Pure Grace

Maybe I have strange body chemistry, but I’m always on the lookout for a fragrance that doesn’t dry down to, and linger on my skin, as its most readily identifiable, one-dimensional base note (e.g. tonka bean, patchouli, sandalwood, tuberose, musk, etc.). For that reason, most fragrances, no matter how cheap or expensive, wind up falling into one of about a dozen familiar, tired old cloying base scents that come across to me (and others in my proximity, I fear) as something of an headache and/or allergy-triggering olfactory assault instead of an enhancement. Philosophy Pure Grace has been a rare exception in my case. As such, it’s remained my go-to fragrance for almost 2 decades. For me, it’s pretty linear (which is more of a plus than a minus imho) once it dries down into a uniquely bright and fresh (while not venturing over into sharp territory) yet sensuous, not-too-sweet blend of florals and musk. On my skin it wears as a so-called skin scent, which is exactly what I want: a scent that works and blends with my body chemistry as a subtle enhancement, as if it becomes integrated with my natural scent, rather something sitting on top of my skin and unrelated to it, as if it were a piece of ill-fitting clothing. Pure Grace gets a bad rap for its limited sillage and longevity for good reason, but in my experience it draws regular compliments from people who enter or come close to my space bubble long after I cease to perceive it. I even have a handful of friends and loved ones who go out of their way to greet me with a hug just to get a whiff of my collarbone (my go-to application spot), even after I’ve spritzed it on 6 or 8 hours prior. I like the idea that people don’t smell me (read: my loud perfume) when I simply walk into a room. 😬 Pure Grace remains my gold standard for personal fragrance. It smells on me like nothing else, in the most sensuous, subtle, complex, and mysterious of ways. On top of that, it seems to have better staying power on me than I perceive myself, and it quite literally draws people closer in to me. As such, it’s one of my best-kept secrets. ;) And bonus points for its relatively affordable price point.

IF SUNBLOCK WAS A PERFUME: I was probably 4 or 5 years old, at my auntie's cottage in St-Côme QC, when I smelled my first water lily. We were cruising on a pedalo by the shore, when my dad decided we'd take a little break on the water, under the shade of a weeping willow (my favorite tree!). We were looking at the frogs and toads, then papa said that I could bend over the boat and grab a lilypad, that he'd hold my feet so I wouldn't trip overboard. But when i pulled on a pad, a whole tread of roots and more pads came along, including a precious flower. Back then, my parents always smothered me in sunscreen (the Ombrelle brand, t'was considered a bit fancy back then). I remember going 😲 the flower smells like sunblock! And Pure Grace, well, only smells like Water Lily. I don't get any other note. Or perhaps, it smells like Ombrelle, and maybe that product shares the exact same notes. So fitting for casual summer days in uppity east coast north america! When you're lucky enough to drive your Mercedes CLA from the summer lakehouse to 'town' for a bit of shopping ( it's all on one short strip; a dozen boutiques or so, a frenchish café, pet groomer and a yoga studio), you wear birkenstocks, linen trousers, an oversized husband shirt, with luxury sunglasses on top of your perfectly flawless head of hair, you carry a big leather fourre-tout and sport about 12 sprays of this.

First time smelling this was on a friend. I asked what laundry detergent she used. I would have sworn it was detergent, her shampoo, dryer sheets, something so it made sense finding out it was a 'soap' scent. It's more of a delicatly sweet powdery musk. it has strength enough to smell at a distance but similar to a sweet shampoo, it could never be overpowering or sickeningly sweet. I didn't think soap though when i first smelled it although i now know by association what that's meant to mean, and I didn't like any of the other philosophy fragrances that were out at that time. Bc of its mild freshness it's hard for me to imagine anybody disliking the fragrance, but I've recognized that it's missing a little something. I've tried to find other perfumes I like as much as or more than but when I compare it to others they never match up-other than egyptian musk which does have all the good of this and a little something else except i've become utterly nose blind from using it as a signature for years. I think i first smelled this around 19/20 and I'm 35 now so that's a little depressing that I haven't found much else outside of the commodity personal series I like anywhere close tbh lol. side note-if anyone can recommend me a great powdery musky woody scent similar but more complex than this please do msg me any suggestions.

If you don't like scents that smell really clean, soapy, or like laundry, or sunscreen, this isn't for you. However, I personally DO love these scents. I don't like strong perfumey scents. I get headaches from those. This just makes you smell good. Like you just took a shower. I may be biased because my aunt has worn Amazing Grace for years, since I was a child. I always thought it was her laundry detergent because my cousin and their home would smell like Amazing Grace, too. This is similar to Amazing Grace, just soapier. I also personally love the smell of sunscreen. This smells divine mixed with Givenchy Ange ou Demon Le Secret, fyi. I use this or Amazing Grace body wash, lotion, then use the Givenchy perfume over them. When I wake up in the morning I just smell so clean and I love it. But like I said, I love clean scents that are not overwhelming. My aunt us sensitive to migraines fyi, so I totally understand why Amazing grace is her signature scent. I love that one + this. But pure grace is cleaner. Will probably use these scents for long as they last. The shower gels + lotions are superior to the perfume sprays in my opinion. Just pretty, clean, uplifting, but not "in your face" or too strong like some of these mainstream perfumes. ♡♡♡

When I first bought this fragrance, I wore it to our annual family Thanksgiving dinner at my cousins house. My cousin's husband is a career navy man from New York in his late 70's. He's the guy who can make everyone laugh; the center of attention. He's loud, boisterous, and funny, with jokes that can make any navy man blush. This fragrance literally made him speechless when I walked in the door and hugged him. I've never seen anything like it!! He actually closed his eyes and inhaled the smell, then asked what I was wearing. He put his jacket on, grabbed his car keys, and walked out the door. He didn't say where he was going, he just left and we were all confused. It turns out that he went to the mall down the street and bought the entire set for his wife (my cousin) in the middle of our dinner!!!!!! That's how much he loved it. We all still laugh about that at every family gathering since. My cousin, my Mom, and I wear it religiously for all family gatherings. I can't tell you how many people comment on it; but it's certainly a crowd favorite. It makes me feel like an angel. Thank you, Philosophy.