Mumble Jumble

A compilation of people, places, and things that got my attention this week and I give my "two scents" about Glossier's new fragrances.

Before we start, may I just say that I am immensely proud of myself for being consistent and on time with another dispatch! I think we’re starting to cook with gas here. Last week was extremely long with travel to and from a wedding reception in D.C., a beauty event, Eric Adams’ indictment (tehehe), and my continuing quest in this wretched economy for a staff writing job. I barely know what day it is, but I am incredibly excited to return to this platform to share…something. This dispatch isn’t very fashion-forward, but it’s still an enriching compilation of what has grabbed my attention over the past week.

As I mentioned, last Monday, I visited the nation’s capital to partake in my friends Tembe and Connay’s beautiful wedding reception. They held the reception at The Lyle Hotel in the city’s gorgeous neighborhood of DuPont Circle. (Random observation: DuPont Circle reminds me of the Brookline section of Boston. I imagine it’s where the nation’s finest post-Ivy yuppie government employees live. I’m thinking Olivia Pope post-Georgetown.) To the festivities, I wore the Mara Hoffman Mereba dress and Loewe rose heels paired with a tiny vintage satin bag that I snagged for $12 at a thrift store in Tally. It’s one of my favorite going-out bags partially because of the steal of the price and its dainty nature. I enjoy carrying practically nothing. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case last Monday because I was carrying *everything* in that bag, thanks to mad dashing through rush hour traffic from Union Station to my hotel and over to The Lyle in under an hour.

Me and my stuffed bag. *le sigh*

…but before I could enjoy the deliciously tender short rib and polenta, pork belly, and dessert of strawberry sorbet, I had to pass four and a half hours (mechanical issues outside of Trenton, New Jersey not included) on Amtrak. I hadn’t been on the Northeast Regional in 10 years since dramatically catching a literal midnight train to New York during my move from Boston. I was relatively excited to catch the train, the quaintness of traveling by rail down the eastern seaboard. I even packed light, bringing only a suitcase with three outfits for 29 hours and a bagged lunch.  

Once we were all aboard and on our way, I snuggled into my seat and opted to use the trip to dive into some new podcasts. Here are a few that helped me bypass the four (really five) hours:

Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD: Given the federal indictment and political corruption stories being printed above the fold in New York City lately, Empire City grabbed my attention almost immediately. I was interested in the subject but wasn’t sure if I had the bandwidth to digest more stories or information about police misconduct and corruption. What caused me to opt in was award-winning host and journalist Chenjerai Kumanyika. I was a HUGE fan of a podcast he co-hosted in 2017 called Uncivil. The show delved into the untold stories of the Civil War and the antebellum period. Uncivil ended abruptly, without resolution, but I’m used to it being a child of networks like UPN (Half & Half-Who did Mona choose? Did Little Dee Dee hook up with wigga Joey Lawrence?), the CW (Girlfriends-Did Joan get married? Did she reunite with Toni?!), and the WB (Moesha–Who was pregnant?!?).

The Empire City podcast juxtaposes NYPD's inception with contemporary policing and surveillance methods, carefully pulling the thread to unveil how we’ve arrived at this point in law-and-order history and fractionates the very function of the police into digestible pieces. The beautiful, personal, human stories of resistance and community give me hope and delay my rage strokes. I can’t recommend it enough!

Business Wars: Vogue: Once and Forever (Season 99): I love Business Wars. It’s a regular listen for me during chores, and if you follow me on Instagram (wink, wink), you’ve more than likely seen me share an episode or two. This season, I had to double blink because I wasn’t wearing my glasses and I thought my eyes were out of focus when I saw that four episodes were being dedicated to the heyday of fashion print publishing. The episodes oscillate between the 1970s, the post-war period, and globalization in the 1990s. The final episode is always an interview between the host, David Brown, and an industry expert. This season, Rachel Tashjian, creator of Opulent Tips (I’m subscribed) and Style writer at the Washington Post, is the guest. This interview marks Tashjian’s second appearance on the podcast, Gucci vs. Louis Vuitton (Season 71) was her first. 

