Sarah Jessica Parker, or ‘SJP’ as she is sometimes called, has always made fragrances that are a level above those of her celebrity counterparts. She is famously a lover of fragrance, having worn her own custom blend of Bonne Bell Skin Musk, Egyptian Oil and Comme des Garçons Avignon for years. Her first fragrance ‘Lovely‘ is iconic and beautiful and her collection of scents that followed always showcased something interesting whilst also managing to be accessible and wearable – the perfect balance. SJP simply gets it right when it comes to fragrance and her more recent offerings are further proof.
In 2016, SJP launched ‘Stash‘, her first fragrance in quite some time. The scent, which takes its name from the fact that it was passed around like an illicit substance during its development, due to its unique odour, had a big impact and many bloggers fell in love with it. I was one of those bloggers but I never got around to reviewing it. So today I’m featuring Stash alongside the latest addition to the collection ‘Stash Unspoken’. So from today Stash will no longer be hidden away and we will have the joy of, err, un-stashing it now (bad pun, sorry). Let’s get to it!
Stash
The Notes
Top: Grapefruit Zest, Black Pepper and Sage
Heart: Cedarwood Atlas, Patchouli, Ginger Lily and Pistachio
Base: Olibanum, Massoia Wood, Vetiver and Musk
How Does it Smell?
Let’s cut right to the chase, Stash smells like a niche fragrance that sells for three times the price. It is not a sweet, saccharine swirl of candy floss, stewed fruits and musk. In fact, Stash is the exact opposite of that. It opens with dry, black spice, awash with that mineral freshness one only gets so intensely from black pepper. Grapefruit adds a subtle tang, but the overall impression is dark, brooding and sexy, conjuring up an image of leather boots against tight, muscular thighs.
Underneath the electric current of spice is a a melange of warm odours – spicy florals, luminous frankincense, smooth sandalwood, rooty vetiver and effervescent patchouli – all coming together to create a subtle skin scent with a brooding allure that is entirely wearable any time, any day. It’s just really attractive and I honestly think it’s astonishing for the price. Stash is utterly wonderful – a unique and luxurious fragrance with almost too much sexiness. It’s so far removed from the world of celebrity fragrance it shouldn’t be referred to as one, instead it’s best seen as something more special: an SJP fragrance.
Stash Unspoken
The Notes
Top: Pink Peppercorn and Quince
Heart: Wisteria, Honeysuckle and Peony
How Does it Smell?
If Stash is night (a night of debauched shenanigans under silk sheets to be specific) then Stash Unspoken is day. They are two entirely different fragrances but what they share is a sort-of casual elegance that makes them perfect for wear at any time. So Stash Unspoken is the more light-hearted and easygoing fragrance in the collection. The initial impression is sweet, with a juicy, fruity opening that is subverted by a subtle twist of liquorice which, via the bitterness of anise, provides a link to the darkness of Stash. There’s a peppery freshness here too, but unlike Stash which was ashen and mineral, Stash Unspoken has a fruity, lively quality that feels much more laidback.
After that comes flowers and like some of the best floral accords, this one is entirely abstract. The notes of wisteria, honeysuckle and peony are listed but are not standouts within the composition. To my nose, Stash Unspoken presents the idea of an imaginary flower (we call them ‘fantasy florals’) – one that unfurls with iridescent blush petals and sends forth a warm odour of sweet, dewy nectar. It’s all very soft and as Stash Unspoken rests on its creamy base of sweet sandalwood, one feels as if the whole thing was intended to speak as a whisper. Stash Unspoken may be the day to Stash’s night, but it is just as lovely and just as wearable.
Availability
Stash is available in 20ml (£20), 30ml (£32), 50ml (£48) and 100ml (£60) Eau de Parfum. A Hair Mist (£25/150ml) and Hair & Body Elixir (£35/30ml) are also available.
Stash Unspoken is available in 20ml (£20), 30ml (£32), 50ml (£48) and 100ml (£60) Eau de Parfum.
For more information on SJP fragrances head to the SJP Beauty website.
Disclaimer
Sample, notes and quotes via SJP Fragrances. Images are my own. This post contains an affiliate link – click here to learn more about my policy on affiliate links.
The Candy Perfume Boy 