Ahead of Milk Orchid’s Sept. 2 launch, we spoke with the Creative behind the scent: Emma of @Perfumerism. Milk Orchid is her dream take on Milk—a creamy, floral gourmand with Fig Milk, Magnolia and Vanilla Orchid.
Keep reading for Emma’s inspiration behind the fragrance and behind-the-scenes moments, and sign up here for early access to shop.
The Origin Story
Can you introduce yourself, and tell us a bit about who you are and what your account, @Perfumerism, is known for?
I’m a content creator and perfumery student. I’m known for my love of milk perfumes and my “science explained” videos, where I break down the artistry and demystify fragrance.
What sparked this collaboration in the first place?
As a longtime fan of Commodity, I reached out to the brand and pitched them the idea to co-create a new Milk fragrance. Milk Expressive was the first lactonic perfume I ever fell in love with, and it was also my first viral video on TikTok. I couldn’t think of a better brand to work with, and I am so honoured that they listened to my idea.
How did the idea for this product come about?
In 2023, I started a Milk Perfume Series on TikTok, where I made over 30 videos of every lactonic fragrance on the market. My viral milk trend has since been featured in Teen Vogue, Glamour, nss G-Club, Dazed, and Glossy. After creating this milk movement, I still had not found my dream milk—so I had to create it myself!
The Process
What was your vision going into this collaboration? Did it evolve along the way?
I loved the idea of a non-milk fragrance. Many of the milky fragrances I see can be too thick or cloying, and I liked the idea of doing something that was milky in an unexpected way. I like Milk Expressive because while it is milky, it has interesting notes like Sesame, Mahogany Wood and Marshmallow to make it feel like a whole (pun intended) fragrance. With Milk Orchid, I worked with Milk’s perfumer Christelle Laprade to bring in notes like Fig Milk and Coconut Cream, which bring a milky feeling as well as an elevated experience.
Were there any unexpected challenges (or surprises!) during the development process?
I actually was going through the whole application process for perfumery school while I was creating this fragrance, so it was interesting that from fruition to the final release, I have evolved from a Bachelor of Science student in Ontario, Canada to a Master’s in Scent Design and Creation student in Paris, France. This experience has given me so much confidence and allowed me to capture one of the most transformative periods in my life.
How did you approach blending your personal style with our brand’s aesthetic?
Commodity is very black-and-white (literally!), and they were so kind as to give me the creative freedom to bring colours in on the bottles and collaborate on all of the visuals for this project so it suits my vision.
In terms of the scent development, Commodity gave me so much room to play and discover something that was truly my dream milk. We worked with Christelle, Milk’s perfumer, however we made it clear from the get-go that this fragrance would be an entire reimagining.
The Product
What makes Milk Orchid feel unique or meaningful to you?
Milk Orchid is the scent I was wearing when I got accepted to perfumery school. Milk Orchid is the scent I brought with me when I moved to Paris. Milk Orchid is the scent that I’ve had to gatekeep (against my inner desires) despite all the compliments I’ve received this past year and a half.
If you had to describe Milk Orchid in three words, what would they be?
Ethereal, milky cloud.
Now that it’s here and about to go out into the world, how do you feel?
Nervous but super excited! I have never done something this vulnerable before, but I am beyond humbled to do it with the best team at Commodity, and the amazing perfumer Christelle Laprade.
Reflections & Looking Ahead
What are you most excited for with the launch?
I can’t wait to see how people describe it. I have shown it to people all over, and I love to see what connections they make and the scent memories that it brings.
Any behind-the-scenes moments or stories that may not make it into the final launch, but deserve a shoutout?
Lots of smiling, laughing, and crying. Many 11 p.m. Zoom meetings from my apartment floor in Paris.
Finally—what’s next for you? Anything exciting you’re working on that fans should know about?
I have spent 2 years looking for the best milk perfume, and now I can rest easy that it’s created! I hope to spend the next 2 years continuing my studies at school and wearing Milk Orchid as often as I can.