Monday, March 29, 2010

Chocolates @ Perfume Shrine


For those of you "too old for the Easter Bunny but who have something of the bunny in their heart" I suggest hopping on over to Perfume Shrine. Helg has reviewed a few of the chocolate natural perfumes and has a set from the second tier to give away.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Perfume Illuminated: Raspberry


The fruit trees last week were in full bloom here in the City of Angels. I witnessed it on a stroll, regrettably without a camera, just when the blossoms were in flower without any leaves. Such a glorious site. These fruit trees will soon dislay their fresh green cloak for the new season adorned with tiny round balls turning into fresh fruit. What an abundant time of the year, no wonder the birds are singing with such vigor and delight!

Among the fruits soon to be appearing first, if not already, are those from the berry tribe. Raspberry is the illuminated celebrity fragrance and flavor focus for today.


FRAGRANCE

The fragrance of raspberry is within the "fruity" category of the descriptive language used in perfumery. This very popular scent family is defined by the aroma of fresh fruit, it generally depicts a sense of fresh youthfulness and is popular as the months grow warmer.


The palette of the botanical perfumer has no raspberry essence. No one, as of yet, has captured the aroma of raspberry as an essential oil or absolute. Raspberry, Rubus idaeus, does exist as a cold pressed seed oil that can be utilized for lip balms and skin preparations. Raspberry seed oil is packed with essential fatty acids and vitamins. Excellent for use on the skin with a subtle aroma of raspberries.

For the creative and adventurous types I suggest getting some dried raspberry fruit at the market and tincturing it in grape alcohol. This will produce a red raspberry tincture that can then be added to other fruity notes to create the impression of Raspberry for a botanical perfume.


FLAVOR: Beth Schreibman Gehring
Please continue reading about Raspberry at the Windesphere Witch blog

Saturday, March 20, 2010

GreenWitch


Once again the sacred seasonal wheel reaches one of eight markers, signifying a transition. Today marks the Vernal Equinox, Mean Earraigh, where day and night are balanced as we celebrate Spring and fertility.

Aligned in the spirit of community my friends and fellow bloggers have joined together in a circle with thoughts and impressions of GreenWitch natural perfume. The fragrance has been reated as an offering to Tethys, the Greek aquatic sea goddess. At the bottom of this post please follow the links to each of the blogs participating.

I've chosen this day to officially launch the perfume because of the story which inspired its creation. GreenWitch by Susan Cooper is a book published in 1974 as part of the authors Dark is Rising Series. In the story a group of elder women from a community in Cornwall gather to create an offering, "for greeting summer and charming a good harvest of crop and fish.”1
In the story we learn that the gift is to the White Lady, Tethys, who governs and rules the sea. GreenWitch, the character and the perfume, defies genre as it is neither feminine nor masculine. As a gift to Tethys, it's mother, the framework of the effigy is Hazel with Rowan for the head and Hawthorne boughs and blossoms for the body.


Once the large looming figure of the GreenWitch is complete local maidens approach, touch the image and ask for a wish. Only one young maiden makes a selfless wish. As the first light of dawn is seen out on the horizon, the fisherman cast the intention filled mass of bough and blossom down into sea to the White Lady.


Tethys, daughter of Gaia, is one of the Titans in Greek mythology, mother to thousands of daughters called the Oceanids. GreenWitch, beholdent to Tethys and the Wild Magick journeys to the deep to see her mother with a secret.


This story moves my soul each time I read or listen to the audio book, obviously it has struck a resonant chord deep within. I've learned to follow that gong inside in creating art and thus bring you this new fragrance.

GreenWitch as perfume follows the formula of a traditional Chypre where Oakmoss and Labdanum in the base are balanced with Bergamot in the top. Balance is one of the main themes of Mean Earraigh as the light is evenly matched with the dark. As you anoint your self ask for a wish and know that a percentage of the profits from the flacon support GreenPeace. The perfume is available as a liquid extract in the glass bottles and in a solid, cream format here.

I wish you happiness.

Please take the journey to the listed blogs where more scented tales await.

