Cherry Perfume, the Best Ice-Cream-Maker, and Other Recent Strategist Finds

If you’ve never whipped up ice cream at home, you’re missing out on a particularly delightful cold treat—one that’s tailor-made for your flavor preferences and, unlike some store-bought pints, won’t be cloyingly sweet or blemished by freezer burn. The stainless-steelBreville Smart Scoopis the tool for the task, says Strategist contributorErik Lucas, who, after speaking to professional dessert chefs, tested five of the most recommended ice-cream-makers to name our top pick. At nearly 31 pounds, the appliance isn’t small, but it is versatile (it has 12 hardness settings) and a cinch to use. Unlike most of its competitors, the Smart Scoop has a built-in compressor that cools the mix as it churns, reducing prep time and making it easy to produce back-to-back batches. Tyler Malek ofSalt & Strawswears by the gelato setting, and pastry chef and writer David Lebovitz likes the texture-control feature to dial in a custom consistency. There’s also a keep cool button, which holds the ice cream at its ideal temperature for up to three hours so you can serve sundaes after dinner without crowding your freezer.

“I have really long hair and a lot of it.
I’ll start the day with it down, but inevitably it finds its way up. Machete’s clips are beautiful. I first spotted them at Striiike in Beverly Hills. I always have one clipped on a bag or a shirt.
They come in vibrant colors, and I’ve curated a collection of them.”

“This book is the most succinct expression of the fact that the quality of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts. I’m not religious, so I call it my bible. I refer to it, and I carry a digital copy everywhere. It’s one of the true gifts of my life. I’ve given it to at least 30 people.”

“A friend who is very knowledgeable about food gave this to me. It’s green garlic, coriander, pink salt, Persian lime, and garlic chives. It’s really great and versatile. I put it on vegetables, fish, eggs, popcorn. It makes anything slightly nicer.”

As a red-starburst fan, I’ve been delighted by a wave of cherry-forward fragrances. I know that “cherry perfume” sounds unbearably sweet, but some are surprisingly complex. I sampled six bottles, and this one is the best: It includes notes of pineapple and coconut water and has a hint of tropical flavor—imagine a piña colada shot swirled with maraschino syrup.
The scent is light, creamy, and indulgent without being overpowering. Come summer, I’ll be wearing it while brunching alfresco with friends.–Kitty Guo

The round hood attached to the 360-degree padded brace makes this pillow look a bit like an astronaut’s helmet—and helps to muffle noise. It includes a drop- down light-blocking eye mask.

When you’re resting against the window, the J-shape simultaneously supports your head, neck, and chin. The soft, adjustable scarf strap is super-cozy too.

This one’s made from memory foam but can be bulked up with the press of a button (like retro Reebok Pumps). The result is a squishy pillow— the most comfortable option I tried.

Thick, tight pillow straps prop your head like a medical brace; the memory foam is plush yet supportive. Air vents on the sides prevent that overheated feeling