ÇaFleureBon Perfumers Workshop: “The Art of Artisan Perfume”+The Pioneers Draw

The Greek Painter Thamar, who lived in the 5th century BC is shown working on a painting of the Madonna and Child while an apprentice is busy grinding pigments behind her. Artist Unknown 1403

Medieval artists searched out the finest materials, learned from Maitres and peers who were experienced in their chosen craft, and often spent years attaining the rank of Artisan. Working with others (and networking) allowed them access to quality supplies as well as interaction with mentors and teachers. This allowed them to create works of beauty and utility that others could not. Our featured perfumers grew their art in this manner. 

Lucille Prache Illustration

The recent history of artisan perfumers may be compared to the growth of ‘Farm to Table’ in the culinary arts and micro brewers of regional beer. This is where the magic of terroir comes into play. Artisan perfumers have access to aromatic materials, both old and new. Recent technologies have created new materials and aroma chemicals that have allowed the perfumer to expand their palette and compose fragrance that would not exist ten years ago.  

Photo courtesy of Charna Ethier of Providence Perfume Co.

In this multi-part Perfumers Workshop series, we will be featuring the “art” of Artisan Fragrance. We will invite many perfumers to participate and share their knowledge as we have always done since our inception in 2010. Of late, the word 'artisanal” is bandied about by major fragrance companies looking to personalize their mainstream offerings and captitalize on the increasing popularity for  this genre of perfumes.

Today we feature six of the “Pioneers” who have honed their skills over the past decade(s) and whose leadership has contributed to the awareness of this internationally lauded art form. The bar is set high for the next generation! –  Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief (introduction with Elise Pearlstine, Editor)

Let’s meet our Artisan Perfume Pioneers:

Angela St John of Solstice Scents, Charna Ethier of Providence Perfume Co, Ineke Ruhland of Ineke, Laurie Erickson of Sonoma Scents,  Sherri Sebastian of Provision Scents and  Liz Zorn of Soivohle (pronounced see-voh)

Liz Zorn of Soivohle's Studio courtesy of Liz Zorn

Michelyn Camen: Why is artisan perfumery ART?

Laurie Erickson: People will always debate what should and should not be considered art. Merriam Webster defines art as “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination, especially in the production of aesthetic objects.” The English Oxford dictionary defines art as “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”  Based on definitions like these, I would argue that perfumery qualifies as art. Artisan perfume formulas take skill and creativity to develop, and perfume is a product that brings beauty and emotion to the life of its user. Perfume is not a necessity for life the way food and shelter are; rather, we purchase perfume to bring pleasure and beauty into our lives. Perfumes often tell a story that the perfumer hopes to reveal as the ingredients unfold, transporting the wearer to another time and place (the ephemeral performance and story-telling aspects of perfume have some similarity to watching a film). I think the line between art and craft is blurred and will continue to be debated, but what probably matters most is that perfume creators find their market and perfume enthusiasts find fragrances they love, regardless of the labels we assign to perfumery.

Liz Zorn: I can only answer from my own perspective. It is about freedom of choice. Art is often broadly defined to be inclusive, but in reality it is a narrow path. The path of self-expression and liberation. It is the ability to create what is in one’s own heart and mind without reservation. The artisan way speaks to this on many levels. It is the path of the individual. I have a synesthetic relationship between colors, smells and sounds. I have always had this connection so I don’t think about it as, “other”. The intensity of it is not constant. Sometimes I can be listening to music and painting, and then there are times when I can’t stand to have the music on. It becomes a distraction. With smells it is a color connection. Each smell has a color and it isn’t always the same smell and the same color. Mood has a lot to do with it.

Anglela John of Solstice Scents

 Why and when did you become an Artisan Perfumer?

Angela St John: Since 2004. I am completely self-taught.  I began offering rudimentary blends online as companion products to our bath and body line in 2009. More complex perfumes started to be offered in 2011. I spent many years building my palette of naturals and synthetics and continue to add new materials frequently. I was very hands-on with evaluating and using the materials and my process is completely intuitive.