Ida at BitterGrace Notes

The Non Blonde

Tom at Perfume Posse

Perfume Shrine

Portland Examiner

Scent Hive

The Windsphere Witch

1 GreenWitch by Susan Cooper

Find GreenWitch here
Related journal entries:
The Making of the GreenWitch and the original post at Sniffapalooza Magazine .
Vernal Equinox: Blossom by blossom and All things Spring

Images:
GreenWitch ©Greg Spalenka
Photo illustration of GreenWitch Perfume bottle by Roxana Villa
Les Océanides (Les Naiades de la mer by Gustave Doré, French, 1832 - 1883 via ArtMagick

Friday, March 19, 2010

Perfume Illuminated: Seaweed


"Every time we walk along a beach some ancient urge disturbs us
so that we find ourselves shedding shoes and garments
or scavenging among seaweed and whitened timbers
like the homesick refugees of a long war."
~ Loren Eiseley

The weekend is upon us as is the arrival of sweet Springtime with warmer and longer days. Since the GreenWitch launches in the morrow I thought to highlight the fragrance of Seaweed today.


FRAGRANCE

I've got a vial of Seaweed absolute from France. The aromatic of this rich, dark, viscous perfume raw material has a strong lichen and woody quality with a thread briney. Arctander describes it as "...seaweed drying on a saltwater beach after a heavy storm or surf." Many different types of distillates of this ancient material exist including: Fucus vesiculosus L. commonly referred to as Bladder seaweed, Dictyota dichtoma from Scandinavian and Carragheen also termed Irish Moss.

(A little flashback moment as my mind remembers making marbled paper with Irish Moss. Thus as I write this I am pondering finding my container and tincturing the material for future editions of GreenWitch.)

I like to pair Seaweed absolute with Oakmoss and Lichen as I have done in GreenWitch and Vera. Both these fragrances contain the concept of the ocean as part of the fabric of their story.
Due to the expense and limited production of the material it is not often used in perfumery, although now it is extremely rare to find true nature components in main stream perfume these days.

In "An Introduction to Perfumery" Seaweed is grouped in the Marine family but is not considered to be a good example of this family due to it's darker, aromatic profile. To achieve the more briney aspects of the material I suggest diluting it down in alcohol or with a tincture of seaweed.

Since the fragrance material is an absolute and not an essential oil there is no reference to it for aromatherapy. In general absolutes are not used for aromatherapy purposes because of the solvents involved in the distillation process. Instead I have whole pieces of it in the bath, which definitely makes you feel like a mermaid!


According to Steven Schecter, N.D "There is no family of foods more protective against radiation and environmental pollutants than sea vegetables ... sea vegetables can prevent assimilation of different radionuclitides, heavy metals such as cadmium, and other environmental toxins."

This statement above applies to consuming seaweed and using it in bath and body products. Oceanic material, like seaweed, has been found to contain electrolytic magnetic action which will facilitate in the bodies release of stored waste. As we shift from winter to spring this is the ideal time to support the body in ridding unwanted baggage such as excess body fluids.

"The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and a scented massage every day."
~ Hippocrates

To make a detoxifying salt scrub or bath salts grind some dried seaweed in your food processor or coffee grinder and add to salt. Begin by measuring your salt into a metal or glass bowl. Add your carrier and/or infused oil, the ground seaweed and essential oils. Stir with a metal spoon, fork or ideally a whisker. Spoon into a dry, clean glass jar with a tight fitting lid.

Base ingredients:
Sea Salt (1 cup)
Carrier Oil or an infused oil (1 Tbsp)
Vitamin E oil (1 drop or the contents of a capsule)
Ground Seaweed (1 Tbsp, more if you like the aroma)
Optional: Essential oil synergy

The recommended essential oil dilution for 1 cup salt is 5-7 drops essential oil synergy. I suggest playing around with the amount of carrier oil to salt to fit your liking.

“Love is like seaweed; even if you have pushed it away,
you will not prevent it from coming back.”
~ Nigerian Proverb



Reference:
Steffen Arctander "Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin"
Tony Curtis and David G. Williams"An Introduction to Perfumery"
Shirley's Wellness Cafe


Images:
The Depth of the Sea by Sir Edward Burne-Jones via Art Magick
A Mermaid by John William Waterhouse
via Art Magick
Old engravings on Parchment by Roxana Villa

Soothing Scents


In today's post I am participating with thirteen bloggers under a united theme organized by fellow colleague Ayala Moriel. Please follow the links at the end of this post to travel to the other participants in this blogorama.

