CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery: Shelley Waddington of En Voyage Perfumes + All AmericanJazz Draw

If Shelley Waddington, the perfumer and founder of En Voyage Perfumes is unfamiliar to you, chances are you have not been following the multitude of bloggers and  perfumistas around the world who have been touting her evocative perfumes over the past two years. 2011 was an amazing year for Shelley as she garnered quite a few blogger awards including CaFleureBon's "Rising Star-Indie" and  "Best Collaboration" (for her work with Puerto Rican Perfumer Juan M. Perez on Nectar des Isles and Vent Verdant). Shelley also introduced her first natural fragrance collection in 2011 and her first  (L'emblem Rouge) debuted first on CaFleureBon Behind the Bottle. 

In 2012, Shelley premiered her first book, Perfuming with Natural Isolates. Like many indie perfumers she has been working at her craft for over a decade until she was "discovered".

Shelley's maternal grandmother Marion Ruth Williamson

 

 . IffProfileProfile: I’m the 1st generation from British Columbia on my father’s side of the family, who originally came from Lancashire, England.  My mother’s ancestors were Dutch Mennonites (Amish) who migrated to the American Midwest to escape religious persecution.  Mother’s side has been here a long time and we are Daughters of the American Revolution.   I grew up in a tiny, eccentric art colony on the northern California coast.

This invisible community ran completely contrary to the norms of the day.   Behind intense international distrust, political and national boundaries, flourished a collaborative community of decency and apolitical solidarity, with the goal of developing and sharing new information for world posterity.  After the grant ran out, I remained on as a volunteer for another 10 years.

 

 

 

Eldin Dedini

Favorite American Artist:   I could never pick only one.  I went to school with cartoonist Gus Arriola’s and Hank Ketcham’s sons, with Carmel artist Dick Crispo, with several members of Carmel photographer Brett Weston’s family, and with Carmel artist Ephraim Doner’s daughter.   Eldon Dedini the Playboy magazine cartoonist dropped by the house on occasion.  Naturally I’m a fan of all of these local Carmel artists.  I am mad for the images of Annie Leibovitz and Richard Avadon.  For the existential satire of Saul Steinberg.  And of course the gorgeous Georgia O’Keefe florals.

Shelley with friends at the Louvre-Paris

On American Perfumery: As an American Perfumer my perfumes are all-American  jazz- improv and impressionist riffs that are based on my study and solid understanding of European classical methods.  Even after perfuming for 14 years I am still in the stage of my career that I have a great deal more to say artistically.   And at the end of the day I’m a world citizen rather than a flag-waver.  I stand in solidarity with our collaborative international perfume community with the goal of contributing unique beauty  to the world. 

Shelley Waddington, En Voyage Perfumes

 

For our Draw.. You have a choice of any of Shelley's twelve perfumes (including two naturals L'Emblem Rouge .25 oz edp and Go Ask Alice in the .50 edp) in a .5 oz eau de parfum. In order to be eligible, please leave a comment on what you enjoyed about Shelley's story and be sure to leave your choice of an edp in the comment a well. Draw ends February 8, 2012 EST

 Editor's Note: The first  blogger review of any of Shelley's perfumes was on CaFleurebon- Makeda, and  in this I combined a little known history and perfume. Mark Behnke's review of  Carmel de Ville  was next and former Sr Editor Ida Meister's review of  Peche Noir followed.

Michelyn Camen, Editor-in Chief

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 spilt perfume

 

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34 comments

  • Oh how wonderful! I am myself, a huge Makeda fan. I also love Peche Noir and Go Ask Alice. En Voyage has wonderful scents. I learned that Shelley, has Amish relatives which I thought was interesting since I knew she had her office in California. I also happen to live amongst the Amish here in PA. I enjoyed reading that part of her history.
    I also learned that Shelley, had her first review done by Cafleurebon and it was a review of Makeda my all time favorite of her potions.
    If I were to win, I would choose Peche Noir.
    PS for those who have not seen her handwritting it is gorgeous:)
    Thanks Cafleurebon and Shelley.

  • Shelley is a wonder! So gracious and giving. I can’t imagine actually growing up in Carmel, surrounded by such talent. You would have no choice but to be creative.

    I would pick Makeda. I have several others, and love them all.

