A single spritz can be a one-way ticket to memory lane or an introduction to an entirely new world. New York, the collaboration between Fueguia 1833 and designer Gabriela Hearst, belongs to the latter. Hearst, born in Uruguay and now based in New York, is known for her thoughtful fashion rooted in craftsmanship, sustainability, and quiet strength. Her partnership with Fueguia’s founder Julian Bedel grew from shared ideals: a belief that scent, like art, bridges nature and spirit.
Together they created two perfumes for the Destinos collection, Paysandú and New York. Paysandú recalls Hearst’s rural childhood in Uruguay, while New York captures her life in the city, modern, grounded, and contemplative.
It opens with fir balsam and tobacco, warm and resinous, evoking polished wood after rain. Maple resin and vanilla add quiet sweetness that feels natural rather than gourmand. As it develops, cedar and jacarandá wood give structure, while rose and sakura lend a veil of softness. Tonka, patchouli, and palo santo provide creamy depth, and the whole composition moves between woody and balsamic tones with measured grace.
Fueguia 1833 was founded in 2010 by artist Julian Bedel in Buenos Aires and now operates between Patagonia, Uruguay, and Milan. The brand was named in tribute to Fueguia Basket, the indigenous girl taken from Tierra del Fuego in the nineteenth century, whose story became a symbol of cultural loss and resilience. That history informs Bedel’s philosophy of ethnobotanical perfumery, honoring native communities as the guardians of aromatic and medicinal plants.
Bedel describes scent as a form of storytelling. “Taking in a scent is an act of taking time,” he says. “It is a slow process, and an evolution.” Each fragrance is produced entirely in-house, from botanical cultivation and supercritical CO₂ extraction to maceration and bottling. His approach treats perfume as research rather than luxury marketing, uniting science, art, and ecology into a single practice.
New York reflects that precision. It feels elegant and grounded, though for me not emotionally arresting. I admire its warmth and restraint, but the price of $415 is high, and the plastic cap undermines the otherwise artisanal presentation. Still, the formula shows craft and integrity, and it makes me want to explore more from Fueguia before deciding which fragrance best captures the house’s voice.
Olfactive Family: Woody Gourmand
Key Notes: Fir balsam, tobacco, jacarandá wood, maple resin, vanilla, rose, sakura, tonka, patchouli, palo santo
Mood: Warm confidence, urban serenity
Performance: Long-lasting, steady, close to the skin
New York stands at the meeting point of nature and intellect, emotion and restraint. It feels more like reflection than revelation, a quiet statement about balance and belonging.
I visited the Fueguia 1833 flagship in SoHo last week, and I’m still thinking about it. The large wooden table at the center, the amber light, and the quiet order of glass bottles create a sense of calm that feels almost sacred. It is part laboratory, part sanctuary, and completely transportive. I already want to go back. Many visitors describe it as one of the most beautiful fragrance destinations in New York, and I completely agree.
Elevated Classics Classification
Primary Category: Elevated Niche
Secondary Tags: Perfumer-Led | Family-Owned | Sustainable Botanical Production | Scientific Innovation
Composition Partner: In-house, Fueguia Laboratory (Julian Bedel)
Notable Recognition: Global retail presence in Harrods, SoHo, and Patagonia; renowned for pioneering plant-based musk research and advancing ethnobotanical perfumery
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