Sarah Jessica Parker Wears This Throwback $13 Fragrance

A few weeks back, Sarah Jessica Parker took to Instagram to share the many things she carries with her on days she’s filming And Just Like That. The mom of three had hand sanitizer, Dior lip gloss, hair ties, Papermate pens and a Tootsie roll lollipop in her custom-painted canvas tote — essentials that many other mothers might carry, too. But what caught my eye was something nostalgic: a retro drugstore scent that smells like memories, Skin Musk perfume.

As Parker highlighted each item, she noted where she got them and why she considers these must-haves her favorites. As for the fragrance, the age-defying 59-year-old actress said, “I mean…Bonne Bell Skin Musk. There’s not a lot more to say on that,” with a heavy dose of IYKYK to her tone.

If you don’t recall, Bonne Bell launched the legendary lip-smacking balms that were in every Gen X’s Hello Kitty wallet as a kid. It also made beautiful fragrances, like Skin Musk, which all the cool kids wore. As an elder Gen X herself, SJP is so enamored that she still can’t leave home without it! Unaware it was still available, I immediately needed to find this fragrance. As it turns out, Bonne Bell no longer manufactures it, but Skin Musk is still available at Walmart, and shoppers say one spritz is enough to time-machine you to your pre-teen years. Even better, the throwback is just $13!

I’m not alone in feeling nostaglic about the soft floral, sandalwood and musk fragrance. Legions of shoppers have been thrilled to find the skin scent, saying it never fails to garner compliments. One devotee said, “I have used this musky cologne for over 40 years, back to when it was owned by Bonne Bell. It is still my favorite, and I still get compliments on it. It’s a great cologne for a great price.”

Another shopper concurs, writing “I used to wear this in my younger days, and when I sprayed this today, it brought back so many memories. And it had the same scent as usual and lasted for half a day. It’s not overpowering. It’s a warm and inviting scent and you only need a little bit. It’s such a lovely scent. I would recommend it to anyone.”

This fragrance also gets the rare distinction of being a year-round winner. As we’re not-so-patiently waiting for Carrie Bradshaw’s return to our TV screens with AJLT season three, we can at least have the olfactory pleasure of smelling like her. Fans say the bottles go out of stock periodically and are not sold in stores, so shop it while you can.