The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Ethereal Sunset was launched in 2025 as a refillable gourmand eau de parfum created by perfumer Hélène Vonesch for The Today Project. The composition begins with a familiar pleasure, coffee, then adds juicy plum and creamy coconut milk. Together, they create an opening that feels rounded and inviting, balancing fruit, coffee and a soft dairy accord. The plum brings brightness, while the coconut milk smooths the blend into a rich gourmand impression. As the scent develops, vanilla, tonka bean and sandalwood introduce creamy and powdery warmth, followed by cinnamon, amber and spices that give the composition a gently spiced character.
The unusual part is the balance. Coconut milk and plum make the opening generous and sweet, while coffee introduces a roasted, slightly bitter counterweight. The heart expands that contrast with vanilla bean, tonka bean, sandalwood and cinnamon, turning the composition from a clean gourmand into something warmer and more textured. Tonka brings a powdery sweetness, sandalwood gives it a smooth center, and cinnamon adds a controlled flash of spice.
The evolution
At first, coconut milk, coffee and plum arrive together in a bright, rounded opening. The fruit is juicy, while the coffee gives the sweetness a deeper character and keeps the opening from seeming overly simple. As the scent settles, vanilla bean, tonka bean and sandalwood replace that brightness with a creamy, powdery warmth, while cinnamon adds a clean edge of spice. The base becomes warmer and more grounded through amber, musk, white pepper, labdanum and cedar. These notes create a soft contrast between sweetness, wood and spice, with amber lending depth and white pepper bringing a subtle lifted edge. Over time, the composition moves from fresh fruit and creamy gourmand notes toward a warmer blend of vanilla, woods and amber. The result is a close, layered impression that can be explored through the changing balance of fruit, coffee, spice and soft woody warmth.
Cultural impact
Ethereal Sunset can be understood through its gourmand composition: coffee, plum and coconut milk form a familiar opening, followed by vanilla, tonka bean and sandalwood that add creamy and woody depth. Cinnamon, amber, musk, white pepper, labdanum and cedar extend the scent into warmer, spicier territory. Its refillable format adds a contemporary dimension to a fragrance built around contrasting notes, inviting exploration of how fruit, coffee, coconut and dessert-like warmth meet on the skin.
The House
The Today ProjectThe Today Project is a fragrance brand founded by cosmetic formulator and architect Paola Gugliotta. Its identity sits between fine fragrance, formulation science and refillable design, with each scent developed from a place, memory or emotion. The early collection includes Tuberose Dawn, Fig Dusk, Citrus Aurea, Bergamot Twilight, Geranium Zenith and Ethereal Sunset, all dated to 2025. Gugliotta’s background spans more than 25 years in beauty and cosmetic formulation, including five years focused on fragrance development and work in luxury hospitality. The brand presents perfume as a personal encounter with atmosphere and place, pairing composed fragrances with a considered approach to how they are worn, stored and replenished.
The Creator
Hélène VoneschHelene’s technique rests on three pillars: botanical purity, structural clarity, and tactile depth. She favors raw rose absolute, green tea extract, and peppery Sichuan notes, layering them with precision to create a clear progression from opening to dry‑down.



























