Profile: I grew up the youngest of four in the suburbs of Chicago. My grandmother was one of the biggest influences in my childhood. She was a true renaissance woman. She was filled with creativity…sewing, knitting, crocheting, gardening, making jams and pickles…there was always something amazing that she was creating. This type of creativity was truly inspiring to me and she would teach me everything she knew. She had a beautiful garden filled with roses and other fragrant botanicals.
Often she would throw out a blanket in the front yard under the Magnolia tree where she would create a picnic lunch for my friends and me. I can still remember the smell of the Magnolia mixing with the warm summer air. I also have fond memories of playing with my Barbie dolls next to the lilac bushes – the fragrance was divine! It was here that I first began my love affair with perfume. As I realized that all of my memories in life were associated with scent.
I began modeling at age 16 which lead me to Japan, then on to Fashion Design School. California soon called out to me, as I am a Bohemian Hippie at heart so at the age of 19 I made the decision to move to San Francisco. Here I began working with a beauty products company that imported one of the first French essential oil lines to America and I had my first taste of the utter magnificence of pure essential oils. I was overtaken by the pure scents of Jasmine, Rose, Citrus and Sandalwood. I was hooked and began thinking that this was my calling but didn’t quite know what to do with it. After a trip to Grasse, I was convinced. But not knowing exactly how to pursue this I eventually decided to go back to my design background and became a jewelry designer. It was not until almost 20-years later that I rediscovered my love of perfume and with it, my Bohemian heritage.
Jane and Rex Rombach wedding and honeymoon
On a vacation to Mt. Shasta my husband Rex Rombach and I shared a dream of creating real plant-derived fragrances. We decided that I would go to school to become a master essential oil therapist and organic perfumer and he would plant an organic farm on our ranch in Carmel Valley, California and study distillation. 4-years later Ajne opened our first boutique and laboratory just off the famed Ocean Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
My Bohemian heritage has always had an influence on my life. After a trip to Prague I was convinced that this Bohemian look would be our design style. I loved the idea of bottles wrapped in hand made filigree each like a piece of jewelry. This made sense to me as each of our perfumes is handmade and our bottles should be as well. So when it was time to create Ajne's signature bottles and our famous perfume pendants I knew exactly how they would look. All of Ajne's bottles are handmade in the Czech Republic by village artisans. Each bottle hand-wrapped in gold and silver filigree. It's a labor of love from start to finish.
Painting: "Spring Array" by Christine Crozier (christinecrozier.com)
Favorite American Artist: We’ve also incorporated the amazing artists of Carmel, in our work. I particularly love Plein Aire, which involves landscape views, flowers and gardens. My favorite artist is Christine Crozier who is a local plein aire artist. Our house and store are filled with her work
.
On American Perfumery: I think it’s wonderful how vibrant and well-received American perfumery has become. There was a time when people thought that only the French could create liquid magic and now there’s a niche movement in America where passionate perfumers like me are creating there own collection and enjoying huge success. This is perfume that comes from the heart and soul. When I stand in the fields of our farm in Carmel Valley and take a deep breath it stimulates not only my soul, but also an ancient part of the brain called the limbic system. The fragrance of natural plants and essential oils are literally written in our DNA and this is an important part of natural perfumery. They are scents that our ancestors smelled, so they truly have a strong effect on our emotion and memory. I know the roses I smell now are the same that my grandmother smelled. This grounds and connects me to the earth and her spirit. It may be a long way from the suburbs of Chicago but the smells of lavender, rosemary, citrus, sage, geranium, jasmine and rose remind me of home and happy childhood memories.
Editor's Note: I have known Jane for six years, we have met twice and I am very proud to have worked with her in formulating and naming Lakshmi, (after the Hindu Goddess of Abundance). Lakshmi is an oriental gourmand and is the most expensive fragrance in her collection. The fragrance was custom made for me…based on a chakra reading – to help stimulate creativity, connect to my higher self and create a sense of "grounding" and security. – Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief
For our draw Jane is offering ANY MINI (.125) "DAB" perfume from the entire collection of natural Women's and Unisex rare perfumes. Each are housed in the beautiful Bohemian Flacon and you can scroll down to find the one you would love to win. To be eligible, please leave a detailed comment on what you found fascinating about Jane as well as naming your denatured oil perfume choice and preference of round, square, gold or silver (if your selected perfume is available in two shapes and metals, otherwise just name the perfume, the color of the metal and the shape). Draw ends Sunday, May 13, 2012
We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.