ÇaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery Jeanette Price of Wax Poetic + Fragrance For the Poet in Each of Us Draw

  jeanette Price Wax poetic

Jeanette Price  Perfumer for Wax Poetic

Profile: I’ve always had a love of stories and the language used to tell them. From early on my parents worked very hard to entertain my spunk, which was not an easy task in our rural Virginia town. Like many children of my generation, a viewing of The Karate Kid had me sold on martial arts.

fishing

Young Jeanette catches a  BIG fish with her Mickey Mouse Pole, (with her dad)

When I wasn’t practicing defensive moves I was either reading or wandering around outside with my dog in the dense forest and neighboring farmland. Later in my youth I met my best friend who lived on a horse farm, to cool off during the summer heat we would ride the horses into the pond until we all had to swim. Though it has taken perspective to recognize, so much of what I remember about growing up was simply outside in nature. I love the olfactory overload of summer in the South: wild blackberries, cut hay, honeysuckle, cow farms, ripening tobacco, and thunderstorms.

Saharadesert

Jeanette and her friend visiting the Sahara Desert

By adolescence I was audacious and curious, but outright bored. I was a writer and my rural town had simply run out of stories. I was finally given a focus for all of my creative energy when I arrived at Hollins University. Though I focused on creative writing, the program was flexible enough to allow me to indulge a long-time goal of learning French. The extra courses would ultimately lead me to study abroad in Paris. On a trip to southern France I visited Fragonard in Grasse and the formality of the French fragrance house intrigued me however made perfumery feel distant and inaccessible. I later studied in Rabat, Morocco where I was immensely impressed with its effervescent culture and friendly people. Though I had to leave it to work a summer job in Paris before returning to my senior year of college, I had an instinct that I would soon be returning to it.

Atlasmountains

Atlas Mountains near the base of Toubkal Morocco:'s highest Photo Jeanette Price

I graduated in the height of the economic recession and I returned to Paris in the summer of 2009 to work as a tour guide with full intent to save my Euros in order to move to Morocco. I reconnected with friends in Rabat and within two weeks of arriving I had secured an apartment and teaching job in Tangier. During my free time I would wander the souk and visit the perfume stalls where I would get my introduction to making fragrances with Morocco’s finest aromatic materials. I will forever have a soft spot for Atlas cedarwood, Moroccan rose, eucalyptus, and argan oil. After 6 months in Tangier I returned to the capital of Rabat with its own unique souk and perfume stalls. I would eventually move to teach in Casablanca where trips to the southern region are easier. On those trips I discovered a few co-ops and farms that are true hidden gems of aromatic materials. A short-term goal for my business is to return to Morocco and source directly from them.  Perfume would not register as a career option until a few years later. I applied to graduate schools to pursue a Master of Teaching, and in the quest to continue gaining new experiences I had a teaching job in Bangladesh lined up if I was not accepted. The University of Virginia kindly obliged, and I was happy to return to my home state. Social justice is one of my core beliefs and education gives others the ability to create their own life story. There is no greater gift you can give to someone else.

perfumematerials

Wax Poetic  natural perfume essences and ingredients

After graduate school I moved to San Diego where despite all of my experience I could not find a full time teaching job. It may very well be the best disappointment of my life. I started to blend perfume again and my love for it had never left, within a few months I was researching how to establish a business in California. I launched my debut brand Peachy Keen Perfume in the spring of 2014 and it has quickly become a local favorite.

 

Wax Poetic Fragrance Teaser

At the beginning of 2015 I began developing Wax Poetic, my ultimate passion project that combines fragrance and language. Each fragrance has been developed around a poem, or vice versa. I believe storytelling and fragrance can seamlessly connect and the collection is a representation of that. I want the line to lend itself to unique interpretation and meaning just like all great pieces of literature and art. To prove that the product is handmade I dip each bottle in wax making each of them unique. Wax Poetic will launch in July of 2015.

PerfumeStudio wax poetic

Jeanette Price of Wax Poetic in her studio

On American perfumery: The increasing amount of interest in independent and artisan perfumery is certainly making it a movement. From my experiences overseas I have become highly patriotic of the freedoms afforded in America and I think that liberty is present in the diverse and nonconformist styles that are ever developing in American perfumery. It’s necessary to state that the greater interest in independent perfumery is beneficial to everyone involved. It feels that the biggest challenge is for more people to be open to the idea and spreading love for it is what will sustain the current trend. I feel very fortunate to be in such good company on the west coast and get to learn more about mixed media at classes the Institute of Art and Olfaction offer.

