In my ongoing tribute to the scented geranium, I want to share with you my deep love of Aesop products, many of which contain this wonderfully pungent essential oil. I've written previously about my skincare regimen from Cosmedix, but Aesop also makes hair care, body wash, masks (and even pet shampoo!) that I simply can't resist. Their website opens with this quote from Carl Jung: "As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being." And, indeed, their products are deeply illuminating. Not only do they smell fantastic but they work incredibly well and are made with the finest natural ingredients and very few preservatives. The company doesn't make any outlandish claims, instead espousing the belief that beauty is the result of "a balanced life that includes a healthy diet, sensible exercise, a moderate intake of red wine, and a regular dose of good books." Who can argue with that?

Aesop is based in Australia, but they do have several outposts in London, Tokyo, Paris and Zurich—though sadly none in the US. The products are available at Barneys locations across the country and at both Fred Segal stores in Los Angeles. It's worth a visit to their website where they not only list all the products and their attributes but post a monthly newsletter with their picks all across the cultural spectrum: art exhibits, new music, film, restaurants, etc. They've got amazing taste and a very distinctive, sophisticated point of view. They also have little guides for each of the cities in which their stores are located, and the next time I make it to any one of them, I will be consulting their recommendations for places to go and things to do.Speaking of which, as we head into the weekend, I want to remind you to visit your local farmers market and pick up some concord grapes. They are so sweet and irresistibly fragrant; perfect for this sorbet, or fresh juice, which I will be posting about next week. Stay tuned for that, and for my first guest post, from the very fabulous and erudite Christopher Voigt, whose vetivresse.com has had such glorious things to say about wine and fragrance.