Fragrance expert who made custom perfumes with Zendaya and Katie Holmes reveals what stars really smell like
FAMED fragrance expert Sue Phillips has the scoop on what your favorite stars smell like — because she makes their scents herself.
Known for making personalized perfumes and colognes for celebrities like Kate Hudson, Katie Holmes, and Jamie Foxx, she also shared her tips for smelling sexier.
Phillips, the founder of Sue Phillips Fragrance, certainly knows what scent triggers one superstar’s senses.
“When Zendaya came in, she wanted something more musky and spicy with a hint of tuberose,” Phillips told The U.S. Sun.
“She called her fragrance NYZ,” she continued.
“She really loved the whole experience.”
When Jamie Foxx wanted to create a signature scent for his leading lady at the time, Katie Holmes, he also paid Phillips a visit.
“He wanted something that he felt represented her — something fresh and fruity and sparkly.
“We developed a lovely young fragrance for her.”
When Katie wanted to create a scent for herself, however, she went for something more “exotic,” according to Phillips.
“We went with something more vibrant – a citrusy, rose fragrance.”
For Jamie, she created a spicy wood fragrance.
SIGNATURE SCENT
The South African-born former actress turned fragrance expert previously created the Tiffany and Co. perfume.
She also served as the head of product development for Lancome fragrances and men’s skincare, in addition to developing a perfume for Trish McEvoy.
Once she opened her own boutique, it didn’t take long for the stars, including Susan Sarandon, to show up for her scents.
Smelling sexy also isn’t one size fits all, according to Phillips.
“Why wear what everybody else is wearing when you can create your own fragrance?” asked Phillips.
“When you wear something that reflects your own personality, you feel more confident and therefore much sexier,” she continued.
“It also comes down to wearing a fragrance that suits you.”
Her scent personality quiz, which is more of a lifestyle quiz with only one question actually pertaining to fragrance, helps her to get know the person.
“It’s very revealing — I would say it’s 99% accurate. You can even take it online,” she said.
“I think that fresh, light, clean, citrus scents with grapefruit and lemon and lime are sexy for women, and some men also like wearing these notes,” she added.
“A beautiful gardenia is very sensual, as is rose.
“We have a modern and exotic rose which I think is the epitome of femininity.
“These scents are all great for summer.”
She explained that woodsy scents are sexy and masculine, though some women also feel empowered while wearing this type of scent that incorporates birchwood, and cedarwood.
“It’s like bringing the great outdoors inside,” she said.
“Anything in the woodsy family can be robust and intoxicating.”
If you want to get frisky come fall, she said that “alluring” and “exotic” hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, and other scents that fall into the spicy category give off romantic sitting in front of the fireplace vibes.
MAKE IT LAST
To help your favorite fragrance linger longer, she has some tips for that as well.
“When you come out of the bath or shower, apply unscented body lotion all over your body,” she said.
“This will act as a canvas before you spray your perfume,” she continued.
I developed a scent kit with all of the 18 fragrances [during Covid] and would take people on a scent healing journey through Zoom.
Sue Phillips
“You will also be safeguarded from the conflicting aromas of shower gel and shampoo and deodorant.
“Unscented soap can also act as a layer upon which to apply your fragrance.”
She also advises taking a travel size fragrance to reapply during the day.
THE POWER OF SCENT
To find your scent “soulmate,” you will go on a journey as she takes you through each blend before selecting your top three or four varieties.
You can even name your personalized fragrance formula and select a bottle.
She also helps people regain their sense of smell.
Phillips, who calls reinvention her “middle name,” once again found herself doing just that during the pandemic.
This time, making fragrances wasn’t just for fun, but to make a real difference.
After someone who had lost their sense of smell during Covid got a whiff of her perfume prowess, she begged Phillips to help her.
She didn’t know if she was going to be able to help, but she was willing to give them a fighting shot at smelling again.
“I said I’m not a scientist, I’m not a doctor. I’m a fragrance expert, but I’ll try.”
She had, however, worked with a smell and taste clinic in DC ten years before the pandemic.
She put her perfume-mixing magic to the test and took her through the same smelling journey she had devised.
By the 14th fragrance, she was able to smell something.
“She said it was beautiful and started to cry,” said Phillips.
“I developed a scent kit with all of the 18 fragrances and would take people on a scent healing journey through Zoom.”
She still gets calls from people around the country seeking out her help with their anosmia, or loss of smell.
Phillips also takes her scent expertise to another level by incorporating taste into multi-sensory scent dinners she has curated for up to 700 people.
“It links in all of the sensory aspects,” she said. “Each course is paired with a matching fragrance.”
Think salmon with a side of a citrusy or woodsy scent.