This silky oil cleanser transports you to the times of Cleopatra — when a nightly bath was an act of power
These days, luxury body care feels too clean and clinical, says 39BC founder Sharmadean Reid. Her debut cleansing oil, Silk Veil, is the antidote to this utilitarian wave: it’s “textured, like art”. The packaging eschews the neat millennial aesthetic, but it’s not about maximalism; it’s about heritage, Reid exclusively tells AnOther. The embossed red box opens like a sarcophagus, with the oil nestled inside like an ancient artefact. “My middle name is Alexandria, and I’ve always loved Cleopatra and The Library of Alexandria. I was reading her biography and I thought – this is so modern. Cleopatra’s a G. Not just because she was a queen, but because she was powerful and clever.”
You won’t find any contrived ingredients, like retinol or hyaluronic acid, in Silk Veil. “It’s just not my jam,” says Reid. Rather, 39BC is all about sensorial storytelling. Using plant oils, Silk Veil tells Cleopatra’s story with soft notes of tuberose, musk and jasmine, which was used to scent bathwater in Ancient Egypt. With every use, Reid wants your home to smell like an “old bedchamber” – floral, creamy and a little bit church-like. For her, Silk Veil conjures visions of flickering candles and red drapery, all without entering a traditional, powdery olfactory space that she dubs “granny territory”.
Use Silk Veil in the tub to create a silky, soapy soup, or lather it in the shower like a body wash. The scent will pleasingly linger on limbs for hours, and your skin will feel baby soft – no post-wash moisturiser required.
39BC silk veil body cleanser is available now.
