CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery: Suzinn Weiss Of Blooming Dream Natural Fragrances + The Artist is Present Draw

Suzinn Weiss in her garden  blooming dream botaincal perfumes cafleurebon

Suzinn Weiss of Blooming Dream Natural Perfumes

I am the child of New Yorkers who moved to the suburbs of New Jersey to raise a family in the 60’s. There were still many farms around us and the acres of woods behind our home provided my first experience with the mystery and beauty of the natural world. I would wander the trails alone, inhaling scents of the native conifers, mosses, ferns and skunk cabbage.  My father was a trained photographer who also studied painting and one of my most vivid scent memories was walking into his teacher’s studio and loving the smell of linseed oil and turpentine.

Backyard Bliss and the woods beyond. New Jersey 1964

Suzinn at play with her family

I moved to Northern California for college and discovered clear light and the grandeur of wide-open spaces. In my mid 20’s I lived in Italy for a year and a half and roamed around Europe.  I still recall certain smells of Renaissance buildings and the scent of mouth-watering food everywhere.  I went back to NYC for grad school at Parsons where I earned my Master of Fine Arts degree. It was exciting to be living, working and studying art in Manhattan, but ultimately I missed the spaceousness, slower pace and the beautiful light of the west coast.

A corner of my garden in Portland, Oregon

Suzinn's Garden

In the late 80’s I moved to Portland, Oregon and started a new life with one suitcase and my cat.  After a few years I bought my first house and that’s when my passion for gardening hit home. I became a self-taught garden designer. Everything I loved seemed to flow when I created lush, scented landscapes for people to enjoy.  It was from gardening that my interest in creating perfume grew. As a gardener I was immersed in the heady smells of earth & plants and so I began to play with scented materials and developed a line of pure perfume (I don’t use synthetics in my work, they give me migraines). My formulas include botanical tinctures made with leaves, petals and mosses from my own organic garden and from the beautiful forests that surround Portland.

 

Preparing rose and philadelphus petals for tincturing

Preparing rose and philadelphus petals for tincturing

On American Perfumery: Community, Evolving and Sharing… That is what American perfumery has meant to me.  I thought I would just be making scents for myself and some friends for the rest of my life until a few years ago, I discovered that there was such a thing as Artisan perfumery on Facebook by stumbling on a photo on a friend's page of Mandy Aftel and Yosh Han, subtitled Two Indie Perfumers so I reached out to them.  My first workshop was with Yosh and I was thrilled that she was so open to using intuition as a guide to creating scent because that’s how I’d been working for years.  I also studied with Charna Either and I’m impressed by her skill as a botanical perfumer. Mandy Aftel is also an inspiration and I keep her books on my bedside table. I am also fortunate to be part of a group of Northwest perfumers and all of these people are so kind and generous with their knowledge, for example Meredith Smith of Sweet Anthem.  In Portland, I am grateful for the friendship of Jessica Ring of Ring Botanicals and Josh Meyer of Imaginary Authors.  I’ve enlisted both for critiques and we’ve shared sources for materials as well.

Marina Abramovic The Artist is Present

Marina Abramovic "The Artist is Present"

Favorite American Artist: Performance Artist Marina Abramovic, (who now resides in New York). Her work THE ARTIST IS PRESENT breaks down what is elemental in human kind, the need for connection.  Just watching her documentary brought me to tears.

suzinn weiss caflurebon Small landscape paintings made while on vacation in Washington State.

Suzinn Weiss Landscape  and Seascape paintings

I studied painting and fell in love with the the landscape painters of the west coast, so I became one myself.  Every year I go on a painting retreat somewhere on the water and spend my days painting the view.

Suzinn Weiss, Founder and Perfumer for Blooming Dream Natural Perfumes

blooming gardens natural perfumes

Thanks to Suzinn we have a reader's choice for the USA only of a 15 ml EDP of Drunken Flowers, LoveBird, Champa Booty,   Pink Rose  or Ottoo 100 percent Natural and Botanical Perfumes OR a 2 ml sampler set of all 8 fragrances in her line. To be eligible, leave a comment about something fascinating you learned about Suzinn and your choice of one of the above fragrances or the sampler set. Draw closes June 1, 2014

Please like CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery on Facebook 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 wil be just spilled perfume

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38 comments

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    Suzzin has had quite an adventurous life, living in NY, New Jersey, California, Italy and other areas of Europe plus pursuing fashion at Parsons..it reminds me i also wanted to go to Parsons once in the past..i will go for sampler set and reside in the US

  • So nice to see you profiled, Suzinn! I love that you design fragrant gardens, which I already knew. Your perfumes are lovely and I would love a sampler set.