Charna Ethier of Providence Perfume Co

Charna Ethier: I have been an artisan perfumer for over 10 years, originally selling just online. About 4.5 years ago, I opened a brick and mortar perfumery/store here in Providence, RI, that has space for my perfuming activities and production in addition to being a storefront. I am a self-taught perfumer. When I started my business a decade ago, it was nearly impossible to find perfumery courses—let alone natural perfume courses. I was determined to study perfumery, and set about gleaning as much information as possible from perfumery books. I quickly discovered that antique books on perfumery were the most applicable to my style of formulation as these old texts focused heavily on natural essences and forgotten methods of obtaining scents such as enfleurage and tincturing. These books written before the popularity of aroma chemicals were treasure troves of information for me, and to this date I have an extensive collection that I continue to add to and make use of.

Ineke Ruhland: Part of the reason for becoming an artisan perfumer was that I moved to the West Coast of the US in 2000, and all of the gainfully-employed perfumers were on the East Coast.  Instead of moving, I decided to try my hand at launching my own line, which I did in 2006.  Being an artisan perfumer also gives you incredible creative latitude – you’re creating freely without having to meet the constraints of a customer brief.

Laurie: I opened my online business in 2004, but I had been blending for a number of years before that. Being an artisan perfumer provides an outlet for my creative energy, lets me feel connected to my customers, and gives me great satisfaction to create products that bring people pleasure. Being able to produce scents that people find beautiful is a true joy (especially for someone like me with some physical challenges). Nothing feels better than receiving an enthusiastic thank you email from a happy customer! 

Liz: I started spending more time working with scent in the 1990s. It had always been an interest, but I was a full time visual artist so I didn’t really think about it in a serious way. By the end of the 90’s I had created a few perfumes and launched what would come to be Soivohle in 2002.

Ineke Ruhland of Ineke

As a woman perfumer, do you believe you are taken as seriously as the men?

Ineke: No, I don’t think women are taken as seriously as men.  Perfumery, especially in Europe, has traditionally been patriarchal.  Men were the perfumers and women were the lab assistants or secretaries.  It’s getting better, but nowhere near parity.  I’ve started too small in the past and been too timid compared to male perfumers, so I’m partly to blame.  You have to assert yourself more to compensate for the gender bias, to be audacious, presumptuous, to claim your space.

Sherri Sebastian of Provision Scents

Are you classically trained?

Sherri Sebastian: I suppose it depends on the definition of ‘classically trained’.  I did apprentice to master perfumer at a fragrance house for many years, then continued to train with experts in fine fragrance personal care, and air care fragrances before working on projects myself. Much like a medieval guild, I spent most of my time observing, compounding formulas, studying ingredients and ultimately learned through years of practice. I still continue to practice, experiment and learn new things every day 24 years later!

Ineke: I’m a classically-trained perfumer having studied perfumery at ISIPCA in Versailles, France.  At the time I was also working for one of the fragrance supply houses in Paris called Quest, which eventually became part of Givaudan.  I worked for them for almost 12 years in the Netherlands, England and France.

What is an artisan perfumer? Does it mean you have to do everything include fill bottles yourself?

Ineke: I never felt that being an artisan perfumer meant you had to fill all the bottles yourself, although I know some people are trying to formalize definitions of artisans vs. indies, where artisans are more hands-on than indies. I think the important thing is that you are creating the formula yourself from scratch.  Whether you’re filling all the bottles yourself has more to do with the quantities that you’re able to make and sell.  If you’re only selling a dozen bottles of a particular fragrance, then it absolutely makes sense to do the whole blending/filling/assembling process yourself, but if you’re able to sell 1000 bottles, then you’ll need help.

Sherri: To me, an artisan perfumer is someone who is practiced at the art of perfumery, understands the subtle interplay between ingredients and who writes formulas and creates in a style consistent with their own specific aesthetics.  Personally, I like to focus on the effect and expression of each ingredient more than their origin and method of extraction. Similar to a painter, I’m more interested in how to use the different ‘colors’ together instead of focusing on the paint itself.

Laurie Erickson of Sonoma Scent Studio

 Why do you think there are more artisans creating perfumes then in the past decade?

Laurie: I think that awareness of artisan brands has spread to an ever-increasing group of people over the last decade, but even five years ago the fragrance community included many fragrance lovers who enjoyed following artisan brands. The interest is partly fueled by the Internet and social media. Also, as the niche market becomes very saturated, some customers look toward artisan brands as a way to find more unique fragrances.

