A Night to Remember Inside Aesop's Queer Library SF

Words: Isis Nicole (@theisisnicole)

Photography: David Nguyen (@davidnguyen)

Last night, we spent our evening in San Francisco for an intimate preview of the Aesop Queer Library hosted within the brand’s Aesop Fillmore Street (Reading Room). Stepping inside the inaugural opening, senses were greeted by a signature Aesop ambiance. That light and luxurious lift-the-spirits fragrance threading citrus brightness over a woody base.

And before we could settle in, warm towels and a hand balm were offered, which I found to be a thoughtful touch that felt less like a courtesy and more like a ritual especially welcome after standing in the crisp wind of the city.

To mark the sixth edition of the Aesop Queer Library, the event unfolded as a celebration of writing that centers the queer body á la work that challenges assumptions, illuminates stories long overlooked, and asserts itself as an action of joyful resistance. Author and activist Raquel Willis was the star guest to carry that spirit beyond the curated collection of books and into the room itself, holding space for a meet-and-greet after reading aloud from her acclaimed memoir, The Risk It Takes to Bloom.

Guests were also invited to fill customized Aesop totes with a selection of gifts including a complimentary book of their choosing, refreshing bar soap, nourishing body balm and an herbal tea blend sourced from the beloved McNulty’s Tea & Coffee in Greenwich Village, perfectly in step with Pride Month as a toast to complexity, solace, and community.

Courtesy SEEN Group