  • So great to see you here Suzinn, I have the honor of owning her Ottoo fragrance and love it, a beautiful lightly spicy carnation with a slight gourmand twist on me, just lovely and so comforting. I would love to try Champa Booty, its sounds wonderful also. She studied with Charna, that’s so cool and Mandy’s books are on her bedside table. Good luck with your fragrance adventure.

  • Jennifer witt says:

    I appreciate that Suzinn doesn’t let migraines stop her from making lovely scents – she simply uses ingredients that don’t cause them! I would love to explore her sampler set.

  • I loved that her favorite artist is Marina Abramovic! I loved watching a video of her in the work “The Artist is Present.” It was incredibly moving, and I don’t usually like so called “modern” art. I would love to try the sampler set, and I live in the US.

  • It’s always so inspiring to hear what are the scent memories of people. Our memories are so connected with our sense of smell that it can provoke such powerful responses. I love that Suzinn has such a connection to gardening and uses it to inspire her. I live in the US and would love the sampler set. Thanks – Tati

  • mitch weiss says:

    Congratulations Suzinn. Best of luck with your perfumes. Mom must be smiling down on you.

  • christinal says:

    What a full and diverse life she’s lived! I love that she wasn’t afraid to take chances and change courses. I’d like to try the sampler set. I live in the US.

  • Ericka Lutz says:

    I love how accessible Suzinn makes scents seem, even to me. I have nothing wrong with my sniffer, but as a word person, I have always considered myself a bit scent deaf. I would love to learn from her! The sampler set would be wonderful. Though, Drunken Flowers sounds amazing…

  • It’s always gratifying to read of a perfumers love for the smells of nature, nurturing their passion of natural perfumery. Suzinn’s love of painting and creativeness is so inspiring. Glad to see she is connected with the wonderful movement of the “Northwest Perfumers”. Good luck on a wonderful fragrant journey, Suzinn. Would love to try Ottoo, I am in the US.

  • Suzinn is the consummate artist, approaching everything she does with an aesthetic awareness, as well as with love. Her mother is surely smiling down on her, just as her dad says. Love! I would love to drizzle all her scents all over me. (Sampler!)

  • I found it interesting, and fabulous, that Suzinn’s beautiful garden can provide many of the materials in her perfumes.
    I am international and would love the sample set.

  • dear Suzinn, ou are a very persistant and creative person and I am very proud of you, congradulations Mom was very proud of you, love, Dad

  • ringthing says:

    What a lovely profile! I can connect with roaming the woods as a child and falling in love with fragrance. It’s also interesting that Suzinn fell in love with the West Coast, which has such a great indy perfume community. All of her perfumes are intriguing so I choose the sample set.

  • What I learned is that there are many more natural perfume makers that I have not explored. I have my favorites already but there is so much more to try and therefore, I would like to win the sample set. Im in the US.

  • Ronnie Aroesty says:

    Hi,
    Loved reading this story. Your story has such a carefully crafted and delicate arc. Whatever you do is with grace, beauty and love.
    Love,
    Ronnie

  • Tina Winslow says:

    Hi Suzinn,
    Congratulations! Loved reading about your wonderful journey. Your fascination with beauty, art, flowers and fragrances are heartfelt and inspirational.
    Love,
    Tina

  • Barbara B says:

    As a migraine sufferer I was interested to learn that synthetics give Ms. Weiss headaches.
    Ottoo intrigues me as I love carnation, I am in the US.

  • what a thrill to be reminded of Marina Abramovic!

    I was intrigued to learn Suzinn studied with Charna Either and further that she is in the PNW, which seems to be growing with natural perfumers and it thrills me!

    i would love to experience the range in the ampler set and reside in the usa.

    thank you for another peek behind the perfumed veil of natural perfumers!

  • leathermountain says:

    I can relate to that vivid scent memory of a painting studio. I wonder how that would work as inspiration for a personal fragrance. I’m in the US, and I would choose Champa Booty. Thank you!

  • I loved learning that some of her favorite scent memories include old buildings and the smells of her father’s art studio, that her style of gardening includes lavish use of scented plants, and that she is very attuned to the quality of light in different geographical areas – all fascinating. I would absolutely love to try Pink Rose.