  • This is a very special glimpse into the artist Shelley! What an interesting family background and I love her philosophy and stand on being a “world citizen.” Our world has become very small and I too am in that camp!
    I love Shelley’s perfumes and Peche Noir is gorgeous on me, Go Ask Alice ROCKS, but my heart calls out for L’Emblem Rouge!!
    I look forward to more perfumes that are artistically infused with art, music and history – done so beautifully by Shelly!
    Bravo to Cafleurbon and Enyoyage!!
    LOVE,
    Ragna

  • I know I keep saying this every time an article comes out in this series, but I love it! I like Ragna love, Shelley THE “World Citizen” I also loved her statement I still have a great deal to say artistically. Would love L’Emblem Rouge also.
    Great series, Thank you for a glimptz into the lives of the American Perfumery Treasures.

  • Her book Perfuming with Natural Isolates looks like something I should read and I liked how she prefers to be a world citizen rather than just identify as an American.

    Vents Ardents sound like a wonderful perfume. Thanks for the article and the draw.

  • Discovering Shelley’s fragrances was a high point in 2011. I love Vent Ardent alone and layered with Nectar de Isles. I would love to try Peche Noir. I am excited to smell her future releases.

  • I haven’t smelled anything yet from her perfumes and would love to very soon especially Peche Noir. She is such an intersting person, would love to have a conversation about art with her!

  • My choice is L’Emblem Rouge. I’ve found interesting her jazz-like attitude towards perfume creation. Does that mean casualty?

  • Well, I’d have to give the homey shout out and say that I enjoyed learning of Shelley Waddington’s British Columbia background. And of her newly published book.
    And I respect her continuing to provide 10 years of volunteer effort after the grant ended.
    As I followed the Peace, Love and Patchouli project, I am interested in trying her Go Ask Alice EdP.
    Thanks for the draw opportunity.

  • Did not know that Shelley is a member of DAR or that she wrote a book, I am thrilled to see that she has three naturals in her line.Would love to try Go Ask Alice as this one is touted as one of the best fragrances to turn one on to patchouli. 🙂
    thanks for the draw!

  • Another fascinating article, thank you. I enjoyed several things about this: the perfumer’s inclusion of cartoonists as great American artists – so true! – the mention of being a world citizen, very well put; and her description of perfume creation in music terms. Great read. Thanks for the draw opportunity. I think I would most like to try Poéte de Carmel.

  • TimeaZsofia says:

    Really interesting story! Now I am very courius about Shelly’s fragrance, especially I am Europian (I live in Budapest, Hungary), so it would be a great opportunity to smell her perfumes. For me very simpathyc that Shelly was learned the art of perfumery via many years of self-study, and interested in her American Jazz improves. Peche Noir notes sounds very interesting!
    Thank you for the draw. 🙂

  • this art colony — i want to live there NOW!!

    and i want to be smelling of “Go ask Alice” while i do it 🙂

  • I love the description of her perfumes as ‘jazz-improv’…picques my curiosity about her line…I’d love to try L’Emblem Rouge….

  • I’m a big fan of Shelly personally even though we have never met. We have shared on a perfume group for many years and it has been a joy to observe her flourish and cultivate her own signature. Especially fond of her reference to herself as an American jazz improv. My life is filled with music, especially jazz, since my husband is a jazz musician and long established critic of the genre. I love Go Ask Alice which I wear almost daily

  • Patiently waiting my recent order of Shelly’s book and would love love love to sample her Go Ask Alice. Seems like it’s pretty popular!

  • So many perfumers so little time (and and also another shortage of more trivial but more restrictive nature…). I had discovered En Voyage last year but then somehow it managed to evade my radar. Now my interest is rekindled, especially by the latest book by Shelley. We need more publications of the kind but I see how difficult it is given the restricted commercial appeal and the labor involved. So congratulations to Shelley for sharing her knowledge. If I were to choose a perfume from her opus it would be Emblem Rouge as I am really intrigued by its list of materials. I’m sure that Shelley managed to incorporate quite a few twists in a classical structure.

  • Throughly enjoyed the glimpse into your life Shelly. I enjoyed especially reading about Shelly’s roots, daughters of the Revolution, what a statement!I Looking forward to what she has to say in the future!

