Paul Byron Downs

Graybill & Downs is a luxurious home/body fragrance collection created by former top model Paul Byron Downs. Drawing from Paul’s rich Southern and English heritage, coupled with a refined aesthetic informed by living in the great style capitals of Europe as well as New York City for over 20 years, the Graybill & Downs fragrant collection can be found at Topiaire Flower Shop in Southampton.  Paul’s vision for Graybill & Downs was to create a luxury product reminiscent of those of the renowned fragrance and perfume houses of London and Paris, yet proudly made in America.  Graybill & Downs offers singular scents as Sweet Magnolia & Fig, Boxwood Grove, and Tobacco & Orange Blossom, luxuriously packaged in clean, pewter gray linen-embossed boxes with a swathe of gray satin ribbon.  Paul shares the story behind Graybill & Downs in this NEW KDHamptons Design Diary, below:

KDHamptons:  What inspired you to launch the Graybill & Downs collection?

Paul Byron Downs: The short answer is the need to create.  I’ve been immersed in design of one sort or another since early childhood.  My parents as well as my grandparents, both of whom had artistic ability, encouraged and cultivated my natural inclination through garden design and landscaping on the family’s properties, botany, and painting (my watercolor won my fourth grade art competition…clearly, I’m still proud of that!). I went on to study art history and business administration in college and, eventually, to live in all the major cities of Europe while modeling.  The creation of a home fragrance collection — from the blending of seemingly disparate scents, to designing the packaging, down to the precise placement of the final bow is a natural culmination of all of my lifelong  experiences.

Graybill & Downs candles are sold at Topiaire Floral Boutique in Southampton

KDHamptons:  How does your heritage play a part in your brand?

Paul: Spending so much quality time with my parents and grandparents fostered a reverence for family and heritage, mine in particular.  A visceral, grounding sense of continuity, or legacy, if you will.  How do you repay such a wonderful, and increasingly rare, gift? You can’t.  The best you can do is honor it.  So the source material, the aesthetic, even the goal of running a successful business as my great-grandfather C.E. Graybill did… all of it pays homage to them, the Graybills and the Downses.  With this in mind, I knew I had the opportunity to tailor truly unique fragrances that reference traditional symbols of both family heritages, like Sweet Magnolia & Fig, Boxwood Grove and Tobacco & Orange Blossom.

KDHamptons:  What do you love about the Hamptons?

Paul: Really, what’s not to love about the Hamptons? Except maybe the traffic!  Maybe it’s my English ancestry showing, but I find that its Old World timelessness, as in the Village of East Hampton, particularly speaks to me.  That sense of heritage permeates the area, and I like that. Given its colonial heritage, I guess that’s not surprising.  The beaches are stellar, and how can you not love being by the water…breathing that ocean air.

KDHamptons:  Please describe the current collection of products?

Paul: The growing Graybill & Downs collection currently comprises ten hand-poured candles and four liquid soaps and hand/body lotions.  Additional scents are Fleur de Coton, English Ivy & Oakmoss, Basil, Sage & Lemon and such perfect-for-spring (finally!!!) classics as Tuberose, Wild Honeysuckle & Jasmine and Peony Boule de Neige. (For the full collection go to GraybillandDowns.com)

KDHamptons:  Indulge us with a few details about your modeling career?

Paul:  I was “discovered” by a modeling agent in my hometown, Atlanta.  On my last day of college exams to graduate, I booked Banana Republic with Bruce Weber in Palm Beach. Then I was off to the races. Over the course of my career I became good friends with Stephen Sprouse, who shared my love of the arts.  Working with his line, in particular, I ended up in the pages of W Magazine, International Vogue, Arena, and Details, among other publications.  After about three years, I increasingly moved away from the modeling world and more into the art world as an artist in my own right.  I’m honored that the Tisch family have become the biggest collector of my art pieces.

KDHamptons:  What’s up next for Graybill & Downs?

Paul: We are in the process of expanding our bath & body category with two or three new fragrances, as well as introducing travel candles.  A little further out, I am developing a new beauty product (under wraps for now) as well as a truly unique fragrance for women.  I do have plans for a beach fragrance inspired by my love of St. Simons and Cumberland Island off the Georgia coast, once a winter retreat of the Carnegies which reminds me of family vacations spent there.  I think anyone who loves the Hamptons will relate to  Graybill & Downs’ beach fragrance…it’ll be universally appealing in that sense.

KDHamptons:  Where can our readers purchase your collection?

Paul: We’re thrilled that Graybill & Downs is carried in over 50 boutiques, spas, and resorts across the country in such notable areas as Greenwich, The Hamptons, Washington D.C., St. Simons, Naples and Santa Barbara, as well as on our website: GraybillandDowns

KDHamptons:  Do you have a suggested tip for candle care?

Paul: For first burn, allow wax to burn to the diameter of the container creating a “pool” of wax.  This should be about 3 – 4 hours depending on room conditions.  Keep wick centered and trimmed to no more than 1/8” at all times to prevent excessive flame or smoke.  Burn times should be no more than 4 hours and longer than 2 hours to prevent “tunneling” of candles.  With each burn, it is recommended to remove any build-up on the wick and trimmed before lighting.  Place candle on a fireproof surface, away from flammable materials, drafts and vibrations.   Never leave a burning candle unattended or move until cooled because of hot wax.  Keep out of reach of children and pets.