“…indie perfumers ride high…Artisan fragrances are thriving…
The Guardian, July 2015
We like to define Slow Luxury as a dedicated moment or a lifetime philosophy—–>meditation—–>experience.
The power of artisan scent is that it intriguingly combines both at once.
One autumn Thursday evening in New York City, Slow Luxury and Cornelia Spa at The Surrey presented a special evening in The Epic Road Series with our Slow Luxury client, Master Perfumer, Maria McElroy.
Maria’s bespoke perfumes and those in her AromaM collection are world-renowned for sensory transport. To honor her newest scent, the Roma-inspired, Voluptuous Nostalgia, we created three sensual havens within the spa, transports to the magical cities of Kyoto, Marrakech, and Roma…and much more. Above, Maria offers a whiff to Miranda Plunkett with Jessica from the blog, Now Smell This, in the background.
Maria’s scents of desire, Prosecco Superiore, and treats in one of New York City’s best spas attracted guests from the media, the hotel, the perfume world and even actress, Devika Bhise, above.
Here are 9 Scentual + Slow Luxury Epiphanies from the event…best of all, with scent, you can re-create these experiences anywhere you call home!
*1! Prima! Roma!
Roma! See the American girl with a full polka-dot skirt and oversize Pucci-print sunglasses rides on the back of a Vespa, swerving through the ancient, teaming streets of Rome with her Italian lover, flashing his brilliant smile around every curve. Secret meetings at the Piazza Navona, gelato at the Trevi Fountain, draped in Fortuny velvet at the Teatro dell’ Opera.
A Roman holiday captured in a bottle.
Try this slow luxury at home: You can watch the film here and buy Voluptuous Nostalgia from Maria’s AromaM collection here.
Sweet Update! The AromaM collection of perfumes will be offered at Cornelia Spa as of Dec. 1, 2015.
*2 Geisha- Central in Kyoto as Inspiration for a ‘lil well-deserved Slow Luxury
Maria’s company, AromaM is now based in Brooklyn, New York (of course!) and is known worldwide.
A guest gets transported!
*3 Slow Luxury is always non-digital experience!
Jade Dressler, Barbara Poliwoda and Kelsey Bent of Epic Road.
*4 Travel the Epic Road with Slow Luxury
*5 Cornelia’s Hematite Treatment for the eyes and transport to Marrakech.
At the event, guests were invited into one of the pristine and soothing treatment rooms of Cornelia to experience the earthy Hematite Healing Eye Massage. Hematite stones and Cornelia Luminous Eye Complex combined to reduce puffiness and decrease dark circles tender tissue around the eyes, a treatment performed by spa technician, Pilar.
Morocco actually produces some of the best hematite in the world!
In ancient times, hematite has been called blood stone, for when this stone is deliberately scratched, scraped or polished it bleeds and forms stains that appear like blood. Full of iron, the stone has strong positive charges. The cooling of the stone reduces eye puffiness while the positive charges of the iron (heme) promotes circulation to the eye area forcing out the coagulated blood of dark circles and replacing it with fresh blood flow, improving appearance. It’s amazing how hematite in its natural state resembles an eye!
Iron, such as found in hematite, is the actual carrier of nourishing oxygen transport throughout the body. Combined with the ingredients of Cornelia Luminous Eye Complex, including soy and rice bran peptides to dissolve mini-clots responsible for dark circles; and, Resveratrol from the skin, seeds and stems of grapes which brightens skin – this remarkable massage reawakens the eyes.
Guests of the evening could also sample another whiff of Morocco in AromaM’s Camellia Oil which contains Moroccan Rose Oil.
We love this dedication to earthy healing and sweetness reigning at Cornelia Spa, in fact, they start all spa treatments with a tablespoon offering of their signature Cornelia Black Sage Honey from Italy.
Ciao! Back on the Vespa bright-eyed lovers! The next stop on our epic road goes back to those rolling, misty hills of Italy…
*6 Taste Prosecco Superiore for some Slow Luxury.
Alan Tardi joined us to offer tastings of Prosecco Superiore DOGG from the hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, the birthplace of Prosecco. He detailed its birthplace, a small area of just 15 villages in the Veneto region between the Dolomite mountains and the sea of Venezia, where vines have been handcrafted for centuries in harmony with the natural surroundings. As Alan explained “Nothing captures La Bella Vita Italiana better than Prosecco Superiore DOCG!”
*7 Book a treatment at Cornelia Spa at The Surrey.
Enter the haven! With Ellen’s artisan background as a fabric designer and her husband, Rick Aidekman‘s savvy business knowledge, all treatments are based upon that kind of rare, individualized artisan approach to beauty and wellness that embodies tradition, attention to detail, and exquisite touch. Cornelia has been featured in dozens of leading fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publications and on television. Cornelia’s signature products and services are also offered at Eau Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach and in five-star hotels globally.
*8 Visit The Surrey for the most elegant, chic respite in NYC.
The Surrey is New York City’s only Relais & Châteaux hotel, owned and operated by Denihan Hospitality Group. An intimate address on the Upper East Side, just tucked behind Bar Pleiades, with it’s outdoor cafe filled with intriguing guests, it began as a townhouse to the stars of the 1920s and is now a hot 2014 pied-à-terre address.
The location just off Madison Avenue gives international celebrities, style-icons, and art aficionados guests direct access to top fashion houses, restaurants, world-class art institutions and iconic landmarks, while its discreet service allows for calm personal space—“Privately New York.” The Surrey offers world-class dining by Café Boulud, and an expansive private roof garden. Its 189 exquisite salons and suites were created by Lauren Rottet.
*9 The Slow Luxury Mantra: More is Always Coming.
Audrey, a scent lover.
Below, hotel guest whose name we didn’t catch, with her “Dog Mary,” whose name we did catch!
Maria and Jeffrey Paul.
Text: Jade Dressler
SLOW LUXURY 
Reblogged this on aromam.