Chicago DJ Zernell Gillie Bottles Music Into Scents

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Zernell Gillie, a professional DJ from Chicago, has launched a line of fragrances that capture the spirit of different music genres with Chicago roots. Each scent is named after a style of music, like House, Disco, and Blues, and Gillie meticulously develops the formulas to evoke the sensations of being on the dance floor. Gillie's passion for fragrance grew after living in Europe, and he now runs a successful fragrance business while also DJing.

Why it matters

Gillie's fragrances provide a unique way for people to experience Chicago's rich musical legacy and culture. By bottling the essence of different genres, he is able to transport people to specific moments and memories tied to the city's vibrant music scene. His business also represents the entrepreneurial spirit of Chicago creatives who are finding innovative ways to celebrate their hometown.

The details

Gillie, who is also a professional DJ, channels the energy of Chicago's music scene across his fragrance line. His debut scent, House, opens with notes of aged raspberry and Hawaiian sandalwood, evoking the sensual, pulsing rhythms of the homegrown electronic music style. Gillie has since released six more fragrances, each named after a different genre with Chicago roots, like Disco, Jazz, and Blues. He meticulously develops the formulas, with some taking up to 42 versions to finalize, in order to capture the specific feelings and atmospheres of these musical styles.

• Gillie launched his fragrance line in 2022 with the debut scent Disco.
• Gillie's first run of 100 Disco bottles sold out in just 3 days.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Gillie plans to continue expanding his fragrance line, with each new scent paying homage to a different musical genre that has roots in Chicago.