Whiling away time in House of Fraser, a leading UK department store that got their byline ‘temptation on every level’ bang on, I found myself wandering the perfume aisles and came across, pureDKNY, a perfume with a purpose that was launched by the quintessential New York fashion label last year. Designed to make a difference the first pureDKNY fragrance entitled ‘A Drop of Vanilla’ comprises as the name suggests a drop of vanilla in water as the main ingredients. The vanilla used comes from Uganda, sourced with the aim of working towards sustainable long-term vanilla production in partnership with local vanilla producers, most of whom are women.
pureDKNY A Drop of Vanilla is a fresh, clean scent packaged in recycled and recyclable materials; and is ideal for summer. pureDKNY was created to instill a sense of calm and pureness, a a concept carried through to the simplicity in the design of the bottles which remind me of water bottle and give of the feeling of a refreshing and cleansing product. I, however didn’t smell much of the vanilla notes; I don’t like sweet smells staying on my skin as they start to get a bit sickly making me feel slightly nauseous as the day wears on, however I feel the fragrance could have done with just a touch more of the vanilla notes.
pureDKNY A Drop of Vanilla is ideal for those seeking simplicity in their fragrances, if you like CKOne you will love this. Joining A Drop of Vanilla is the latest release, pureDKNY Verbena, in what the company hopes will become a growing collection of fragrances designed to give back to the communities they work with. A zesty citrus and floral fragrance, pureDKNY Verbena uses the Verbena Basil a sits main ingredient, a plant sourced from farmers in Togo, and is one that has a citrus lemon like quality that give the fragrance its signature scent. The Verbena Basil is a plant that has been used in creating fragrances and infusions for centuries.
Proceeds from pureDKNY go towards funding initiatives by the humanitarian organisation; CARE. Based in Uganda’s Mukono district in the south west of the country one of CARE’s projects includes working with Ugandan vanilla bean producers, and sees DKNY’s involvement in a project supporting approximately 900 producers who are part of the Ugandan Vanilla Association. Also in partnership with CARE DKNY ‘s involvement in Togo will go towards supporting Verbena Basil farmers in the country.