Angela: With the advent of the information age, essential oils and aroma chemicals are not only much more accessible but there is a wider variety of global suppliers. There are thousands of aroma chemicals on the market, boutique essential oil distillers offering more unusual regional oils and more choice for a professional or hobbyist's palette. With the natural and synthetic perfumery schools and courses, private Facebook groups and perfume related forums; I believe there are more resources for people to become involved in learning perfumery and many options to source the materials due to online commerce, than in the past.

Sherri: Yes. Especially with the exposure artisan and niche perfumery continues to receive, along with resources that are increasingly available, I see more people wanting to experiment with scent.

Photo: Charna Ethier-In store perfume classes

Charna, let’s chat about your natural perfumery classes.  Most of your clients have never experienced natural perfume before.

Charna: I offer classes twice a year here at my perfumery in Providence. Some classes, like the Weekend Intensive, are offered every session, while others are offered once per year, like the Colognes class or the Fougère class. And this fall, I’m excited to offer an Advanced Techniques class for the first time.

Sherri's Perfume blotters: Musk

What are the challenges you face as an artisan perfumer? How important has word of mouth been to your perfumery?

Angela: Word of mouth is essential to our existence!We do not use SEO, ad words, sponsor blogging or YouTube personalities, and we do very little advertising. Basically all of the business we have is from repeat customers, customers referring others in their circle and customers discussing our perfume online which encourages new people to try our offerings.

Charna: One struggle I face as an artisan perfumer is finding the balance between art and commerce. I’m inspired to create fragrances that I find personally interesting, challenging, or beautiful. I know that occasionally these scents won’t speak to others the way they do to me. Perhaps the perfume that I labored over won’t have mass audience appeal. I try to balance what inspires me as a perfumer with what customers gravitate towards and purchase.

Ineke:  When you’re an artisan perfumer with a line that you sell to consumers, you’re essentially running a small business, and that has all the challenges of running any small business.  When you’re very small, you end up doing almost everything yourself, and there are very few people who are talented at everything in business.  For example, I’ve been pretty good on the packaging and visual side, but I’m really not great at sales, PR or social media.  A challenge budding perfumers have is to play to their strengths, while trying to figure out how to compensate for their weaknesses.  One good strategy if it’s available to you is to form a partnership with someone who has complementary skills.  If you’re not well-funded, it’s usually not realistic to hire other people to fill in your weaknesses. Newness is a key to being top of mind. It’s important to launch a new fragrance at least every year, something I haven’t always done.  Also being engaging in persistent in social media is important, and for me that’s a challenge and a work-in-progress

Laurie: Artisan perfumers face many challenges. Because we buy in small quantities, the costs for our ingredients and packaging are higher than they are for larger companies. International shipping is also difficult because of the rules against mailing alcohol by air. The paperwork needed for taxes is painful too (keeping inventory, etc.), and we have to handle most of these non-perfume tasks ourselves. Luckily, I enjoy some of the necessary non-perfume tasks, like website work.

Perfumer Liz Zorn of Soivohle

Michelyn: What advice would give someone starting out?

Liz: Smell everything. Create a scent library in your head. Invest in the best materials you can afford. Learn how to make your own accords from base materials. Learn how to deconstruct perfumes based on smell alone. I have had several clients come to me to recreate a custom perfume they could no longer get from the person who made it for them. Learn how to do all of these things, until it is second nature. Be humble. Stay humble. No one is “really” a master perfumer. There are too many variables for this to be true. Always be a beginner, with an open mind willing to learn at any level.

Better Angels: Artist,  Liz Zorn

 Thanks to our Artisans we have a Art of Artisan Perfume Part 1 draw for six registered readers as follows. You must register here to be eligible.

WORLDWIDE: Angela St John of Solstice Scents is offering five samples of your choice from her perfume extraits (please list at least 2 in your comment)

WORLDWIDE: Thanks to Ineke Ruhland of Ineke we have a Deluxe Sample Collection (includes Idyllwild)

WORLDWIDE: Natural Perfumer Charna Ethier is offering 5 ml of a reader’s choice of her Natural Perfume Oils. Please list the one you would like to win in your comment.

