Kai

Although fragrance trends can be as fleeting as their fashion counterparts, perfumer Gaye Straza’s enchanting small-batch scent Kai endures. A custom floral she created for herself in a bid to recall childhood vacations on tropical islands, Straza’s blend of exotic white flowers was originally sold at the cash register of her Malibu fashion boutique in unmarked bottles. It was an immediate hit with locals and celebrities (it quickly caught on with everyone from New York City beauty editors to Charlize Theron and Jennifer Garner), and Straza eventually closed her boutique in 1999 to focus on the fragrance full time. The line has since expanded to a collection of shampoo, body wash, lotion and home fragrances — and, just as in its early days, the scent remains free of parabens, sulfates, phthalate, phosphates and all animal products.