1. Juniper Essential Oil

I came to the world of aromatherapy via essential oil of Juniper. The story of this journey has been repeated often in classes and lectures over the past fourteen years. I was in the midst of a divorce, my daughter Eve was three at the time and the prospect of single motherhood was terrifying. In an effort to rid myself of the psychological trauma as quickly as possible I decided to do as much inner work as possible. The type of work ranged from massage, kinesiology, rebirthing, working with a psychologist, a vision quest and participating in events with women.

A native American sweat lodge with a group of women was one such effort. After the pipe ceremony DeeDee, the friend who had invited me to the sweat, placed four little bottles of essential oil into the center of the circle. She encouraged each of us to anoint ourselves before proceeding to the lodge. I went over and deeply breathed in the aroma from each amber bottle. To my surprise upon inhaling one of the essences I was transported to a vital and fragrant forest where I instantly felt uplifted and fortified. That portal was a bottle of Juniper essential oil.


From then on I began to learn as much as I could about essential oils, ultimately resulting in a certificate in Aromatherapy and becoming a tutor the East West School of Herbal and Aromatic Studies. Soon I switched from teaching illustration classes at Art schools to teaching the benefits of Aromatherapy. Eventually that path widened to include Botanical Perfume.


2. In Fiore

In the year 2002, approximately, I met several individuals interested in botanical natural perfume which have become dear friends. One of them is colleague and mentor Julie Elliot of InFiore. Although I make my own beauty products there are specific items from Julies line that I adore and save for special occasions, like when I need a comfort scent. My two favorites at the moment are Fleur Vibrante, a Jasmine face balm, and the Rose petal "cleansing face and restorative balm" called Lustra. These are heavenly and created by hand from pure, vital ingredients.

3. California Sage

Ever since moving to the Santa Monica Mountains I have developed a fondness for the aroma of the native sages. Many different varieties grace our native garden. I adore how the scent fills the air with their herbal authenticity. Sometimes when we get home at night the scent of sage is the first thing I whiff as I open the car door. I'm looking forward for our plants to get really large so that the fragrance will broadcast throughout the neighborhood and provide food for the honey bees.


4. Tea

Sometimes I feel like I could just live on tea with milk and honey, in fact there are days where I will realize I haven't had anything else. One of my favorites is Herbal Chocolate and Roses from the Tea Garden and Herbal Emporioum. Another favorite is Puerh, lately I have been enjoying the one from Numi, normally I pick it up while in Chinatown. My other tea obsessions are Mate from my homeland Argentina, Vanilla bean from Mighty Leaf and a really good cup of Earl Grey.
Did you know that Earl Grey tea is flavored with essential oil of Bergamot?


5. Cimbalom & Chaparral®

Besides Julies beauty products and my essential oil collection the only other scented items I wear are my own perfumes. The two I most often reach for, especially out of balance, are Cimbalom and Chaparral® in their solid format. I keep both of these in my purse so that I can inhale or put some on whenever the need may arise.

6. The Bath

In aromatherapy the essences most often listed as comfort scents include: Sandalwood, Chamomile, Lavender, any essence in the citrus family but particularly Tangerine and Neroli, Frankincense, Rose and Vetiver. One of the things I do routinely to rsetor balance is to have a bath with one of the above mentioned essential oils or a synergy. My favorite is a combination of Patchouli, Ylang Ylang and Tangerine....euphoric, grounding, relaxing and extremely comforting, especially before bed.

Many thanks to Ayala for inviting me here today, now please journey on to the blogs of the other participants....

BitterGrace Notes
Perfume Shrine
Notes from the Ledge
Scent Hive
The Non Blonde
Perfume in Progress
Katie Puckrik Smells
A Rose Beyond the Thames
I Smell Therefore I Am
Olfactarama
All I Am A Redhead
Savvy Thinker
SmellyBlog

Images: Enchantment and Sierra ©Greg Spalenka, Lustra ©InFiore, Sage photo, Tea cup on parchment and Cimbalom by Roxana Villa.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Making of the GreenWitch...


“The making of the greenwitch....is an old spring rite...
for greeting summer
and charming a good harvest of crop and fish.”
~ Susan Cooper

The Vernal Equinox arrives this SaturnDay, heralding in the long awaited Spring time. In the old pagan traditions of creating an offering to a divine deity for a plentiful harvest, I have created GreenWitch, as a gift to Tethys.

GreenWitch is a liquid, natural perfume in the Chypre fragrance family. The scent began as a recreation of a traditional Chypre. At the time of the formulation I was listening to the book on tape GreenWitch by Susan Cooper which inspired a different navigational course for the fragrance.


