packaged, that smell naturally great and work even better." Each environmentally-friendly product is created with a minimum of 95% natural ingredients. Last year, she released the Barr-Co. collection, handmade in the USA, which quickly caught the attention of Anthropologie and the heart of this fragrance lover.
The Emerson String Quartet by Michael Arthur
It's wonderful to have an eau de parfum of Barr-Co's signature scent. A string quartet rather than an orchestra, this austere formula is a brilliant reminder that less can be more, especially when the quality of the accords comes before the quantity. The remarkably long-lasting EDP is as elegant as it is comforting, perfect for a Sunday morning bike-ride into town or an indulgent couch-fest in pajamas and a bathrobe. The vetiver, behind the creamy milk and vanilla notes, adds a simultaneous earthiness and cleanliness. Fans of the Philosophy and Clean fragrance lines should connect with Barr-Co's rich, soapy comfort.
As my fragrant world is ever-evolving, my family has grown accustomed to my own parade of scents, often changing throughout the day, as mercurial as my mood. My daughter-in-law expects a new scent each time she see me, but rarely does she remark. After I took Barr-Co.'s fragrance for a test-drive, she exclaimed, "Wow! What is that one?" Needless to say, she now has her own bottle.
Is a return to simplicity a step backward or a step forward? After all, Leonardo da Vinci once said that simplicity is the "ultimate sophistication." If this sounds like your style of sophistication, the Barr-Co. Eau de Parfum is a must-buy at $38.00. It can be found nationally at Anthropologie stores or online at www.anthropologie.com.
Disclosure: The above review was based on the author's personal purchase.
–Michael Devine, Contributor