Candyman: The True Story Behind the Bathroom Mirror Murder: I am a recovering true crime addict. Five years ago, every podcast I subscribed to was true crime. It wasn’t healthy, and during the pandemic, the subject matter started weighing on my spirit (not to mention making me paranoid). Still, I find it helpful at the most pedestrian level in connecting policy and investigative failure to my stance on police abolition. Now, history podcasts are my fixation, but I dabble with true crime on occasion through limited series. The latest true crime limited series that has seized my attention is Candyman, or rather, the murder of a woman named Ruthie Mae McCoy that inspired Candyman. The fissure between art and life is lessened as host, journalist, and Chicago native Dometi Pongo guides listeners through the story and murder of Ruthie Mae McCoy and connects the events that unfolded with policy failure, neglect, and journalistic apathy. What struck me in listening to the premiere episode beyond the dilapidation that facilitated this crime was the community that Ruthie Mae McCoy and her neighbor, Debra Lasley, shared as a means to survive the horrid conditions of the ABLA housing projects and how little things like checking-in during departure and arrival are so simple and make a world of difference; that forging community is not as laborious and multi-pronged as we make it out to be. Another observation is the blatant erasure of a Black woman from her own homicide with the release of Candyman (1992), a film ironically about racial inequality. The director, Barnard Rose, claims the script is loosely based on The Forbidden, a fictional short story by Clive Barker. Still, there are more than a few overlaps between the script and Ruthie Mae McCoy’s tragic and preventable demise. I listened to the first episode twice to ensure I auditorily absorbed all the facts and information. I am haunted and disturbed by this podcast, yet I cannot wait for the next episode. I’m also looking at my medicine cabinet a bit warily now. (Candyman: The True Story Behind the Bathroom Mirror Murder premiers on Oct. 3.)

Okay, so we’ve covered the District of Columbia, now let’s talk about the goings-on in the city:

Last week, I was invited to the release party for Glossier’s latest duo of additions to their You fragrance series. I’m not going to lie, the party was a bit confusing initially. Guests disembarked from the ferry to a venue with tables covered in plums, cheese, balsamic vinaigrette, olive oil, and other finger foods. There was also a countdown clock. When the clock reached zero, red and cream drapes cascaded to the floor, revealing another room…with more seating. I think my befuddlement arose from it being the dinner hour, and I was starving after morphing into Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to make the 7:08 pm ferry heading to the fête. Thankfully, I was there with a friend, which helped quiet my hunger cues, but after about an hour, I had to leave to grab food because I couldn’t subsist on red wine and plums all night. Upon my departure, I received an iconic pink Glossier bubble pouch containing the two fragrances, and the theatrics suddenly made sense. The array of plum and cream drapery, the plums and other assorted food were nods to the hues and notes of the two scents: Doux and Rêve.

After I’d arrived home, Shake Shack in hand and cackling at the news of Eric Adams’ indictment**, I allowed myself a few moments of respite before beginning my bedtime routine: shower, brush teeth, wash face, moisturize. Every night, the same thing. Tonight, however, as I was putting away my bounty from the party, I spritzed myself out of curiosity. I was questioning whether or not I would use these scents or if they go into my regifting bin. I tried Rêve first; the skincent described as “gourmand.” I didn’t pick up on the food notes right away, though. I was preoccupied with the comforting iris and sandalwood notes that jumped out. I love the aroma of iris, and I’ve had an Aesōp scent with similar notes on my wishlist for over a year now, but once I got my hands on Rêve, I knew I had what I needed. Rêve is described as a sensual bacchanal by Glossier founder Emily Weiss. I understand what she’s saying, but I interpreted the scent as pleasantly scatterbrained, a little neurodivergent, and ADHD; it pulls the wearer in an array of the most ethereal directions. The saccharine notes of plum butter heart and buttercream make me think of lying in bed naked with a crush as a thunderstorm rages outside, with the sandalwood and iris heart notes enveloping me like the perfect, weighted blanket. I’m greeted with the warmth of this scent as it wafts around me every morning when I open my medicine cabinet and start my morning routine. It’s a fun, sexy, relaxing way to start the day. Even when it’s stored away, its work isn’t done.

The best way to describe Doux is: if Rêve is prints, Doux is neutrals. This scent is about business and closing the deal. It’s utilitarian. It’s Type A. Maybe that’s why it is the office fave in most of the write-ups I’ve read. With a top note of sweet violet and heart notes of palo santo, frankincense, and myrrh, I was sure this would be my go-to scent as I typically gravitate towards musks and more resinous fragrances. It smells lovely, but I often wear it when I want to be subdued yet alluring and opt for Rêve when I want something big, something that says, “I’m here!”...Beyoncé! 

I think both scents are fantastic additions to the “wardrobe” of Glossier fragrances. One’s affinity to these skincents ultimately depends on the wearer’s nose and natural pheromones, as they’re designed to smell differently on everyone. I highly recommend visiting a store and sampling them when they launch on October 3!

**I am vehemently against the prison industrial complex but some people belong in the gulag until we can find another alternative, Eric is one of them.

That wraps up another edition of Frontal Lobe! This week may feel a little scattered, but consider it art imitating life. Please share with a friend, even if you’re talking shit, you’re still sharing. If you listen to any of my podcast suggestions, tag me; I love yapping about podcasts. Also, please check out my latest piece for The Strategist. I think you’ll enjoy it. I will see y’all in two weeks with more things I can’t stop thinking about!