In general I create perfume for me. All my early fragrances: Q, Lyra, Aurora, Chaparral® and Sierra, as well as others: Cimbalom, Rosa, Terrestre, Page47, Peace and Smell Me were formulated first according to a specific topic like "Oak" for example and secondly with the intention to satisfy my own perfume aesthetic. Vera, the Chocolates, Vespertina™ and now GreenWitch have not been developed according to my own personal fragrance aesthetics. Perhaps you will notice how the fragrances are different from the first grouping I mentioned?

GreenWitch began without a name, as a study on a classical Chypre formula from the book "An Introduction to Perfumery." As I sketched and the story worked it's magic on my pagan soul, I veered in the direction of a "green" Chypre and then added specific elements from the story. Last year for the Spring Equinox a small amount of the perfume was released as a trial edition. Read a much more in depth herstory of the creation at this link at Sniffapalooza Magazine.

“Hazel for the framework, Rowan for the Head,
The body is of Hawthorne boughs and Hawthorne blossoms.”
~ Susan Cooper

The first edition is close to the trial version but with more sea notes woven in. I think the sea elements and the evolution of the fragrance are my very favorite aspects of this perfume. Here is how I interpreted the basic formula from "An Introduction to Perfumery" by Tony Curtis and David G. Williams:
  • Bergamot Oil, FCF >>> Bergamot, Italy
  • Sandalwood Oil, E.I. >>> Sandalwood, Mysore
  • Vetivert Oil, Bourbon >>> Vetiver, Haiti
  • Oak Moss Absolute, Decol >>> Oak Moss Absolute
  • Rose base >>> Monsoon Rose Attar, Geranium Absolute & Rose Otto, Iran
  • Jasmin base >>> Jasmine Sambac Absolute
  • gamma-methyl ionone >>> Orris Root C02
  • Patchouli oil, light >>> Patchouli, Indonesia
  • Musk ketone >>> Faux Musk Accord #1
  • Clary Sage Oil >>> Clary Sage
  • Neroli reconstituted >>> Neroli, Morrocco
From there I looked at other formulas like the one in"Perfumes of Yesterday" by David G. Williams. Besides the ingredients listed above the Williams formula also contained:
  • Bitter Orange
  • Tuberose >>> Tuberose
  • Clove
  • Cassie >>> Cassie Absolute, Egypt
  • Ambergris >>> Labdanum
  • Castoreum
  • Civet >>> Faux Civet Accord
  • Tonka Bean >>> Tonka Bean
  • Vanilla >>> Vanilla C02
  • Ambrette >>> Ambrette C02
  • Pimento
  • Oppoponax
I then evaluated both formulas and created a Chypre Base with:
  • Sandalwood, Mysore
  • Vetiver, Haiti
  • Patchouli, Indonesia
  • Oak Moss Absolute
After deciding to move toward a Green and Sea based Chypre I added these elements to my Chypre Base Accord:
  • Labdanum Absolute
  • Seaweed Absolute
  • Celery Seed
  • Choya
  • Peru Balsam
To further the Green element I added an accord which I call Fern due to it's very green imprint. This accord contains 29 different plant essences including:
  • Boronia
  • Tuberose
  • Lavender
  • Violet Leaf
  • Mimosa
  • Musk Rose
  • Parsley Seed
  • Pine
  • Galbanum Absolute
  • Ylang Ylang
Faux Musk Accord #1:
  • Ambrette C02
  • Cassie Absolute, Egypt
  • Africa Stone
  • Spikenard
  • Cumin
  • Beeswax
Once I had my accords I combined varying amounts of each and added:
  • Tonka Bean
  • Orris C02
  • Elemi
  • Geranium Absolute
  • Jasmin Sambac
  • Katafray
  • Galbanum Absolute
  • Parsley
  • Lemon
  • Bergamot
  • Petitgrain, Lime
After this synergy matured I added the tinctures and the Organic grain alcohol.
The tinctures in this edition are: Kelp, Hawthorne flowers, leaves and berries.

Notice that this fragrance contains Africa stone, technically not a botanical ingredient. I used a dilution (tincture) of Africa stone absolute, Procavia capensis. Africa stone is one of those particularly odd ingredients that has made it's way into the palette of natural perfumers. It is the fossilized urine and excrement of a small African mammal called the Rock Hyrax. Before going into a perfume the substance has gone through a number of alchemic transformations. Africa stone adds an animalic quality to a natural perfume, or in this case an accord. In GreenWitch the ingredient is barely in the perfume since there is minimal amounts of the Faux Musk Accord, however, I wanted to let you all know that it is there.