EU, US AND CANADA: Sherri Sebastian of Provision is offering 50 ml of Las Flores EDP

USA: Laurie Erickson is offering a 12x 1ml sampler of your choice of any of her Sonoma Scent Studio fragrances (please list at least 3 of them in your comment)

USA: Liz Zorn of Soivohle is offering a 10 ml of any Soivohle fragrance (please be sure to include the scent you want in your comment)

Please leave a comment with what struck you about the “Art of Artisan Perfume”, quotes that resonated with you or what you learned from our Pioneers, where you live and what you would like to win. You can list as many from the options (note Country Restrictions). Are you someone who searches out  artisan perfumes, please let us know!!! Draw closes 8/20/2017

Next week, we will feature five next generation Artisans. We will continue with more Pioneers and  Gen Next artisan perfumers this year. -Michelyn Camen, Editor- in-Chief

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like  Cafleurebon and use our RSS FEED…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume

 

 

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34 comments

  • I love Charna’s comment: “One struggle I face as an artisan perfumer is finding the balance between art and commerce.” So true for so many artistic disciplines! I live in the US and if I win would like the choice of 10 ml from Liz Zorn Soivohle.

  • I really like what I am reading that women are starting to seperate themselves from being just lab assistants to perfumers.

  • I really like what I am reading that women are starting to seperate themselves from being just lab assistants to perfumers. I live in New York City and if I win, I would like to get the 50 ML of Las Flores

  • Thanks for this article! Interesting information coming directly from the source. I liked the part where Ineke said that men and women are not seen as equal when it comes to creating fragrances. Let’s hope that that will change in the near future. In the end, it is the final creation that matters.

    I live in EU and I choose: sample set from Ineke and Las Flores.

  • I neglected to the name my choice from Soivohle. It has to be Oudh Lacquer! Also I wanted to say that I believe, as Ineke does, that woman in Perfumery are often not taken as seriously as men! That is difficult for me to understand, as Artisan perfumery is dominated by so many talented woman!

  • Wonderful article!
    I would love to try sample set from Ineke and Las Flores.
    I live in EU, thx

  • I don’t necessarily search out artisan perfumers more or less than others but I don’t avoid their creations either. I’m just a basic wear what I like person.

    In US would be extremely grateful if chosen to win 10ml from Liz Zorn Soivohle.

  • Really excited about this series. I will not be missing a bit. Perfume is art that I can have with me at all times. It is my favorite art form. I have searched out a few smaller perfumers that are not in niche shops and of course not in dept. stores. These ladies websites are gorgeous!! I would love to win Solstice Scents: Black Forest, Basilica, Pinyon Truffle or Cardamom Rose Sugar. OR I would love Charnier Ether’s Rose. Actually everything in the article looks great. Thanks for bringing up more of these talented people. I live in the U.S.

  • What a fascinating article and so great to get a peek into each of these women’s perspectives. I’m sure we all as perfume lovers have at least fantasized about creating perfumes. I was most struck by the incredible work, training, and courage it has taken each of them to fulfill their dreams. I wish each one the greatest success and offer my congratulations!
    I would love to try each and every one, and will seek them out. It can be a bit limiting here in Canada as we don’t always have the access that exists south of the border. I would love to hear of an artisan perfumer locally who I could support.
    From the draw, I’d love to try the Ineke sample set, or samples from Solstice Scents (Edge of the Night, Vanilla Pipe Tobacco, Library). I live in Canada.

  • This is a not-to-be-missed piece on pioneers in scent. Each of the featured perfumers has graciously given of their time (and perfumes!) to share with us their perspective on this fragrant art. Well done all!

  • Being involved with the art of Fragrance myself, I’m delighted with this article and any that follow. Thanks to the pioneers for sharing their personal and professional perspectives with us. We know how important time is to each of you and I ‘m grateful for you taking time out of your personal lives to share. I love Sherrie’s comment ” I like to focus on the effect and expression of each ingredient more than their origin and method of extraction. Similar to a painter, I’m more interested in how to use the different ‘colors’ together instead of focusing on the paint itself.”
    Angela’s remark about word of mouth was spot on..
    Lovely series and I look forward to many more.

  • I very like artisan and natural perfumes. Those are so special and wonderful. If I would be as lucky to win, my main choice is 50 ml of Las Flores EDP. But If I can’t get it, I would be also glad if I get any of the list:
    Rose 802 Perfume Oil
    Solstice Scents(BLACK FOREST, CONJURE, CONJURE DARK, EDGE OF THE NIGHT, MANOR)
    Deluxe Sample Collection
    Thank you for the draw. I live in the Eu.

