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Aerin Lauder on Fragrance Layering, Beauty Essentials and Lessons From Her Grandmother

Courtesy of Aerin Lauder

Courtesy of Aerin Lauder

“Women in the Middle East love to layer fragrances and our collection is designed to be mixed together to create a personal, unique scent,” said Aerin Lauder on her decision to debut her namesake brand in the Middle East for earlier this year. “We have also developed intense versions of our fragrances for this region specifically— which can be layered or worn alone.” Her tips for flawlessly mixing fragrances? “Keep the layers light,” she advices. Naturally, she opts for a combination of scents from her very own range for a more personalized experience. “A single spritz of Tangier Vanille combined with two sprays of Evening Rose creates a sumptuous, floral aroma with rich Roses and Balsamic Woods deepened by warm Vanilla and a touch of fresh Bergamot,” she explains.

By running a global brand— and working for one for over twenty years— the beauty mogul was practically born to take over the industry. Lauder first made her foray into beauty by carrying on the legacy of her late grandmother Estée Lauder before she decided to launch Aerin Beauty, her own lifestyle brand, in 2012. Featuring fresh fragrances alongside home accessories, the eponymous line was inspired by the contents of her makeup bag at the time. And if sumptuous body creams and floral sprays were in her cosmetics bag then, lip conditioner, brown mascara and eyeliner can be found there now. “You don’t need a dozen products or a complicated routine to look gorgeous,” she mused. Her skincare routine is similarly diligent. “My grandmother always said, ‘You only have one face; take care of it.’ No matter how tired you are, cleanse and moisturize, stay out of the sun and drink water.”

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It comes as no surprise that the businesswoman learned a lot from her grandmother, one of the industry’s original beauty doyennes. “My grandmother loved fragrance, and she taught me to never leave home without it,” recalled Lauder. “[She] created [Estée Lauder Beautiful] and it was one of her favorites. Some of my earliest memories are of her wearing it. I even wore it for my wedding day.”

The mark left by her grandmother is evident in her own olfactory range too. Lilac Path, a floral eau de parfum from her collection of scents, was inspired by a lilac bush planted by her late grandmother at her Long Island home. The perfume was selected as one of the nine fragrances— alongside Amber Musk, Gardenia Rattan, Ikat Jasmine, Evening Rose, Iris Meadow, Waterlily Sun, Mediterranean Honeysuckle and Tangier Vanille— to launch her namesake brand in the Middle East.

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