ÇaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery: Irina Adam of Phoenix Botanicals + From Bucuresti to Avenue B Draw

-irina adam of phoenix botanicals

Irina Adam of Phoenix Botanicals

Profile: I was born in Bucuresti, Romania, a bustling city full of parks, markets, theaters, with ample opportunity for wandering and people watching after school before parents got home. Our home was filled with books and I grew up on Grimm fairytales, Greek myths, and poetry. When not reading, my hands were busy drawing, painting, writing or crocheting, always amazed at the process of making something come to life

2-irina-at-6

Irina Adam at 6

My nose owes its confidence to my mom. She was repeatedly astounded at my ability to smell the cake the precise moment it was ready, sprinting to the kitchen from several rooms over. My nose became so trusty around the house that she’d ask me to wake her up from a nap when the baking was done. Yes, I also became the sour milk, etc. sniffer. Some early smell memories are those of my mom, then dad, both smelling unique, and best. The aromatic world of books.

3-mom-stela

 Irina's Mom Stela

Dinner guests, with perfumes over scents of their homes clinging about. The smells of sweetness, illness, even loneliness in older folks' hugs. The dizzying aromas of the Linden on our block in the summer, and the dark, fascinating stench of locust pods covering park paths in fall.

Tusnad,Transylvania-1-inspiration-for-meadow-fir-perfume

The woods, river and meadows of Transylvania that inspired Meadow & Fir

Many summer and winter breaks were spent in the wild Transylvanian mountains, under the roof, and stern loving care of Frau Emi. She instilled us kids with gruesome fears of bear and wolf, yet somehow still allowed me to wander the woods on my own- the only condition being I return before dark. At dusk I’d often find myself utterly lost in the darkening pines, having followed deer paths, sun rays, birds for hours.

bucuresti-parks-home-with-linden-acacia-front-door

Bucuresti: parks, Irinas apartment building with Linden and Locust trees

I’d pray with all my might to find my way back on time, and somehow always did, gasping for breath at the door and believing a little more in magic. The healing ‘magic’ of nature became very real in my teens. My family moved suddenly, to Bloomington, Indiana when I was 12. Across the highway was the sprawling forest that I explored, notebook in hand, and each time, found solace and inspiration among the trees and elements, and space to be myself. My passion for plants and nature solidified, as well as a deep dedication to the Earth. I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts at IU, with a Botany minor. My artwork delved into all kinds of human/nature interaction. New York City was next. Unexpectedly, I found my plant lovers’ community here and apprenticed several years with local herbalists, while working in ethnobotany research at the NY Botanical Garden. Delving into the powerful healing ‘weeds’ at our doorstep I fell in love with plant medicine. An hour or three outside the city, are the pristine forested Catskill mountains, and wild ocean frontiers of Long Island: my new wandering terrains.

-rose-tincture-tropical-flower-enfl-fres-infused-vanilla

Tincture of Beach Roses. Enfleurage of Plumeria, Tiare, Jasmine, Ginger Lily. Vanilla infused oil.

Phoenix Botanicals was born in 2005, named after the feeling of renewal after a day spent in nature- like a Phoenix! It started with fresh plant infused balms and potions, and soon perfume became my focus. Not unlike short films I was working on, I found botanical blends to be an intriguingly sensual medium for time-based storytelling, embodied through the transformation of the plant essences.

irina-in-plants-1

Irina   surounded by green plants and flowers

The intimacy with nature and plants experienced as a wildcrafter and woods wanderer has given me inspiration for many of my perfume compositions. I love delving into the subtleties of scent and feeling, of a midnight harvest of linden flowers, dawn wild roses, the tall meadow between forest edge and river, or an owl encounter under the stars. I work with botanical ingredients only, finding them most sensual, complex and transformative. I have an affinity for plants and sometimes the perfect ingredient appears in a dream. I love experimenting and preparing my own tinctures, infused oils and enfleurage. Some favorite combinations juxtapose sumptous florals such as Tuberose, Boronia or Jasmine, with incense-like resins or strange, bitter roots.

irina-in-echinaceafield

Irina Adam in Echinacea Field

Whatever the inspiration, a perfume takes a life of its own throughout the blending process, turning into a wearable, gem-like work of art. I aspire for my perfumes to be talismans, evocations of nature’s wonder, meaningful adornments that awaken sensuality.  Upcoming releases are inspired by ripening fruit, community gardens, animal nests. This year I have started working with alcohol, in addition to oils and spent all summer tincturing flowers with a few ideas up my sleeve.

k-view-from-under-glass-desk-perfume-in-progress-glass-1

Creative environments. Blending desk/ organ. View from under glass desk. Blending in progress: Bed of Roses.