  • I was surprised to learn that the perfume world is more male driven. I also appreciate the difficulty of finding the balance between creating something you love with the also finding what can sell commercially.

    I love artisan fragrances but I don’t like to blind buy anything. It’s hard to find shops nearby so I can test them out first. Part of why I love Cafleurebon so much is you keep introducing me to knew perfume houses and give us the opportunity to win unique fragrances.

    If I am one of the winners, I would choose:

    Sherri Sebastian of Provision 50 ml of Las Flores EDP
    Rose 802 Perfume Oil
    Soivohle VANILLAVILLE

  • Very, very interesting and informative article for me. Thank you!!!
    The more I like the talk about chalanges in artisan perfumes.
    Sherri Sebastian of Provision 50 ml of Las Flores EDP
    Sampler of your choice of any of her Sonoma Scent Studio fragrances .

  • I agree with what Liz Zorn of Soivohle has said: “Be humble. Stay humble.[…] Always be a beginner, with an open mind willing to learn at any level.” These words apply to any creative occupation/profession because only this way you can improve your skills, and be better at what you are doing.
    I choose:
    – Solstice Scents (Angela St John)_”Guardian”, “Inquisitor”, “Monarch”, “Runestone”, “Seance”;
    – Ineke_Deluxe Sample Collection;
    – Providence Perfume Co (Charna Ethier)_”Ivy Tower”;
    – Provision (Sherri Sebastian)_”Las Flores”.
    I live in the E.U.
    Thank you.

  • I love this piece, especially to hear what Soivohle’s creator Liz had to say, I’ve been interested in them for a long time. I love traveling to visit small perfume shops/artisans. I think the more unique it is, the more special it feels many times. I was happy to read about these women in perfume, as I myself have noticed the male-heavy trend in the field.

    It was interesting to hear about the economics of it all. It’s too bad a smaller amount of ingredients can sometimes cost you ‘more’ than buying a lot at once.

    I would love to try Soivohle’s iced tea scent, ‘CUMBERLAND TI’. I heard it was really good. I’d also love to try Sonoma scents [like Amber Incense, Pacific Forest, Spiced citrus vetivier], as I don’t think I have yet. I’m in the USA.

    Love these articles!! The interview-style is something I really enjoy.

  • I really resonated with Liz’s words ‘The path of self-expression and liberation. It is the ability to create what is in one’s own heart and mind without reservation” for me that’s nailed it. Its fascinating to see and hear the process each of the woman capture for themselves- and yes, thank you for focusing on the way women work and all of the different encounters that we as women are subject too- not always of our own choosing.There seems to be another wave of consciousness raising going on globally with women’s journey on this planet- maybe its the product of the terrible disaster of US politics and other challenging leadership ideals in the world, maybe the shift of a generation….its complex. Nevertheless- awesome and thanks so much for this- lovely read- I’d be in to any of these works-perfumes being created by these artisans but country restriction in mind- Ineke’s Deluxe Sample Collection (includes Idyllwild) – After my own Heart- Evening edged in Gold sound wonderful 🙂 and Angela St John of Solstice Scents five samples from her perfume extraits – Grey’s Cabin and Edge of the Night captured my fantasy. I’m in NZ

  • Wonderful piece! I like the idea of this series and look forward to reading about the next gen artisans! It’s definitely disheartening to read that women still aren’t equally respected in the field of perfumery.. On a happier note, how cool is it that these women have been able to follow their passion, regardless of their background? From classically-trained to self-taught, the internet has opened up so many possibilities that allow people to have access to various information/materials and be exposed to a wide array of consumers. Not to mention word of mouth, which tends to create a dedicated following! I personally enjoy artisan perfumes and would say it’s a genre I gravitate to. I love small perfume companies where the perfumer is hands-on and involved in every step of the process. It’s also a great feeling when I get asked about the perfume I’m wearing and am able to start a conversation about a house that a lot of people aren’t aware of. Finally, I like Laurie’s statement about finding fragrances you love regardless of the labels. It’s far too easy to get wrapped up in labels and brand names but I agree – we should always just follow our noses and wear what smells good to us. 🙂

    I have already tried the majority of Solstice Scents’ catalog (so many favorites!), I’d be delighted to try any of the following: Ineke Deluxe Sample Collection; Providence Perfume Summer Yuzu; Provision Las Flores; Sonoma Scent Studio: Forest Walk, Fig Tree, Winter Woods; Soivohle Raspberries & Black Pepper. In the US!

