2nd (Alan) Cumming

2nd Cumming seems to me to be the perfect example of coming full circle. When I first met Christopher he had a store on Second Avenue in NYC and I used to love buying those tiny bottles of oils, one whiff of which could transport you to another time or life. And when I was asked to do my own fragrance I knew he was the only person I could imagine capturing my essence and putting it into one of those bottles. But of course commerce dictated that the bottles were bigger, the whole thing was mass-produced and although I loved Cumming the fragrance and the various body products that we went on to produce, I always hoped that one day we would get back to the wee bottles you don't spray but dab with, and so 2nd Cumming is an olfactory cumming home, if you will.  Enjoy!

Alan Cumming - NYC 2010 

I've been asked to do many "celebrity" fragrances in my time. I turned them all down. What did any of these people really have to add to the already hyper-crowded world of perfume? To my mind, virtually nothing. Then I met Alan. 

My first encounter with him as in June 2000. In fact, he presented me with the first of my four Fragrance Foundation Awards. Apparently he was intrigued with my work as he began visiting my former East Village shop whenever he had the time. Over the years, we became friends and I realized that Alan has extraordinary talent and style. And he is very kind, funny, generous to a fault, perfectly unique and totally fearless. These are all qualities I very much admire. So when I was asked to create a scent for him, I instantly agreed. This time, it all made sense.

Our first go round with this project was good. The fragrance was very popular, we had great fun with it and people loved it but there were many problems. But much has changed since then and now Alan and I can do this scent the way we originally intended. We both have a knack for reinvention - hence the name 2nd Cumming or Once More With Feeling! Enjoy!

Christopher Brosius - NYC 2010 

All the notes in 2nd Cumming were originally chosen by Alan himself. How well I remember that afternoon! I keep all samples of my individual accords in small brown bottles. Alan began by picking one up, uncapping it, holding the bottle to one nostril while pinching the other closed. Then with a huge rush, he'd inhale deeply. "No my dear," I told him gently. "I get the association but it's not necessary. All you have to do is lightly sniff these..." Eventually though, he'd chosen a number of seemingly strange and unrelated scents. I was thrilled with his selection. Although it was a challenge to fit them together into a fragrance that made sense, each accord was very important to Alan and spoke clearly of his history and the unique man he is. Here they are:

Bergamot, Black Pepper, Scotch Pine, Malt Whiskey, Cigar, Heather, Douglas Fir, Rubber, Worn Leather, Highland Mud, Burnt Rubber, Peat Fire and White Truffle.

The fragrance is warm and changeable reflecting many moods and feelings. And I designed it so the more you sweat, the better it smells...