Ever wondered what Euphoriaโs Hunter Schafer smells like? Consider the mystery solved. As the new ambassador for Angel Stellar โ the latest addition to Muglerโs growing fragrance dynasty โ her aura is vibrant (thanks to bergamot), complex (thatโll be the pistachio), and bold (courtesy of heady patchouli). Not entirely unlike her iconic character, Jules Vaughn.
Of course, itโs Schafer herself who logs onto our Zoom call, and besides being the best-dressed celebrity Iโve ever interviewed (think hooded halter top and plenty of sparkle), sheโs also probably the most enthusiastic about perfume. As a self-confessed fraghead, I loved diving deeper into what fragrance means to Schafer โ and we also talked tired beauty standards, injectables, and Euphoriaโs unmatched impact on makeup trends.
Read on for her thoughts on scent, self-expression, and shaking up norms.
Huge congrats on your new role with Mugler! If you could make any smell into a perfume, what would it be and why?
A candy is always fun โ the child part of me wants that! I would say like a gummy bear โ Iโm a big sucker for gummy bears. Also, my favorite nut is pistachio, which is a huge note in the new Mugler Angel Stellar. The fun thing about fragrance is that itโs all about feeling; orienting and elevating yourself in the way that you want to feel โ itโs nostalgic. I do think thereโs a lot of poetry that lies in using material resources to create a feeling. What Iโm always going for is a radiant femininity or a soft power. This definitely lives in Mugler Angel Stellar.
Whatโs your magic number of sprays for that signature soft power?
I never want to overdo it, but a nice distribution is always what I go for. I love doing the wrists because I love the glamor of [pressing them together] and then under the neck. Sometimes, if Iโm feeling extra fun, Iโll do a spray in my hair. I like to concentrate [on] those more powerful areas.ย Everyone has their way of applying it. I have this vision in my head sometimes of walking past someone I want to make an impression on, and my hair leaves a little waft of a fragrance.
Do you ever use perfume to spark joy or shift your energy?
Sometimes I equate it to what I aim to do with fashion or the clothes Iโm wearing. A good analogy is how you feel when you put on a pair of high heels, and it changes the way you walk. I think fragrance has a lot of those same sort of superpowers. Whether you want to lean into something thatโs more sultry and sexy or something more sophisticated and daytime [appropriate], the fun thing about fragrance is that itโs emotional and ultimately rooted in feeling, so that can really help boost [my] mood.
Is there a smell or a fragrance thatโs forever tied to a memory?
I always think of my momโs perfume and how sweet it was when I was younger. I get little flashbacks of childhood. The sweetness in Mugler Angel Stellar is grounded in more powdery and creamy pistachio, as well as punchy moments with the bergamot and wood. Itโs fun because you can find those accents, like a sweet fragrance you remember from childhood, in something new and exciting.ย
Is perfume part of your process when stepping into an acting role?
You know, Iโve heard some actors use fragrance to help them get into character. Itโs not something Iโve tried personally for work, but when it helps evoke a feeling or stepping into some kind of power, thereโs something about fragrance that helps us play characters in our day-to-day lives. [Itโs about] being able to jump between more powerful or soft versions of ourselves.ย
Now for some makeup. I noticed that Euphoria season two marked a sharp shift in hair and makeup, from dreamy whimsy to graphic edges. What inspired the change, and how did it reflect your characterโs evolution?
Thatโs the fun part of makeup, and the showโs approach elevates the more surreal factors. We always talk about playing with a level of emotional reality on the show, and in some ways, season two was a lot more dark and raw โ although the show overall is relatively dark and raw! But at least for my character, it reflected her headspace. [We thought] about subtle ways to be able to tell that story without saying it in words or actions. Makeup is always an exciting opportunity for storytelling.
Which makeup tricks from the showโs MUAs, Donni Davy or Alexandra French, have made it into your routine?
I definitely learned a lot about glitter! Thatโs something that I have a lot of fun with. Everyone knows we love to do that on Euphoria. Itโs interesting because it evolves every season, and Iโm always learning new things about makeup in the makeup trailer. The first season was more playful and more illustrious. There was a certain sensibility. Season two was darker and more geometric. [Season three] is really interesting โ weโre filming it right now and fleshing out this new space for Jules.ย
Do you ever do your own makeup for scenes?
In the first season, I was really hands-on. One of my favorite looks is the clouds that Jules has around her eyes. That was something me and Donni [Davy] came up with together, and I helped draw out the clouds. These days, I like to be a little more hands-off just because the character has [evolved]. Sheโs not quite the same parallel that I really felt in the first season. Jules was one step away from who I was. Now sheโs a few more steps away from me, so I let [the makeup artists] take the reins more often.ย
Which outdated beauty rule do you think itโs time to retire for good?
Beauty is such a fun space because at its core, itโs about exploring and feeling good about yourself, but I do think maybe these days, there can be an overemphasis on perfection. Anyone who participates in beauty can recognize that to some degree. I hope thatโs something we can keep an eye on as a culture. Obviously, we love to go for โperfectโ looks sometimes, but I think perfection can also be sort of restraining as an idea, and potentially boring! Thereโs so much beauty in imperfection and awkwardness. Those are things to embrace, just as much as ideals or perfectionism.ย
For me, itโs the whole anti-aging narrative โ itโs tiredโฆ
Some of my favorite style icons are people who are quite a few years older than me. I love looking to people who have been around much longer than me for inspiration. We should be excited about getting older. As far as I can tell, Iโm liking life more as I grow older. We should embrace aging.ย
Do you think experience comes with age? I used to get Botox, but now Iโm over it.
Yeah! Itโs really interesting because itโs like okay, we start this anti-aging beauty journey โ I am a fan of some things, Iโm not saying [theyโre bad] โ but it is something to be mindful of because at what point do you stop and start to embrace signs of aging or whatnot?ย
Watching Aimee Lou Wood in The White Lotus, I found her real, unfiltered facial reactions so refreshing!
At least while Iโm an actress, I want my face muscles to work, so thatโs something I want to avoid at least for the time being. Everyone has their own approach to it, but itโs important to be able to emote. Thereโs so much beauty in that, and itโs something I donโt want to lose in the sort of beauty race for not aging.ย
This interview was originally published on Refinery29 UK.
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