  • I was surprised to read Ineke’s quote saying, “…I don’t think women are taken as seriously as men”. I wouldn’t have guessed that by the amount of women perfumers I read on these pages and how many creations by the women noses I like. 🙂 US

    Would love to win 10ml of Green Oakmoss from Soivhole or the sample set from Sonoma Scent Studio including the Cocoa Sandalwood, Winter Woods, Wood Violet, Tabac Aurea, Ambre Noir, Champagne de Bois and Equestrian. US

  • VerbenaLuvvr says:

    I’m in awe of artistic people, and self-taught perfumers such as Angela are so gifted. I would love to win the Solstice Scents collection, and have my eye on Foxcroft Fairgrounds and the new Sunwarmed Honey. I live in the US and prefer artisan perfumes to designer fragrances, they are so interesting and unique.

  • Every perfumer write such in depth answers to the questions. These are some that stand out
    Ineke ruhland saying it’s more difficult for a woman and that she studied in Grasse
    Liz Zorn paints and creates perfumes and started as a fine artist
    Sherri writing about the in increasing availability of materials
    Angela St John uses word of mouth and doesn’t rely on sponsored ads
    Charna Ethier struggles between art and commerce and has a store
    Laurie Erickson says the perfumer tells a story that is revealed by the ingredients
    I am in awe of all these women and gave bookmarked this article and look forward to future ones
    I would be thrilled to win los Flores, providence perfume ivy tower and soivohle lilacs and heliotrope
    More retailers should carry their lines IMHO

  • doveskylark says:

    The interviews with these remarkable women made me want to support artisan perfumers more than ever. I respect their artistic visions and the immense work that goes on behind the scenes to make a living from their artistic creations. I like Liz Zorn’s point about creating without reservations.
    I’d love to win the Sonoma Scent sampler with Tabac Aurea, Equestrian, and Forest Walk;
    Soivohle–Journeyman;
    Solstice Scents sampler with Library, Conjure dark, Black Forest

    I live in the USA.

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    Great article! Nice, appreciable and well balanced Q&A! These pioneers are doing an impressive, fruitful and cumbersome job to please the wearer / perfume lovers and more interesting is that majority of women are the Artisan perfumes.
    If I win my choices are:
    1) Solstice Scents (INCENSUM, BASILICA, SCRYING SMOKE, COVERED BRIDGE & RUNESTONE)
    2) Ineke Deluxe Sample Collection
    3) Providence Perfume Co. Ivy Tower
    Thanks for the draw & opportunity. Pakistan

  • Wonderful article! These pioneer artisans are an inspiration to read about and experience their art. “Be humble Stay Humble” wonderful statement. I love the natural ingredients with unusual creations. I am in the USA.
    My first choice would be
    !. Soivohie–River Walk
    2. Providence–Provanilla, Rose Boheme

  • I like Liz statement “Always be a beginner, with an open mind willing to learn at any level.” and “Invest in the best materials you can afford”.

    Thank you so much Michelyn for such great report. I am really waiting for the second part.

    My choices are;

    1. Soivohle: 10 ml of Journeyman

    2. Sonoma scent Samples: please include Incense Pure, Fire Side Intense and Tabac Aurea.

    I live in the USA.

  • Ineke wrote: When you’re very small, you end up doing almost everything yourself, and there are very few people who are talented at everything in business. For example, I’ve been pretty good on the packaging and visual side, but I’m really not great at sales, PR or social media. A challenge budding perfumers have is to play to their strengths, while trying to figure out how to compensate for their weaknesses.
    What a great series this is, I have not read anything like it anywhere. I have many favorite artisan perfumers and I would be happy winning Providence Perfume Co Rose 802, Provision Las Flores, Ineke sampler, Sonoma Scent Yin and Ylang, Tabac Aurea, Rose Volupte,Fig tree, Soivohle Oud Lacquer and Solstice Scents After the Rain and Tropical Moon. I live in the USA

  • I’m taken with the fact that all of these extraordinary perfumers are women.I’m so glad you featured them. Each of them has come to this in varying ways. Some of self-taught, some are classically taught and all struggle between art for arts sake and the need to run a business. If I won, I’d be delighted with:
    Provision La Flores
    Soltice Scents:Cliffside Bonfire, Sea of Grey, Sacred Vow, Guardian, Sun Warmed Honey
    Sonoma Scent Sampler
    Soivohle Underworld
    Charna Ethier Ivy Tower
    Thanks for the draw. I live in the USA

