Throwing out unsolicited perfume recommendations is kind of like giving relationship advice. Unless someone asks—or literally stops you in the street—sometimes it’s best just to stay mum when giving definitive suggestions on the subject.
Except when it comes to PHLUR’s Missing Person fragrance ($99). Everything founder Chriselle Lim makes is exceptionally good, thought-out and pristinely crafted. But there’s something about this “viral” second-skin perfume that is literal perfection—and good enough to mention to even the most discerning of noses. (Real-life case study: I have more than one perfume snob in my life and all of them are hooked on the perfume post-suggestion.)
Comprised of warm and sheer key notes of skin musk, bergamot nectar and blonde wood, the scent feels “comfortable,” but also a bit sensual. Nuances of transparent jasmine, orange blossom and woodsy accords give it some softness and sophistication, while hints of sea salt provide a hard-to-explain positive familiarity.
It also has a very personal meaning for Lim. “Missing Person is more than just a fragrance; it’s a heartfelt journey through love, loss, and longing. Crafted from my personal experience of rediscovering myself after separation, it encapsulates the comforting embrace of skin-to-skin contact and the lingering scent of a loved one’s presence. It’s a tribute to the warmth and intimacy we cherish, now bottled for you to experience and connect with those cherished memories.”
The stats don’t lie: The Missing Person fragrance has repeatedly sold-out since it hit shelves. (It originally sold out three times when it launched and amassed a 200,000-person waitlist.) Translation: Unless you’re hitting “refresh” on Sephora.com every two seconds, it’s still pretty impossible even two-plus years post-launch to snag a full-size.
“I love this scent,” shares one Sephora reviewer of the Eau de Parfum that boasts a casual 50K-plus hearts. “To me, it’s a scent that is very sexy, mature and sensual. The skin musk scent smells very personal to me and I feel comfortable with a bit of the lasting smell when I go to bed. And I will purchase again.”
“Love it!” shared another five-star review. “This perfume smells amazing. I will definitely be buying this again.”
And now, even with its reputation for being a sell-out, you can. Lim recently extended the line to include a Missing Person Body Oil ($45). The silky—yet still lightweight—body oil is infused with skin-mimicking lipids and floral oils, ceramides and even some vitamin C, making for a hydrating formula that absorbs easily and leaves skin feeling nourished. (PHLUR also introduced a Missing Person candle [$45] at the end of April.)
The best part: The oil delivers that amazing Missing Person scent but, because of the formulation of the oil, it seems to last even longer than the perfume, ensuring there’s just the right amount of time for someone to stop you and ask: “What are you wearing?”
