In a festival dominated by visual spectacle—from shimmering textiles to blinding camera flashes—one session on Thursday evening asked the audience to close their eyes and focus on the invisible. “The Scent Edit,” presented by Syrine Khessib of the luxury fragrance house KAYALI, challenged the crowd to stop viewing perfume as a mere beauty afterthought and start treating it as the final, crucial garment in their wardrobe.
The atmosphere in the masterclass was markedly different from the styling sessions that preceded it. Khessib, representing a brand founded on the philosophy of scent layering, guided attendees through the concept of fragrance as an “invisible accessory.” The core argument was compelling: an outfit can communicate who you are, but a scent dictates how you are remembered.
Khessib explored the fascinating intersection of texture and olfactory notes, a concept often overlooked even by seasoned fashionistas. The session delved into the art of aligning scent with fabric—how the heaviness of velvet or leather demands deep, resinous notes like oud or amber, while the fluidity of silk or linen pairs best with crisp citruses or light florals. It was a lesson in sensory cohesion, teaching the audience that a clashing scent can disrupt a look just as jarringly as a mismatched pair of shoes.
Beyond texture, the talk navigated the psychology of “mood and moment.” Khessib emphasized that just as we dress for the occasion, we must scent for it. The fragrance worn to command a boardroom is fundamentally different from the one worn to a romantic dinner. By the end of the session, the takeaway was clear: style is three-dimensional, and without that final spritz, the look remains unfinished.
The Final Layer: Syrine Khessib Reveals Why Scent is Fashion’s Most Powerful Invisible Fabric
Perfume is presented as a crucial wardrobe element, not just a beauty product.
