When it comes to fragrance, I think most people fall into one of two schools of thought: The first group believes that wearing perfume is reserved for special occasions. The second thinks of it as a daily ritual, no different from brushing your teeth. Now I won’t pretend to have a ton in common with Hailee Steinfeld, but one thing we both agree on is that fragrance shouldn’t be reserved for birthdays and date nights; even if you’re the only person who notices it, wearing a scent is like the cherry on top of a cake. It’s a little luxury that makes you feel all tingly, like a sparkle — or perhaps glimmer is a better word for it, seeing as we’re about to chat all about the actor and singer’s role as the face of Estée Lauder’s newest fragrance, Glimmer.
As the name suggests, Glimmer is all about conveying a sense of warmth and luminosity, brought to life through a solar (fragrance-speak for having a sun-soaked quality) and gourmand blend of rose, sweet raspberry mousse accord, creamy vanilla bean, patchouli, and amber. “I love anything warm, vanilla-y, but with a touch of sweetness that kind of adds a playfulness to the fragrance that’s not too heavy or too serious,” Steinfeld tells Refinery29. “And I absolutely think you should wear a fragrance for yourself wherever, whenever — it’s a perfect finishing touch to be what you want to be, what mood you want to be in.”
And on the topic of signature scents versus a fragrance wardrobe, Steinfeld falls somewhere in the middle. “While I’ve maybe gone through phases, I think there is a consistency with what I’m drawn to,” she says. “But I do think it’s such a beautiful thing when people associate a fragrance with you. My earliest memory of scent is my mom’s perfume, and that will always be the case. And now having a little one myself, the thought of her one day associating me with this fragrance is so cool.”
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What’s more, Glimmer marks Estée Lauder’s first prestige fragrance franchise since Modern Muse debuted in 2013, with model Arizona Muse as its face. This is something that’s far from lost on Steinfeld: “[Estée Lauder] is a name that’s existed in my consciousness for as long as I can remember,” she says. “So to now be a part of that world feels so incredibly meaningful.” In the accompanying film, Steinfeld (who also recorded a cover of “Feeling Good” for the campaign) can be seen lounging at home and out and about in the streets of New York City. “It really is about being present and not letting those everyday pockets of joy pass you by,” she says of the process. “And I’ll never forget the few days I spent on set making this campaign: It was exactly the energy that you feel when you’re wearing [Glimmer].”
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