When I heard that Summer Fridays was launching a fragrance, I immediately had a vision of what the scent would be. The brand\u2019s Vanilla Lip Butter Balm (an Allure<\/em> Best of Beauty winner) is both popular and delicious, so I had a gut feeling we were getting a tasty gourmand that\u2019s sweet, cozy, and nostalgic. A few weeks ago, I visited The Sun Room, the brand’s NYC pop-up, to see if my predictions were right (spoiler: I was right on the money).<\/p>\n No actual driving took place on this day (always wear your seatbelt!).<\/p>\n <\/span>Katie Gunderman<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n I was a barista once, so this felt right at home.<\/p>\n <\/span>Katie Gunderman<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n When I rounded the corner in SoHo, just steps away from New York\u2019s Erewhon dupe, Happier Grocery, the first thing I saw was a vintage, caramel-colored Porsche parked outside\u2014an immediate sign that I was both in the right place and onto something with my predictions. Entering the installation, the simple but cozy room was lined with beige curtains, which instantly warmed the space up against the austere, gray light streaming in from the windows.<\/p>\n Never a brand to slack on visuals, Summer Fridays set up a large table in the center of the room, with some of the scent note sources (like old school caramel chews) piled into adorable teacups. There were also plenty of bottles of perfume to sample, as well as a large bowl of\u2014as I suspected\u2014Lip Butter Balms in Vanilla. I knew they were sisters!<\/p>\n A visual and olfactory feast.<\/p>\n <\/span>Katie Gunderman<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n One for the road, thanks!<\/p>\n <\/span>Katie Gunderman<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n For me, spritzing the perfume for the first time immediately conjured up thoughts of vanilla ice cream and sunsets on the beach. It\u2019s certainly a gourmand, but there\u2019s a depth to it, especially when it settles into the nutty tonka and sticky amber base. There\u2019s a natural quality to it, like you\u2019ve spent the day wandering through bakeries and spice shops, hints of the aromas lingering on your skin. The solar quality to it (from the fresh bergamot and tropical coconut, if I had to guess) adds a rush of nostalgia to the whole composition, like this idyllic day happened months or years ago. You get caught in a sunbeam, and the whole sweet, hazy scene comes rushing back.<\/p>\n I crave storytelling from scent launches\u2014especially in a market this crowded\u2014and I\u2019ll happily be adding this fragrance to my spring rotation for when I need a hit of golden hour. Sunlit Vanilla is available now at Sephora, Summer Fridays, and Revolve.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.allure.com\/photos\/69d011a3007482891fded040\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/Summer%2520Fridays%2520In%2520The%2520Car.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.allure.com\/photos\/69d015d2d4b6c8b3653223cf\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/Summer%2520Fridays%2520Behind%2520the%2520Bar.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/div>\nMy First Scent Impressions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n