This Lesser-Known Perfume Has Had People Chasing Me Down the Street Recently

August 15, 2025 / Swedan Margen /

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

Ellis Brooklyn

Salt Eau de Parfum

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.