Earlier this week I was invited to a dinner at Barneys New York for the launch of their fourth scent in the Designer Fragrance Collection: an eau de parfum by Maiyet.
The spicy scent was created by Maiyet co-founders Paul van Zyl and Kristy Caylor in collaboration with master perfumer Ralf Schweiger. The fragrance was inspired by Maiyet’s extensive travels to artisan communities. “Infused with scents notes inspired by our artisan locations throughout the world, this fragrance embodies the spirit of Maiyet and the Maiyet woman,” said Kristy Caylor, Founder, President & Creative Director of Maiyet.
To understand the scent you need to understand the company. Maiyet is a luxury fashion brand that celebrates rare artisanal skills from master craftsmen in unexpected places. Places like India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Mongolia, and Peru. In addition to sourcing from these global artisans, Maiyet deploys customized training programs that allow its partners to create a higher-quality, exceptional product and promote stability and prosperity in their communities. The collection is designed for those who recognize quality and seek something special and rare; someone who is captivated by the caliber of design and further inspired by the soul behind the work.
Maiyet is deeply committed to forging partnerships with artisans globally and has entered into a strategic partnership with Nest, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to training and developing artisan businesses to promote entrepreneurship, prosperity and dignity in places that need it most.
Therefore many of scent’s ingredients come from countries where Maiyet has artisan partners including; saffron, jasmine and sandalwood from India, where Maiyet works with hand-loomers and embroiderers; patchouli from Indonesia, where the brand sources batik work; myrrh from East Africa, where Maiyet metalworking is done. The myrrh was harvested in partnership with the Kustha Project, an organization promoting economic empowerment through fair trade and labor (Barneys New York will donate 5% of fragrance sales the week of August 25 to the Kustha Project). Additional notes include Italian bergamot, Madagascan vanilla, Hatian vetiver, and American cedar.
I have to admit, when hearing about and seeing the ingredients of the scent I wasn’t so sure I would like it considering I usually don’t care for spicy scents, especially ones that contain patchouli. Yet, after smelling it on a paper strip I was intrigued. So of course I had to spray a little on my wrist and that’s all it took – I LOVED it! It is so unusual, like no other scent I have ever smelled before. It smells like a far away land, one you’d like to visit. Even after several of hours of wearing eau de parfume by Maiyet, I was still enjoying the fragrance on my wrists. It’s a seasonless sure to be classic that you will enjoy just as much in the winter as the summer. In fact, I have not stopped wearing it since that initial spray.
– Lauren Dimet Waters
