For today’s fragrance, I’m reaching for an autumn classic that holds a special place in my collection: Mongolian Cashmere from Dunhill’s Signature Line. Now, let me start by saying, this one isn’t a beast in performance. Case in point, during my morning coffee run to the Bistro, the girls behind the counter were noticeably disappointed that they couldn’t smell me from afar, they even leaned over the counter trying to catch a whiff. Yet, I could still smell it on myself, making it a great “discover, don’t announce” scent.
So, why does this one mean so much to me? Fragrance has been a big part of my identity since I was a teenager. I’ve always been the one who “smells good”; whether it’s myself, my car, or my home, I love keeping things fragrant and I’ve always been complimented as such. In my early twenties, I stuck to one signature fragrance at a time, only switching it up when the bottle ran out. Then I dove into essential oils for a solid decade, diffusing, wearing them, and using them in beard oils. It became my calling card. And I enjoyed mixing oils and discovering new scents.
At some point, though, I started gravitating back towards perfumes. I was deep into “Quiet Luxury” styles. Lana Del Rey’s ‘Old Money’ had this line that always stuck with me: “Blue hydrangea, cold cash divine, Cashmere, cologne, and white sunshine.” I always heard it as “cashmere-cologne” and I became obsessed with finding a scent that captured that luxurious, cozy warmth. A fragrance that felt like slipping into a cashmere sweater on a crisp autumn evening. That’s how I found Mongolian Cashmere, and it’s lived up to everything I imagined.
But it didn’t stop there, it rekindled my passion for the world of fragrance. Now, here I am, studying molecular chemistry with dreams of starting my own perfumery.
But enough about that, you want to know how it smells. It opens with a warm, luminous pink pepper, balanced by an elegant orris and floral heart. As it dries down, you get suede leather and musk that leave a smooth, sophisticated skin scent. It’s refined, understated, and perfect for those crisp fall days when you want a fragrance that invites people in rather than shouts across the room.
⬆️ Pink Peper & Mandarin Orange
➡️ Orris ‘Fusion’, Geranium, & Rose
⬇️ Suede, Amber, & Musk