I'm Not Exaggerating—This Under-the-Radar Perfume Has People Chasing Me Down the Street
Beauty insiders adore Ellis Brooklyn scents, but this one is so good that it's in a league of its own.


When you think about the best perfumes of all time, I'm sure many brands come to mind, from Jo Malone London to Byredo and Diptyque. I have tried fragrances from all of these brands and can confirm that they are completely worth the hype. However, as a beauty editor, I love finding those under-the-radar scents that not many people know about. Perhaps it's the fragrance snob in me, but there's something so special about wearing what I like to call an "insider scent".
One brand that I have been gatekeeping for quite a few years now is Ellis Brooklyn. Founded in 2015 by New York Times beauty columnist Bee Shapiro, each fragrance is crafted in small batches. While there are plenty of delicious scents on offer, my personal favourite has got to be Salt.
This beachy-inspired scent has had people chasing me down the street this summer to ask me what perfume I am wearing. Intrigued to know more? Just keep on scrolling...
Ellis Brooklyn Salt Perfume Review
The Scent
I'm usually a big fan of marine perfumes that are dominated by coastal-inspired notes, but interestingly enough, Salt from Ellis Brooklyn doesn't actually contain any sea salt accords. However, it still manages to evoke memories of warm, salty skin thanks to its beachy, fresh aroma.
I would describe it as a skin scent, with hints of sandalwood, musk and Tahitian tiare. You know when you're on holiday and you have to run across the boardwalk after a day on the beach because it's too hot beneath your feet? That's what this fragrance smells like to me. In fact, when I spritz it, it's almost as if I can feel the salt water in my hair and the suncream on my skin.
It's a far cry from your typical gourmand summer fragrance, but it's this uniqueness that makes it smell so elegant and expensive.
The Longevity
As with most skin-like scents, I find that I can't always smell this fragrance on myself after a couple of hours of wear. That being said, I always get compliments on it throughout the day, which tells me that it's longer-lasting than I think. It's certainly not a punchy perfume, and I like to keep the travel-sized bottle in my handbag to top it up throughout the day, but if delicate, subtle scents are your thing, then you will love this.
The Bottle
Displayed in a blue glass bottle, this fragrance gives me all of the beachy vibes. I love having it out on display during the summer months, and the gold and white detailing adds a certain level of chicness that makes it Insta-worthy.
The Verdict
If you're looking for a special summer scent to break through the usual crowd of coconut and vanilla notes, then I highly suggest putting this Ellis Brooklyn perfume on your radar. Chic and understated, Salt is a fragrance that's definitely worth knowing about.
It is more of an investment (50ml will set you back a cool £126), but compared to other niche perfume brands on the market, I think the scent is worth it if you're looking to treat yourself this season. Plus, the 10ml travel bottle is a great way of trying the fragrance out if you're unsure on whether to get the full-sized bottle or not.
Shop Ellis Brooklyn Salt
Shop More Salty Scents
New to the UK from Bella Hadid's perfume line, Orebella, Salted Muse is not to be missed.
The perfect salty body mist.

Grace Lindsay is the junior beauty editor at Who What Wear UK. At the age of 18 she decided to train as a makeup artist before going on to study english and media at Goldsmiths University. It was during that time that she explored her love for journalism by interning at a small beauty start-up based in Shoreditch. Since then, she has worked at a number of publications including Marie Claire and Hello!, where her love for all things beauty continued to grow.
As Who What Wear UK's junior beauty editor, she covers everything from the latest hair trends to the stand-out makeup products of the season.
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