Once the fragrance was solved it was time to decide on the color harmony. Green was the obvious choice, however what shade of green? Q and Sierra already had the two greens in the palette, what to do!? With the help of my mother Martha and my little maiden Eve, we decided on the pastel tone of teal because it "felt" most appropriate to GreenWitch. The photo below is of Eve, which she took using her camera remote.


From there Martha created a sample for the top of the pouch, which resembles the rolling waves of the ocean. The little star fish charms were chosen last year while in downtown Los Angeles.


The illumnator of our perfumes, Master Gregorio, is developing a new image for GreenWitch. He has been quite busy with Artist As Brand thus the illumination may not be ready for SaturnDays debut. We shall see, please hold a strong intention that it may manifest. In the meantime there are plenty of other images that will suffice, including this one pictured below.


Please return to this journal on Saturday when friends join me for another blogorama event with their impressions of the first edition. In the meantime...Watch for the GreenWitch!


Photos and images ©Roxana Villa, ©Eve Neuhart and ©Greg Spalenka.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Wandering Wonderland Winners


Thus grew the tale of Wonderland:
Thus slowly, one by one,
Its quaint events were hammered out —
And now our tale is done
And home we steer, a merry crew,
Beneath the setting sun.
~ Lewis Carroll

Here I am...FINALLY...I think I must have fallen through yet another wormhole, I mean rabbit hole, so sorry! In either case, I have five little sample vials of Smell Me here in my pocket for the winners of the Wandering Wonderland game.

Ah, but, first, the correct answers were:

Helg at Perfume Shrine = Cheshire Cat
Indie Perfumes = White Rabbit
Beth at Windsphere Witch = Caterpillar
Tom at Perfume Smellin' Things = Hatter
Roxana of Illuminated Perfume = Alice

The winners:

Queen of Spade = Holly
Jack of Spade = Lisa
Queen of Clubs = Denise
Jack of Hearts = Anatole
Queen of Hearts = Angie

Thank you to every person who stopped by and participated, I am so grateful to the bloggers who contributed their time, wit and words as well as each of YOU.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Perfume Illuminated: Sage


The hills are alive with the aroma of the chaparral here where I dwell and make art. Ceanothus, the Oaks, some of the Sages and the Poppies are all in bloom. This post will illuminate some of the notes and attributes of the species Salvia, which grows abundantly in the Santa Monica Mountains.


In the California garden we have been fostering a variety of native salvias dot our landscape including:
  • White Sage, Salvia apiana
  • Black Sage, Salvia Mellifera
  • Cleveland Sage, Salvia clevelandii
  • Salvia leucophylla
  • Dwarf Black Sage, Salvia tera seca
  • Hummingbird Sage, Salvia spathacea

FRAGRANCE

The genus Salvia has a very large variety in the species, the most familiar is common sage, Salvia officinalis, often utilized in the kitchen. The word officinalis comes from the Linneas binominal system of naming plants, this particular grouping has medicinal attributes. The word Salvia comes from the latin Salveo meaning to heal or Salvere meaning to cure, both referring to the curative powers of the plant.

In aromatherapy and natural, botanical perfume we have quite a treasure trove of Salvias to work with, each with their own specific aroma and therapeutic blueprint. Salvia officinalis, originating in the Mediterranean, has a warm herbaceous scent with camphorous notes. It is the camphorous notes which make this distilled gem wonderful for the respiratory system. The essence also contains thujone in it's chemical make-up, which has been found to cause seizures in those susceptible as well as irritate the skin. Although I personally have had no reactions, please be mindful when using this essential oil. Other varieties of sage available for aromatic potions are Greek, Spanish and Dalmation sage some available as essential oils, some as Co2 extracts and some in both formats.


The other essential oil commonly used in aromatherapy is Clary sage, Salvia sclarea, distilled from the flowering tops and leaves. Historically this salvia was used to flavor wine and create a digestif. The aroma is much sweeter than its officinalis family member retaining an herbaceous character with a rich wine-like quality. For the botanical perfumer Clary sage is also available as a concrete and an absolute. All of these work well in the creation of a faux Ambergris accord/chord. In aromatherapy I have used Clary sage in blends for balancing hormones and emotions.


