Photo by Markus Spiske

The Top Note | Vol. 4 — Harlem Vibes

Community · Luxury · Art · Perfume

Welcome back to The Top Note — The Taliaferro’s weekly fragrance journal that connects scent, artistry, and culture through storytelling and community. In this issue, we’re bringing Harlem energy, jazz nostalgia, and the timeless rhythm of scent.

Opening Note

Harlem Vibes — Like Harlem Renaissance Vibes

08/02/1924 – James Baldwin (Poet)
12/10/1990 – Teyana Taylor (Singer)
10/03/1988 – A$AP Rocky (Rapper)
04/30/1985 – Yours truly, HT

Being born in Harlem is one of my proud, literature-worthy moments. My older brother always made me feel like being born in Harlem was something special, so whenever I mention it, I quietly blush inside. Yeah, I know I’m not the only one.

Here’s a shoutout to my fellow New Yorkers and Harlem babies. I see you. I hear you. I smell you.

— HT

Featured Fragrance: The Wood

There’s nothing like reclining on a smooth leather sofa while a Herbie Hancock jazz record hums through the stereo — candles flickering, patio door cracked open, and a cool night breeze moving through the air as a glass of red wine rests in hand. That vibe? Immaculate.

While this fragrance was inspired by the nostalgic energy of the movie The Wood and the feeling of deep conversation by a fireside couch, it’s become much more. The Wood is for the elegant and refined, yet gentle enough for the curious and experimental.

As the third fragrance we released under The Taliaferro, The Wood feels like home — warm, grounded, and at peace.

Shop The Wood

Client Spotlight

“This is a creamy, fresh woody fragrance that is definitely unisex. My husband and I both LOVE it — and although I bought it for him, I may sneak a few sprays here and there ;-)”

— Jeneva T.

The Blend: The True Birthplace of Perfume

Was perfume born in Egypt or France?

While France may be recognized as today’s perfume capital, the true roots of perfumery trace back to Egypt. In ancient times, fragrance wasn’t for the masses — it was sacred, reserved for royalty and the spiritually significant. You had to be someone of prominence to experience scent in a bottle.

Fragrance has always been more than adornment; it’s been an anointing — a reflection of identity and divine presence.

Community Connection

Spotlight: Travaulya — “Spray It Loud”

If you’re not already following Travaulya, you should be. She’s a genuine force in the fragrance world — an advocate, connector, and creative who continues to platform and champion Black-owned fragrance brands.

From curated events to immersive scent experiences, her mission is simple: to help others discover and celebrate the beauty of fragrance — loudly and unapologetically.

Check out this short video from a Nordstrom shopping event we joined alongside other incredible Black-owned fragrance houses.

🎥 Watch Here →

Special thanks to Travaulya and her wonderful colleagues — your support has been a gift to us and our clients alike.

Closing Note

“I, too, am America.”

— Langston Hughes, from “I, Too”

A fragrance, a city, a rhythm — all intertwined. Harlem isn’t just where it started. It’s where the story keeps playing.

— The Taliaferro Family