Perfumer: Faith Nixon
Size: 0.2 oz/5 ml (estimated; size is not indicated but the black glass container is the same size as the Lush solid perfumes).
Base: Jojoba Oil, Beeswax, Castor Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil and Carnauba Wax.
Vegan-friendly: No, due to the beeswax, but the brand also offers wash cards (soap in a paper format) that vegans can use to try the scents.
Natural or Mixed Media: Presumably mixed media–only the catch-all “fragrance” is listed in ingredients.
Fragrance Description by the Brand: from the official website: “Paying tribute to 1960s-Americans, who increasingly demand that state and national governments adopt legislation dealing with civil rights, disability discrimination, environment, sexual harassment, employment and protection.”
Notes: Patchouli, jasmine and sandalwood.
Longevity: Three to four hours (as with most fragrances, it lasts longer under clothing).
Sillage: Intimate (noticeable a few inches above skin), fading to skin scent over time.
Fragrance category: Woody-floral musk.
The experience: I want to keep the emphasis on the fragrance here, but we haven’t yet reached the point where a perfume brand founded by an African-American woman is not a remarkable thing. Black perfumers are a rarity in the fragrance industry, and to find a Black-owned, woman-owned fragrance brand that’s also devoted to the solid fragrance medium is like finding a unicorn. I encourage everyone to read BLK MKT Brand’s “Our Story” page and visit their social media. What founder and perfumer Faith Nixon has done here is no small feat and it deserves a moment of appreciation.
Now, on to the scent!
BLK MKT Brand currently has three fragrance balms (solid scents) in its lineup: Indigo, Reed (a citrus scent enriched with notes of vanilla) and Clarke (with notes of lavender, lilac and sandalwood). All three scents are designed for wear by all genders (an IG post by the brand reads “fragrance is genderless”). All three scents also include notes I love, but I went with my gut and chose Indigo.
With notes of patchouli, jasmine and sandalwood, Indigo offers a clean and pleasant fragrance experience that has been a go-to for me this summer. Indigo is great for the office, perfect for Netflix-and-chill, nice for running errands under the summer sun. It might not be my top choice for evenings out or dressy events, but those are infrequent occasions at this time in my life.
Indigo is not really a complex fragrance, but I get more from it than the patchouli, jasmine and sandalwood listed by the brand. I sense a touch of sweet amber topping off that jasmine, blades of new-mown grass, the lingering laundry musk of freshly-washed white sheets flapping in the breeze on a clothesline… People often describe patchouli as kind of a “stinky hippie” smell. (I don’t disagree, but I actually love that scent.) So, if patchouli smells like a stinky hippie, then Indigo is the scent of that hippie after they’ve had a nice shower with soap, put on clean undies and lit a stick of jasmine incense. The pristine woody-musk and floral notes dominate the scent, and the patchouli-shy can safely appreciate the polarizing aroma as a background note here.
Above all, Indigo is instantly likable and easy to wear. You’ll want to store this one with your “easy reach” scents for rushed mornings. Longevity is typical for a solid–about four hours maximum, but that sleek black glass container, with the brand’s simple but elegant logo, will slide right into your pocket or purse for a touch-up at mid-day.
Occasion(s): Daytime, office and casual occasions. Suitable for sharing close spaces when you don’t want to overpower anyone with your scent.
Season(s): Indigo will work in any season.
Gender considerations (Note: I include this information for people who may find it valuable, though I believe all fragrances are unisex and you should wear what you love): All BLK MKT Brand scents are unisex and creating gender-neutral fragrances is a core purpose of the brand. Founder and perfumer Faith Nixon further describes the brand’s goal: “to create a sustainable and inclusive brand that not only represents marginalized individuals but is good for the consumer’s entire person and our planet.”
Where to buy: on the official BLK MKT Brand website.
Price (as of this date of publication): $25.
Availability: United States. (Unknown if international shipping is available and I’ll update if I receive more info.)
All images by me.
Solidly Scented 
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