  • I do love these profiles, it is wonderful to get to know each of the perfumers a bit better through CFB, and let them speak about their view on their personal creative process. Of course I loved Shelley’s view on an open and collaborative perfume community ‘And at the end of the day I’m a world citizen rather than a flag-waver’ , just wonderful. Wouldn’t I love to win Vents Ardents not just for the rustic amber (yum), but for the ‘message in a bottle’- with this description I envision this perfume as the picture for the international fragrance world.
    Thanks to CFB and En Voyage Perfumes.

  • Thanks to Ms Waddington and CFB!
    I really enjoy the profiles–it’s a look at the artist as an individual. I like getting a sense of where people come from and what drives them to create.

    I especially liked the line about Shelley’s perfumes being ‘all-American jazz- improv and impressionist riffs’ — I love it when other people associate scent and sound, and also thinking of fragrances as ‘riffs’ or variations on a theme–they’re still original even if they’re riffing on an established structure, it’s the points of departure and convergence that make tham special.

    I would choose Go Ask Alice.

  • I wonder if she realized how special her childhood was back then, or if that came later as an adult. I grew up in Northern California, and I was consciously aware of the beauty, but she had the added charm of living in a communal type environment full of what sounds like extremely creative and intelligent people. It sounds amazing!
    As far as choosing one of her scents, well, I haven’t been lucky enough to try any yet, but Nectars des Îles sounds beautiful. So does Peche Noir and Vents Ardents. I guess I would choose the Nectars.
    Thank you for the draw!

  • Janet in California says:

    What a wonderful profile. I live in Santa Cruz and will track down this line when I am in Carmel.

    Nectars des Îles sounds perfect.

    Thanks!

  • Not a Botanist says:

    Artistic, and whimsical. Her presonality appeals to me very much. I would love to try her scents sometimes.

  • Not a Botanist says:

    Oh, I forgot to mentin. The scent that I would most like to try is Vents Ardents. Sorry, first time commenter.

  • I enjoyed reading about Shelley’s wonderfully colorful upbringing in an art colony. She certainly brings that color to her creations. Vents Ardents is the one for me, that I’ve been dying to try for ages! Thanks for the chance.

  • I appreaciate her creativity and her inspiration when it comes to making a new perfume.
    If I were to win, I would like Nectar des Iles.
    Thanks for the giveaway.

  • I enjoyed reading about her favorite artists. I didn’t know Dedini. His art reminds me of Mingote’s (a Spanish cartoonist). Nice drawings!

    If I won, I’d pick Vents Ardents. Thank you!

  • It is great knowing more about her childhood and how her artistic side evolved.

    I am really tempted by Carmel Boheme. Thank you!

  • How I am wishing for a “Like” feature here, because I would click it for each one of your interesting comments!

    Ragna & Sandi L, I agree, Bravo For CaFleureBon! Michelyn sure knows how to unearth the treasures and write about them in a most extraordinary way.
    Rob: more like variations on the theme
    Janet: viva Sanity Cruz! my work is available only at my online shop
    Sujann, I viewed it as pretty normal at the time. If you can believe it, at times I even felt envious of other teenagers who lived in bigger communities with more “action”.

  • Many many thanks for the kind comments from dear friends & clients who already enjoy some of my fumes!
    Special shout-out to sistah BC homey Lindaloo 🙂
    And to the art and music appreciating!
    So many kind comments to hold close to my heart!
    Muchos Gracias.

  • Growing up in an art colony. How very cool!

    Nectars des Îles for me. I haven’t gotten around to getting it for myself yet

  • Thank you for doing a profile on Shelley. She’s so interesting and really seems to be a wonderful person as well as talented! What a fascinating background she has! I wish I had grown up in an art colony. 😉

    I have a bottle of Peche Noir and it’s unlike anything else I’ve ever sniffed – it’s one of my favorite perfumes. If I’m lucky to win (if I’m not too late) I would pick Go Ask Alice as I’m a patchouli freak and have been dying to try it!

  • Its very cool to learn Shelley has published her book on Natural Isolates, it has certainly been a hot topic in natural perfumery!

    I would love to try Go Ask Alice after hearing the rave reviews for her scent.

  • Always a pleasure to read about people who create perfume and to know a little bit about them.
    Vents ardents sounds the most appealing to me. Thanks