When You See Her You Will Know Her byTama Blough
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” ― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Waiting for Her Ship to Come In by Tama Blough
Today, January 9, 2017, is the 3rd anniversary of Managing Editor Tama Blough’s passing. Last week I re-read Elisabeth Kübler-Ross‘ book On Death and Dying after many years. There are many interpretations of the book, which endeavors to make death more comprehensible; most famously the stages of grief: shock, denial, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Those who knew or worked with Tama, her family, her close friends, her acquaintances, her colleagues… whether in the perfume or art communities, experienced many or all of these ‘stages’.
Tama in Milan in front of the Arco del Pace Photo Tanja Bochnig, March 21, 2014
Two years later, there isn’t a month that goes by that Tama isn’t in my thoughts. The emotion I now feel after the pain of losing our colleague? It is love.
Holding a Rainbow in My Hand by Tama Blough
What I am left with is a sense of joy, that this generous, talented, caring and warm woman was part of my life and helped shape the fragrance community as well as the blog. As long as I remember her, she is still with us.
Tama with her beloved cat Buster, and some of her favorite perfumes by Jasia Julia Nielson, of The Sounds Of Scent
In November of 2014, Nina Zotolow, a close friend of Tama’s, wrote me that Tama was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Nina began a Giveforward fundraiser to help with Tama’s healthcare expenses. I approached Tanja Bochnig of April Aromatics, who met Tama earlier that year at Esxence in Milan about creating a limited edition fragrance. I named it San Francisco Rose, gave Tanja a small brief (that it could be a rose perfume, Tama’s favorite flower) and through her efforts and our platform, Tanja went on to raise a substantial amount; she donated 100 percent of the profits to Tama’s living and healthcare expenses. Former contributor Jasia Julia Nielson created a beautiful painting depicting Tama with her cat Buster, and some of her favorite perfumes –Joy, Habanita, and Le Labo Benjoin 19 (I smile when I read her review “I would sell my grandmother for a bottle, sorry grandma if you are reading this from the other side“). Perfumer Paul Kiler created a fragrance “TNT Tama & Tuberose”; the profits going to Tama’s family.
Tama, we miss you on this side.
Tiare Flower Watercolor ..This was Tama’s avatar as a commentor on perfume blogs
Many readers may not know that Tama was an artist as well as a writer, who used acrylic, watercolor, fabric, photography and printmaking as tangible expressions of her feelings and emotions. She wrote “Art has played a part in my life ever since I was a very small child. Both of my parents are artists, so a sense of aesthetics has always been present in my surroundings. Art supplies were always made available to me, and as a child, I spent countless hours filling memo pads with fantastic visual stories”. She created a shop on redbubble.com where you can still purchase her work. I used just a small representation of her artwork throughout this post, all which is for sale.
–Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief
Tanja is offering 7 ml of the last of San Francisco Rose to a reader worldwide
and
Paul is offering worldwide a 30 ml of Tama & Tuberose to a reader as well.
Please leave a comment about any memories you have of Tama Blough, (she began writing for CaFleureBon on September 12, 2011 a review of Xerjoff Irisss and her last review as Managing Editor was October 1, 2014 for EnVoyage Fiore de Bellagio.) Feel free to leave a comment even if you don’t want to enter the draw. Also please indicate which of the Tama inspired scents you would like to win. This is a random draw that closes 1/12/106