UNDER THE RADAR: Hampton Sun
An Exclusive Sniffapalooza Magazine Interview with
Co-Founder Salvatore Piazzolla
Salavatore Piazzolla and Grant Wilfley
The beauty of Southampton, Long Island motivated two men to create a lifestyle company that would blur the lines between suncare, skincare and fragrance. Thousands of miles away from the rarefied olfactive universe of the South of France, Hampton Sun Care was born on the South Shore of New York’s Long Island.
Inspired by nature, enriched by the beaches and indigenous flora, Privet Bloom is the Company’s first fragrance. Brian Kurz,(formerly a top executive with the incomparable L’Artisan Parfumeur and the legendary Penhaligon’s) recently joined Hampton Sun—immediately putting their fragrance on our radar.
In this exclusive interview Co- Founder Salvatore Piazzolla shares the Company’s ‘fragrant’ vision with our readers:
MC: Please explain how Privet Bloom became your signature scent. What is its composition and inspiration?
SP: We wanted to create a unique product that spoke to our core inspiration—the beautiful beaches of Eastern Long Island. Our vision for the fragrance came from riding a bike to the beach, the smell of privet hedges blooming in the breeze, the sun in your face as you approach the dunes and then, at last, the ocean. A deep breath. Clean, fresh and pure.
Privet Bloom has complex top notes of lemon verbena and bergamot blended with white hyacinth petals, sea grass and fresh cucumber. The heart of Privet Bloom is composed of lily of the valley, jasmine, linden blossoms, gardenia, orange blossom and dune rose. The fragrance rests on a base of sun-warmed driftwood and musk.
The dune rose and sea grass are indigenous to Southampton
MC: Why did you decide to enter the fragrance market?
SP: Fragrance was always part of our vision for Hampton Sun. Fragrance is an emotional connection with our clients. It forms memories and creates atmosphere.
My partner Grant Wilfrey and I created Hampton Sun in order to fill a gap in the market for luxurious sun products that we could enjoy with our friends in the Hamptons. The suncare line was an immediate success and we were eager to build on the emotional connection with the Hamptons through fragrance. We wanted to create a fragrance that could be worn year round to enjoy warm memories of summer and that captures the energy, essence and elegant atmosphere of the Hamptons.
The Flowers of Southhampton, Long Island Inspires
Hampton Sun Fragrances
MC: How important will fragrance become to the Company?
SP: We are constantly inspired by fragrance and are only at the very beginning! The process of working with Ungerer & Co has opened our minds to producing other fragrances that will expand Hampton Sun but remain very true to our core inspiration. Each time we return to the Hamptons at weekends, we search for new fragrance memories and look to create additional inspired by perhaps different native flora, different seasons or times of day. It is a fascinating creative process!
MC: Can you please tell us about your next scent which is inspired by the Hamptons?
SP: Well, it’s too early in the creative process to give any specifics, but we are partnering with Ungerer & Company. We are working on our second Hampton Sun fragrance. This one will be primarily floral but with an interesting twist……. We hope to preview it to Sniffapalooza members in mid 2009!
MC: WE WANT TO BE THE FIRST MAGAZINE TO PREVIEW … SO WE ARE HOLDING YOU TO THAT!! Until then, what other scent related products are you contemplating? Any home fragrances or bath and body products to look forward to?
SP: Additional Privet Bloom products will launch in early Spring 2009. Initially there will be a shower gel and hydrating body crème along with a soy-wax based candle. The packaging is beautiful and the formulas are exquisite!
Privet Bloom is available in both eau de parfum
and eau de toilette 1.7 oz sprays
Bigelow Apothecaries
414 Sixth Avenue
Greenwich Village, NY 10011
By Michelyn Camen
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