There’s something so utterly glamorous about carrying a lipstick in your purse, whipping out the waxy bullet a few times during the night to ensure your makeup stays perfectly intact. This ritual feels timeless, elegant, and a bit powerful, too – that smudge of pink or red is a colorful armor of confidence and poise. Eva Zhang, founder of Cera Sine Cera, admired the sophistication of this cosmetic custom and decided to create a fragrance equivalent – something portable, chic, and subtly applied – and her perfume oils were born. 
The brand’s name comes from the Latin phrase sine cera, meaning “without wax;” ancient sculptors would use this phrase to assure patrons they hadn’t used any wax to cover imperfections, and were therefore honest as well as skilled. Similarly, Cera Sine Cera is an open book when it comes to their ingredients. The perfume oils contain no alcohol and are vegan, non-toxic and cruelty-free. Their high concentration means they last on skin for up to eight hours.
I had the pleasure of testing out the scent Creamy Dream (part of the new Dreaming Collection), an aptly named harmony of nectar, vanilla and white musk. This scent is a white cloud of comfort – think cream sweater, worn inside on a gray day. It’s raining and a batch of cookies bakes in the oven. A soy wax candle flickers in the darkening room while your favorite movie nears its conclusion. Creamy Dream is the bliss of a night in. That said, it’s lovely for layering; because of its vanillic versatility, you could use it as a base for virtually any atomized fragrance.
Cera Sine Cera carries other fragrant treats as well, such as their hero product, the fragrance tag – a delicately perfumed portable diffuser that can be hung anywhere, from the car to the closet. I tried White Flowers (vintage jewelry in a wooden box), White Tea (the clarity of a mountain morning) and Iris (powdered, floral mystique). I also enjoyed the hand cream, a nourishing treat for the hands in the Crisp Sheet scent (apple, bergamot, sandalwood).
Cera Sine Cera is undoubtedly a brand to watch in 2025. Their aromatic concoctions are not only delightfully scented, but gentle on skin, too. Explore the Gift Guide and treat yourself or a friend.
