Photo by Chidy Young via Unsplash

The Top Note | Vol. 6 — Cloud Nine

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. This issue explores love, light, and the kind of scent that lifts the heart above the clouds.

Opening Note

It was a dark day for him, and then she walked past.
Her fragrance lifted his head, but her smile caught his attention.
For a moment, time stood still, and he remembered that there was light outside.
She was the brightest thing he had seen all day…

— Some Gentleman’s Experience with a Well-Scented Woman

Featured Fragrance: Cloud 9

Everyone loves a vacation, but sometimes all we can manage is a brief escape through the sense of smell.

Cloud 9 was created as a healthy escape — one that requires nothing more than a simple sniff instead of a plane ticket and passport. A little sugar cookie and vanilla never hurt anyone.

Soft and creamy, Cloud 9 is a gentle whisper to your senses that makes your heart blush.

Shop Cloud 9

Client Spotlight

“Soft, sensual, and addictive! This fragrance has completely seduced me! It’s soft and cozy yet intimate and sexy! I also love that it’s not overpowering — it settles close to my skin, making it perfect for day or night. I’m literally swooning in the clouds over this scent!”

— Luis C.

Shop Cloud 9 →

The Blend: Black History and Fragrance

Did you know? Edmond Albius (1829–1880) was a horticulturalist from Réunion who changed the world of scent forever. Born into slavery, Albius discovered — at just 12 years old — a method for hand-pollinating vanilla orchids quickly and profitably. His innovation made it possible to cultivate Vanilla planifolia beyond its native regions of Mexico and Brazil, revolutionizing the global vanilla trade and making this beloved note accessible in perfumery today.

The next time you catch a creamy vanilla note in your favorite scent, remember the brilliance and legacy of Edmond Albius.

Community Connection

Legacy Scent Academy — A Perfume Training Program for the Youth

Have you heard of the Legacy Scent Academy? This inspiring initiative teaches young minds the craft of perfumery — cultivating creativity, cultural pride, and technical skill.

Follow their story and see their introduction post here: Instagram Post →

Closing Note

“Remember how good love can be.”

— Kem, “Say,” from Kemistry

May your love be pure, your memories sweet, and your fragrance take you higher.

— The Taliaferro Family