CandyCigarette1989

 Candy Cigarette 1989 Sally Man

Favorite American Artist: Sally Mann. Each of her photographs is an intense narrative. Her Immediate Family collection was shot in rural Virginia in the late 80’s; it’s no wonder that a part of me relates to the bold attitude and youthful ennui that she captures so well.

Jeanette Price,  Perfumer and Founder of Wax Poetic.

JeanettePriceFRAGmentstable

Jeanette at FRAGments Photo Ellen Covey

Editor’s Note: Jeannette debuted her soon to be released fragrance line at FRAGments  May 30th

WaxPoeticEmberFruition

Wax Poetic Ember and Fruition- note the bottles are hand dipped in wax

Thanks to Jeanette we have a worldwide draw as follows. For US  registered readers we have a pre-launch bottle of Wax Poetic Ember a fougère with a distinct blend of galbanum and fir needle. Ember is a story of renewal after a loss, emulating the scent of maturing wheat after the earth was scorched in the spring.

For ALL our  registered readers worldwide Jeanette is offering  draw of three Wax Poetic sampler sets  of Fruition, Flight, Ember, Mercy (this option is open to our US readers as well). To be clear, we have four perfume prizes. To be eligible, please leave a comment with what you found fascinating about Jeanette Price path to perfumery, where you live and the fragrance choice. Draw closes June 17, 2015

Follow Wax Poetic on instagram @waxpoetic

Please like CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery and your entry will count twice.

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

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

8 + 1 =

29 comments

  • I love hearing how people came to perfumery as a career. Jeanette’s story resonated with me in many ways because I am still trying to find my path. It seems like while hers was maybe not the most straightforward, she is on her way! I am in the US, thank you. I would love to try the sampler.

  • leathermountain says:

    I find it fascinating that Jeanette Price is launching her second perfume brand, that she has such a distinct vision for it that it needs to be a separate brand. I really appreciate the wax-dipping, and so I would select the bottle of Ember. I’m registered, in the US, and ‘like’ Cafleurebon. Thank you!

  • I’m intrigued that Ms. Price decided to rebrand her second line. I tried samples of the forerunners to Wax Poetic (I especially liked Ash) and am glad to see more coming in that style. I’m in the US. Consider yourselves liked.

  • Chris Schaefer says:

    I have always loved Profiles in American Perfumery and this article about Jeanette was intriguing as always. I loved hearing of her travel and her education. Her living in Morocco and learning so much about perfumery there was lovely. What amazing aromatics to work with! Particularly I enjoy the literary inspiration.

    If I might win I would like to try the sampler please. I live in the US and thank you so much for the great article and the draw.

  • Fascinating that Jeanette was bored in her small town, and in college took to creative writing and French. The French study led her to France and a visit to Fragonard in Grasse. One can’t help but wonder if she was born in a place like NYC if she’d have been as bored as a youth and and would have still traveled to France to be followed by making perfume today. Would like to win that sampler set. I’m in the US.

  • fazalcheema says:

    Even though Jeanette is a perfumery now, her teaching career seems to have been quite interesting especially in Morocco. Morocco may be popular tourist spot but I actually found about the country’s scent heritage through Serge Lutens’ interviews and it seems Jeanette shares Lutens’ love for the country. thanks so much for the draw and best of wishes to Jeanette on her perfumery career path. I am in the US

  • I enjoyed reading about Jeanette’s memories of her childhood. Love the photos.
    I’d love to win Wax Poetic sampler set.
    Thank you for the draw! USA

  • Nice review. I found fascinating about Jeanette Price path to perfumery is that, that she very likes her job. And these perfumes are sounds very interesting. Thanks for the draw! I live in Europe.

  • I loved the fact that Jeanette Price used to be a teacher and she is fulfilling her dream of becoming a perfumer this shows how she likes to chase her dreams and making them a reality. I wish her all the best with her new line of perfumes.
    I live in EU, I am a registered Cafleurebon reader and I choose the sampler set.

  • I’m fascinated by Jeanette, growing up in rural Virginia, taking off for such exotic places and learning so much on the way. It’s astonishing that she couldn’t get a job teaching in California. I love how she puts this as “the best disappointment in my life.” Her love of language shows in this profile. I quite like the story of Ember, and it sounds like it will smell great too, so that would be my choice if I were lucky enough to win. Thanks for introducing us to Jeanette Price and her new line. Good luck, Jeanette! In the US, a registed CaFleureBon reader.