  • Fascinating to study with Charna Either and have Mandy Aftel as an inspiration. I’d like to win the Champa Booty. USA

  • Love the story- mostly I like the way Suzinn has studied and followed the Perfume trail to the Perfumers!-great to have mentors and that’s all about sharing (which I’m totally into) I’d love a sampler set- Yum Yum!! Enjoyed the journey of Suzinn’s life as well, thanks, great review. International

  • It was fascinating to learn that Suzinn is also an accomplished painter as well as a perfumer and garden designer. On top of that add a degree from Parson’s. What about a talented lady with many hats! I’ve tried a few of Suzinn’s scents and they all smell incredible. Everytime I wear them I find new nuances about them that I love and keeps my nose intrigued. The one that I would like to win is Pink Rose. I’m in the US and I’ve liked Cafleurebon Profiles in American Perfumery on Facebook. Thanks so much for the draw!

  • Kim Morgan says:

    I love natural fragrances, too — the sampler set sounds like a wonderful way to get acquainted with Suzinn’s work!

  • I love the name of her company, Blooming Dreams, and I like the names she has chosen for her perfumes. It makes me want to try all of them, which is why I would pick the sampler. I find it interesting that so many perfumers have other creative outlets like painting, music, etc.

  • Dear people, Thank You So Much for your lovely comments! I appreciate this opportunity to introduce myself and my creations to the readers of CaFleureBon! XOXO

  • I want to add a big thanks to my wonderful parents for always supporting me in my creative endeavors. We lost my dear mom last fall and I am in the process of creating a new perfume in her honor. It will be a modern take on Bal a Versailles which she wore in the 70’s.

  • In the article I learned of the many places Suzinn has lived, the perfumers she admires and her love of painting landscapes.
    I would love to smell one of these all naturals. 🙂 The Ottoo. US

  • I really enjoyed the whole interview! How extremely talented you are Suzinn. I always love reading backgrounds on how perfumers found their way to creating scents. I have always loved everything about fragrance and always search to learn more. Thank you for a generous draw!! I would love to win the Love Bird I’m in the US

  • I like how Suzinn Weiss uses ingredients s from her organic garden and from forests in the area where she lives. This all sounds so good! If a winner, I would choose Drunken Flowers. I am in the US. Thank you for this drawing.

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    I found Suzinn’s artistic evolution fascinating and I’m sure there’s much more to come. I would choose this plantaholic’s sampler set.
    Facebook – Cynthia M Richardson

  • Taffynteddy+1 says:

    The article resonated with me for so many reasons her streak of independence when she left for Portland with her cat and suitcase to build a new life along with her passion for gardening that eventually led her into natural perfumery. All of her line sounds lovely especially Ottoo. I adore carnations and chocolate would love to smell her creation.

  • rivercitylizzy says:

    I agree with Suzinn’s love of the Pacific Northwest; after all the exotic locations people suggested to my husband and I when planning to get married, we chose to snuggle up to the Mendocino coast for a week’s worth of honeymooning. Everything is so clean and fragrant in that environment, I adore it!

    I am in the US and thanks for a wonderful draw!

  • Valentine girl says:

    Wow, what a fascinating story of her fragrant journey to natural perfumery. I was intrigued to discover her passion for gardening and use of her own botanicals in making her tinctures. I fell in love with gardening when I was 9 and planted my first herb garden. Throughout my childhood I made all kinds of potpourris from flowers & herbs I had grown, rose beads, lavender wands, dream pillows, etc… and “sold” them to family and friends for a little extra pocket money. It was pretty cool to find out that she had studied with Charna Either, as I hope to study with her one day as well. Really enjoyed reading about another kindred spirit that discovered fragrance through gardening! I would love to try her sampler set to discover her line. That is so awesome that her dad left such a beautiful comment to the post! US resident.

  • I really enjoyed reading about Suzinn, and I love that she uses botanical tinctures from her very own garden in her formulas! That makes her scents that much more special. I’d love Drunken Flowers if I were to win. I’m in the U.S. Thanks so much!

  • I am so impressed with Suzinn’s artist background and especially her beautiful garden. A nicely rounded person who just happens to create beautiful perfumes too!

  • carol duke says:

    Suzinn, how wonderful for you to be featured. I loved meeting you at the SF show at Fort Mason. We need to keep in touch!
    I am planning a workshop in perfume making next Fall with a celebrated East Coast perfumer who also uses only naturals. i’ll let you know more as things get confirmed.