  • We live in beautiful times, when it is possible to study and learn perfumery secrets without attending special private school at a very high (unaffordable for most), price. I am happy to see more and more independent artisans and artists coming out with their vision. Especially women.
    The part I liked the most was the last chapter with advises to stay humble and to create a scent library in one’s head.
    “Learn how to do all of these things, until it is second nature. Be humble. Stay humble. No one is “really” a master perfumer. There are too many variables for this to be true. Always be a beginner, with an open mind willing to learn at any level.”
    I am trying to stay humble, but I really would love to win one of these:
    1) Providence Perfume: SUMMER YUZU or ROSE 802,
    2) Ineke Deluxe Sample Collection,
    3) Solstice Scents: Black Forest, Basilica, Private Eye, Conjure Dark, Inquisitor.
    Thank you very much!
    I live in the EU.

  • Thank you for featuring all these wonderful women in what I never thought about being such a traditionally male dominated profession. I liked when Charna said that she struggles with balancing art and commerce. I am from the US and I would greatly enjoy experiencing:
    1) Solstice Scents-Edge of the Night, Manor, Old Havana, Cardamom Rose Sugar, Violet Mallow
    2) Soivohle- Journeyman
    3) Ineke- sampler set
    Thank you!

  • Hi first off great article and thnx for giveaway .As for quotes one resonated with me by Ineke saying, “…I don’t think women are taken as seriously as men”,I dont necessarily think thats so true as it was way back,now theres plenty of smazing perfumers that are women,it may be different in europe but in north america we dont see them as any less serious, its an equal field in my eyes at least…And i definitely like searching out artisan perfumers you never know when you might find a genius perfumer.

    Im in canada.

    Id like to win :
    50 ml of Las Flores EDP
    Ineke Deluxe Sample Collection

    thank you

  • I’ve long been fascinated by the concept of synesthesia and learned more by Liz Zorn’s personal insights. “Each smell has a color and it isn’t always the same smell and the same color. Mood has a lot to do with it.” I also found Laurie Erickson’s observation that “Perfume is not a necessity for life the way food and shelter are; rather, we purchase perfume to bring pleasure and beauty into our lives. Perfumes often tell a story that the perfumer hopes to reveal as the ingredients unfold, transporting the wearer to another time and place” really resonates. While I am in no way creative, I hope I’ve learned to appreciate the art of others and that “perfume is a product that brings beauty and emotion to the life of its user”. I live in the US and Id love to have the Sonoma Scent sampler (including Incense Pure, Tabac Aurea, and Winter Woods) or the Ineke Deluxe Sample Collection.

  • What a great read this was. I honestly don’t have much experience in smelling artisan perfumes. But after reading this I will be sure to get my nose on some! I’d love any of

    Provision Las Flores
    Providence Summer Yuzu
    Solstice Set (Lavender Raspberry Truffle, Lavender Vanilla, Blackburn’s Parlor, Manor, Thornwood Thicket)

    I’m in Canada and thanks for the draw!

  • I love the interviews with artisan perfumers. It’s such a wonderful treat to get insight into such a private world, and even more so to hear from those who are so close to the process. For me, that’s what being an artisan is all about: the artistic integrity, the deep connection to the creative process as well as to the creation of the scents themselves.

    A true artisan touches every stage and their knowledge of the final product is both intimate and deeply personal, parental, even. That connection makes artisan perfume truly different from the majority of commercially available scents. The perfume tells a unique story about its creator and to share something so revelatory – to make it available for others to judge and maybe purchase – takes tremendous courage.

    To create, with a deep personal amd emotional connection, and without constraints of what is commercially popular, engaging in each stage of the process, to produce something unique, is Art indeed.

    I would love to receive any of the following:
    Soivohle: Oud lacquer or Underworld
    Sonoma Scent Studio sampler: cocoa sandalwood, spiced citrus vetiver, pacific forest, Amber incense, equestrian, fig tree, fireside intense, tabac Aurea, yin & ylang
    Provision Las Flores
    Providence: Ivy tower
    Solstice: guardian, incensum, basilica, inquisitor, wolf spirit

    Canada or US please and thank you to all the gerenous artisans!