I’m a Fashion and Fragrance Expert—the Day-to-Night Perfume I Always Reach For

The Lineup is a monthly series where we’re giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of the most sought-after experts and tastemakers in the industry. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can’t-live-without products that make their worlds go ’round.

Scents—and specifically perfumes for us beauty connoisseurs—are strongly linked to memories. For me, soft, powdery florals bring me right back to my teenage years; rich amber gourmands symbolize nights in the city; and salty coconut scents are reminiscent of golden hour on the beach. No one understands this innate connection better than Chriselle Lim, co-owner and creative director at Phlur. “The right scent can capture a mood, a memory, or a feeling in a way nothing else can,” she explains. “My love for fragrance deepened over time when I realized how transformative it could be and how the right scent can shift your energy, make you feel empowered, or transport you to a specific moment.”

For Lim, fragrance has always been about storytelling and self-expression, and it even helped her heal and connect with others during a challenging time in her life. “I first got involved with Phlur when I was going through my divorce,” she tells me. “It actually inspired Phlur’s first fragrance, Missing Person ($99). I wanted to bottle up the lingering smell of your loved one through a skin scent, which became popular very quickly, as it resonated with others who could relate to that feeling of longing.” She was able to transmute these universally shared experiences and moments (like healing from a breakup) into ultra-unique scents, which allowed Phlur to cultivate a strong and engaged community.

But the power of a good perfume doesn’t end there. “I’ve always pictured fragrance as the invisible accessory that completes your outfit,” Lim says. “Fragrance can be a medium for self-expression or set the tone or mood for an outfit. I encourage people to build their own fragrance wardrobe and layer different scents together to create one that’s truly personal and customizable.”

Next comes my burning question for Lim: Which fragrance does she reach for daily? “I can’t pick just one, but I do find that I’m always reaching for Father Figure ($99),” she tells me. “It’s just such a unique, lush, yet crisp green fragrance that elevates any outfit. I do switch my fragrances up a lot, but I always go back to it. It’s my perfect day-to-night fragrance.” Lim admitted that the next hardest question was narrowing down her top 20 products in the skincare, bodycare, makeup, and haircare categories, but she did just that for Who What Wear readers. Keep scrolling to shop her nonnegotiables below—you don’t want to miss these.