On American Perfumery There is a vibrant, collaborative community of creators, buyers, reviewers. Brilliant writers have made me re-experience my perfumes after reading their takes. I am especially grateful to those who appreciate naturals, and supportive mentors particularly Mandy Aftel. Anything goes in the perfume world! And with this come challenges such as educating about true naturals. Big brands will use words ‘all natural’ unchecked, so I encourage perfume buyers to research health risk studies, and check the full ingredients list. The term ‘fragrance’ means synthetics. As an indie botanical perfumer, I cherish being a voice for the plants, and the gift of this beautiful art form to connect myself and others to nature.

Philip Glass - Glassworks (complete)

8-philip-glass-photo-credit-reuters

Philip Glass (photo credit Reuters)

Favorite American Artist: I wonder at times, if making things may be an excuse for hours of good music… When listening to Philip Glass, I immediately find myself in a story, on a journey. I keep coming back to this captivating composer. Earlier this year I saw him in live performance for the first time, and couldn’t keep my eyes off those fingers on the piano!

Irina Adam, Founder and Perfumer for Phoenix Botanicals

7-Phoenix-botanicals-perfumes

For our draw we will have two winners: 

USA Registered readers (you must do this or your comment will not count) ONLY:  5ml Bed of Roses, 5ml Meadow & Fir,  5ml of Night Bloom,  5 ml bottle Ka Pueo,  or 5 ml Triple Vanilla or 5 x1 ml of each

WORLDWIDE:  Registered readers (you must do this or your comment will not count)  5 X 1 ml of Bed of Roses Meadow & Fir Night Bloom Ka Pueo and Triple Vanilla

To be eligible please leave a comment noting what you found fascinating about Irina’s path to perfumery, where you live and the fragrance you would like to win. Draw ends October 15, 2015

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 wil be just spilled perfume

Leave a Reply

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

60 + = 66

25 comments

  • bunchofpants says:

    How amazing that she could smell when the cake was ready! Her childhood experiences in Romania and Indiana sound amazing and wonderful. It’s a little sad to think that kids (in the US at least) no longer have as much freedom to experience the world that way. Irina’s experience and trajectory illustrate what we stand to lose! The Meadow & Fir sounds delightful–even more so knowing that it was inspired by the meadows of Transylvania, so that would be my choice. I’m in USA.

  • Very interesting review. Irina’s path to perfumery, is very nice. I suppose, that these perfumes are all incredibly good. I would very like to try at least one of those.
    I live in Europe. I’m a registered reader. Thanks for the draw.

  • Sounds pretty fascinating to be under the care of Frau Emi. 🙂 Love to win 5ml of Meadows & Fir please. U.S.

  • I love that Irina’s journey really does sound like a magical storybook tale, and that this same feeling inspired her work. I would have loved to have been along on some of these adventures! If her perfume tells stories as engaging as her life’s story, I’m sold.

    Kim Morgan, US resident — would love the Meadow & Fir!

  • fazalcheema says:

    I also have memory of loving Grimm fairytales as a child, just like Irina…Irina’s childhood reminds me of the cultural differences between US and European countries like Romanian..socialization is emphasized more in European countries whereas work gets more importance in US…It is great Irina has paid tribute to the city which inspired her in the brand name. My choice will be sample set and I am in the US

  • Isn’t it great fun that she can say that she played in the forests of Transylvania! 🙂 I would love to be able to say that. Seriously though, it’s lovely that Irina Adam’s love of nature, art, and smells led her to perfumes. I would like to sample all 5 fragrances. USA

  • I work with 2nd graders, and I feel sorry for them that they do not ‘wander’ and explore to spark their creativity any more. Refreshing to see how someone being allowed to wander and explore has developed such talent. I like how she is the ‘voice’ of the plants. I would love to try the sample set to see what the plants have to say. Thanks.

  • It’s amazing that her passionate and love of nature led her to what she became today. I like how she composed her fragrance out of her dreams and another thing is she prepared all the tinctures, infused oils and enfleurage by herself.

    I’m from Malaysia and I would like to try all 5 sample of those .
    Thank you for the draw.

  • It says a lot about the nature of her perfumery that it was an outgrowth of her love of wandering in the woods. I was lucky enough to meet her at FRAGments 2014, and both she and her perfumes are lovely.

