Courteney Cox Reveals Her No. 1 Hosting Essential: ‘I Just Want People to Be Entertained’ (Exclusive)

The ‘Friends’ star shared her hosting preference with PEOPLE while discussing her Homecourt hand washes coming to N.Y.C hotspot COQODAQ for a one-month run

NEED TO KNOW

• Courteney Cox revealed her top hosting essential to create an entertaining and comfortable atmosphere in a recent interview with PEOPLE
• Her luxury brand Homecourt is partnering with COQODAQ to feature handwashes at the restaurant’s ornate handwashing bar
• Seven Homecourt handwash fragrances will be available for diners to experience from Sept. 16 through Oct. 18

Courteney Cox knows a thing or two about hosting — and there’s one essential she can’t live without. 

During an exclusive interview with PEOPLE at COQODAQ in New York City — where she’s bringing her Homecourt hand wash for a one-month run — the Friends alum, 62, opens up about one non-negotiable she has when it comes to hosting at her home or an event.

“I would say music,” she tells PEOPLE alongside COQODAQ owner Simon Kim. “I think it’s really important to make sure that if the food’s not out yet, you know, I just want people to be entertained. It just has to be something that you don’t feel like, ‘Oh, it’s quiet and now we have to fill the space with words.’ You can sit here and enjoy a song.”

After reiterating that “music is my first” essential, Cox adds that she tailors her playlists “depending on what kind of people are coming and what time of day.”

Homecourt, the star’s luxury home and body care line, is bringing its hand wash to the Flatiron hotspot’s famed handwashing bar for one month. 

Once inside, guests are greeted by a grand, ornate handwashing bar so they can wash their hands before and after they dine at the restaurant — which is famously known for its chicken nuggets topped with caviar. 

Speaking about the partnership, Cox tells PEOPLE, “It was the perfect opportunity for us to bring our soaps in and have people experience it in a very gorgeous, elevated place with the food that’s elevated.” 

She continues of the restaurant’s signature dish, “Chicken is, you know, not normally known as fine dining, but neither are our products. Our whole motto is elevating your everyday experience with your everyday products that you use. It was like the perfect blend.”

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Seven fragrance variations of Homecourt’s hand washes will be available for diners to experience at COQODAQ from Sept. 16 through Oct. 18.

“It’s definitely elevating that [dining] experience. It doesn’t dry your hands out, the bottle is gorgeous,” the Scream actress continues of the soaps. “It’s my baby, I get to be that detailed … I want it to be discreet and just have the bottle stand out on its own. The texture, the scent — I’m exhausting because I just care about everything, every detail! But it’s that important.”