  • If Jeanette obtained a teaching job in San Diego, we wouldn’t be reading about Wax Poetic now. That’s fascinating. Sample set please. 🙂 USA

  • thegoddessrena says:

    I like that her biggest disappointment seems to be a gift in disguise. I am in the US and would like the sample set

  • Valentine Girl says:

    I really enjoyed hearing Jeanette reminiSCE”NT”s about her rural Virginia childhood and riding the horses into the pond until everyone had to start swimming! I also love to travel, so it was fascinating to learn of her experiences wandering through the souks in Morocco & I am really excited that she is planing on sourcing some of her aromatic materials from small farms & co-ops discovered during her travels there.

    I have been really curious to learn more about Jeanette & her perfumes ever since the recent FRAGments event posting, so thank you for featuring her in Profiles in American Perfumery . I wish her much success in the launch of Wax Poetic (love the name & the hand-dipped wax on the bottles) & I would love to win the sample set. USA resident.

  • I’m intrigued by her belief that storytelling and fragrance can seamlessly connect.. very interesting! I’m in the U.S. and I’d love to win a sample set.

  • Oh, I was pretty into Karate Kid as well! Moreover, I also think that wild blackberries possess magical powers!
    Good luck to Wax Poetic and Jeanette Price in the enchanting world of natural perfumery!
    I am in Bulgaria (EU) and I would like to win a sampler set!
    Thank you for the draw!

  • JazzBelle says:

    Jeanette’s journey is fascinating. She seems to have such devotion to her craft. I especially enjoyed reading the part about her trips to Tangier and Rabats. I also love the scent of cedarwood.

    I’m currently in the USA, have liked the CaFleureBon facebook page, and would like to win the sample set. Thank you!

  • I’m fascinated with the time she’s spent in NW Africa, and how she wants to source her materials from Morocco. Talk about going right to the source! It’s great getting to hear about emerging perfumers this way. I live in the US and would love to win the sampler set. (CaFleurebon Profiles page is liked.)

  • I found it fascinating that Jeanette Price’s ultimate passion project is the combination of fragrance and language and that she believes storytelling and fragrance can seamlessly connect and her fragrance collection is a representation of that. I live in the US and my fragrance choice would be the sampler set.

  • I found very interesting the roundabout way that Jeanette came to creating fragrances. It’s amazing how life can lead you in a different direction than you intend to go – and it turns out to be the right way.
    I’m in the US and would love to wind the sampler set.
    I’ve already liked CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery page.
    I’m in the US, thanks for the draw.

  • Jeanette’s whole attitude is really refreshing and inspiring– ” the best disappointment of my life” is how she got into fragrance. Her travels to Morocco sound fascinating! I like the whole vibe of Wax Poetic.

    I’m in the US and would choose the sampler, since I am intrigued by the whole line. Thank you for the draw!

  • Greennote says:

    I find it fascinating the life stories that people bring to their professions, the paths that led them to where they are. I also love the intersections between the various arts, as in perfumery and poetry. It can add such a different dimension and a worldview that may not be normal to that profession, allowing a questioning of the accepted norms and maybe an expansion of what’s possible. And what an amazing life Jeanette has led so far.

    Her perfumes sound beautiful. I’m in Australia and would love to try her perfume sampler.

  • Jeanette’s path to perfumery is interesting in retrospect. It’s always enlightening to look back at the various experiences that lead you to your present reality. I was intrigued by her Moroccan travels. I’ve been lucky to travel a lot, but Morocco is still on my bucket list. I would love to try these perfumes. I like the name! I am in the USA. I would love to try Ember. Thanks!

  • I think her journey was a fantastic read. I too loved Karate Kid when I was a child. American perfumery is filled with many amazing people, and Jeanette is surely one of them. I also like how the bottles are dipped in wax to make them unique!

    I’m in Canada so I will choose the sampler set. Thanks for the draw!

  • What a great journey Jeanette has taken! She seems very dedicated to her craft and I want to try these scents so much! I will choose the sampler set.

    Canada

  • I love that Wax Poetic combines fragrance and language. Poetry and perfume, my two great loves. I’m in the US and if I won, my choice would be Ember.

  • Greg Mayne says:

    I love how artistic the bottles are and Jeanette sounds like an unbelievable person and perfumer! I would love to win the set. I’m in Canada