    I already have a bottle of Night Bloom, which I cannot recommend highly enough, so I think my choice, if I’m lucky enough to win, would be Ka Pueo. I’m in the US.

  • I loved this interview so much! Irina’s background was so interesting to read about and I’m curious to smell her creations.
    I would love to win Meadow and Fir or the sample set. I’m in the US.

  • I think this is my favorite profile so far, probably because I can relate to her having grown up on myth and fairytale and wandering alone in nature. I haven’t had the pleasure of trying any Phoenix Botanicals, but I will seek them out now even if I don’t win.
    I somehow assume, even though I know better and wear many, that natural perfumes will be uninteresting blends of shop bought oils, and I’m glad to know that Irina tinctures her own materials and has an amazing nose. I really want to experience her visions and stories and would love to have the sample set. I’m in the US. Thank you for this wonderful interview and draw.

  • The thing that struck me immediately is that Irina said that sometimes the ingredients sometimes come to her in a dream! That blew me away – i’ve had dreams like that but i always wake up with a missing piece of the jigsaw! I digress…..
    Anyhow i live in the UK, thanks for the draw and i would love to get the 5 X 1 ml of Bed of Roses Meadow & Fir Night Bloom Ka Pueo and Triple Vanilla please. thanks.

  • I enjoyed the notions regarding her mom. How her mom could smell the cake when ready, and eventually asked her to let her know, as a child, when it was ready. I also liked her quote of ‘smelling the loneliness in older people’ as a child. As frag heads, we get it. 🙂

    I would love to try the Triple Vanilla. Lovely review, I’m in the US. Thank you.

  • I love that Irina grew up in Transylvania of all places. It’s a mystical place full of beauty and mystery. I find it fascinating that her mom was the first to instill in her, the importance of scent and smell. I also love the way she grew up in nature and filled her days with fairy tales.

    I love the perfumer who has such a connection to nature. I admire that Irina makes her own enfleurages and oils.

    I’m in the USA and I would love the sampler set, since all her scents sound divine!

    Thank you!

  • Irini’s early life in Romania sounds so romantic. I love her love for and connection with nature. I, too, find my peace and solace among the trees and meadows, and can’t imagine a life where that is unavailable. I am also enjoying listening to Philip Glass’s music as I type. Thanks for the recommendation! I would love to try the sampler of the various perfumes. Thank you for an interesting article on Irini and the draw. USA.

  • I find Irina’s path in perfumery very interesting, her love for nature and the way she creates new mixtures with the use of natural notes while she makes them up in her dreams while sleeping. Her love for music,
    I would love to try the sampler set and experience her unique aromatic creations. I am a registered reader living in EU.

  • Irina’s childhood in Romania and Indiana sounds wonderful–literally full of wonder. I liked reading about her connection to nature and how she found her plant-loving community when she moved to NYC. Ethnobotany sounds fascinating and I’d love to know how her study influenced her work. I admire that Irina makes her own enfleurages and oils.
    Favorite quote: “I aspire for my perfumes to be talismans”
    .
    Also, I really like the music–it’s a great soundtrack for reading about Irina’s journey and attitude to botanical compositions!

    Thank you for an interesting article and lovely draw
    USA
    I would love the sampler set, since all her scents sound divine!

  • I found the detail of Irina’s childhood in Romania, and the scents there, especially fascinating.
    I’m also a Philip Glass fan!

    I’ve already tried some of Irina’s perfumes and loved them (Meadow and Fir, Lavender Noir). I live in the UK so if I won I’d like the sampler set.

    Thanks for another lovely draw.

  • I also love Grimm’s fairytales as a child. I’ve also always wanted to visit Romania! It sounds like a beautiful place. I am international (Canada) and I’d like the sample set! Thanks for the draw

  • I found it fascinating learning about Irina’s path to perfumery, especially her “magic” time in Transylvania. I live in the US and would like to try Meadow & Fir.

  • What a path Irina had. I love that she spent time in Transylvania which must be very beautiful. Studying with Mandy Aftel must have been amazing. I would love to win meadow and fir
    I am a registered user in the USA

  • Great article! One of my favorite parts is how she was mama’s little helper, with the smells in the kitchen!
    I’M IN LOVE with the perfume Bed of Roses and would be so lucky to win a bottle!
    i am in the US. Thank you!

  • What a wonderful read that was. I really enjoyed reading about her time in Transylvania. It does sound like a very magical place.

    I’m in Canada and would love the sample set