Launched in 2014, J. Crew No. 31 by Arquiste was inspired by the party for the opening of Peggy Guggenheim’s groundbreaking 1943 art show ‘Exhibition by 31 Women,’ at her The Art of This Century gallery on the top floor of 30 West Fifty-seventh Street in NYC. It is the spirit of what the press hailed the party of the century that J.Crew No. 31 captures. It opens with a sweet note of sweet red vermouth with cinnamon and vanilla facets, and when it links to an eau de vie accord, they create a spicy, fruity booziness that gets the party started. This calls up a note of lush, rich Bulgarian rose; its cinnamon, cloves, and raspberry facets are on full display. Damson plum is the perfect partner for the rose, giving it depth and darkness. It smells clandestine and furtive. Patchouli at the base adds earthiness and woodiness, reinforced by oakmoss. The result is a fragrance that dries down to a sensual, addictive scent with a vintage feel, yet remains totally modern. The Exhibition by 31 Women opening must have been some party, but instead of feeling that I missed something wonderful, No. 31 makes me feel part of something just as wonderful. Notes: Red vermouth, eau de vie accord, Bulgarian rose and damson plum, patchouli and oakmoss. We offer decants, 10-ml roller balls and a 50-ml bottle.