Since the leaves of sage are so aromatic and release their aroma and medicinal qualities with ease sage makes a fantastic tincture and infused oil. I use the native Sage apiana, pictured at left, for a tincture in the botanical perfume Vera, the infused oil will be highlighted in the upcoming solid version. This sage is an evergreen perennial sun loving shrub which is sacred to the native people of California and used in ceremony. Here is an excerpt from a book by Chumash woman I had the pleasure to meet at Topanga Days:

The healer, or an elder from the village, put a small branch of dried white sage in a suitable container such as a seashell, typically an abalone shell. The white sage was ignited with fire. The flames were blown out allowing the white sage to smolder and smoke. The smoke from white sage has a pleasant smell and is thought to help carry prayers to God. The healer prayed for the health of the patient while moving the seashell to allow the smoke to touch every part of the patient's body including the soles of the feet. The healer sometimes touched the patient's back with an eagle or hawk wing to draw out harmful spirits (nunasus). The wing was then flicked down to send the harmful spirits back into the underworld where they originated. Smudging with white sage is still practiced by Chumash people today.*

One of the classic culinary herb mixes is Herbes de Provence which includes sage. Here is a traditional blend for cooking which can easily be translated into an herbaceous cologne or perfume. For a perfume I suggest adding some wood in the base and citrus in the top notes. The recipe can be enhanced with tinctures of sage, lavender, bay etc. Consider taking this idea one step further and creating an aromatic that is based on the local native plants in your area. The Herbes de Provence formula comes from the native flora the grows in southern France.

Sage
Thyme
Chervil
Rosemary
Savory
Lavender
Tarragon
Marjoram
Oregano (has a strong aroma, use minimal amounts)
Mint (has a strong aroma, use minimal amounts)
Fennel
Bay leaves

FLAVOR: Beth Schreibman Gehring
Please continue reading about Sage at the Windesphere Witch blog

* Spirit, Mind and Body in Chumash Healing, James D. Adams, Jr and Cecelia Garci, Oxford Journals

Resources and reference:
California Gardens
Las Pilitas Nursery
Theodore Payne Foundation
A Modern Herbal by Mrs. Grieve
The Hortus Medicus
The Epicenter


Images
Photographs and old engravings cleaned and placed on parchment by Roxana Villa

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Chocolates @ Scent Hive


It's a good day to fly over to the Scent Hive today, jasmine, rose, orange blossom, the oaks and vanilla orchids are in bloom. Queen bee Trish offers up her perspectives on the latest in the second tier of chocolate natural perfumes. There is a giveaway for a 1 gram pot from the new set, make sure to enter by Sunday evening for your chance to win.

The Crown: Purple


Everything is blooming most recklessly;
if it were voices instead of colors,
there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.
~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke

Between red and blue one encounters purple, the color attributed to royalty and the crown chakra. Mauve and purple are celebrated today in Spring Color Week at Poppytalk, here are some of my contributions for the festival.



Lavender, a plant containing one of the most useful essential oil available. The refreshing and balancing note of Lavender is celebrated in Vera, a botanical perfume, which contains several varieties of the essence from all over the world.

Vera is a song to lavender and the regional farmers working with this healing herb. This fragrance is an herbaceous bouquet inspired by the Ojai Valley in Southern California. Regionally distilled herbs harmonize with a floral heart in an oceanic base. This perfume contains essential oils distilled and tinctured from local flora. Vera was created specifically for the Ojai Lavender Festival in 2007. The term Vera is derived from the botanical name for true lavender, Lavandula vera.




Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Blue + Yellow

"All theory, dear friend, is gray, but the golden tree of life springs ever green."
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


The color vibration for today is green. Above the green portion of the inspiration board in my studio, below Eve modeling the perfume locket necklace.


The Amazon jungle in Ecuador from our trip last summer, a definitive festival of green that requires our defending from burger conglomerates.


"The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color." ~Hans Hofmann


"Smell me"...the latest addition to the Illuminated Perfume tribe, a green floral based on the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.


Q illumination by Greg Spalenka.


Q botanical perfume, 7 grams of the verdant oak perfume in it's glass flacon. The color harmony of this perfume is the deep green of the leathery Coastal Live oak leaves.

"Green how I want you green. Green wind. Green branches."
~ Federico Garcia Lorca

This is my second contribution to the Poppytalk's Spring Color Week, yesterday was pink, see you in the morrow for the tunes and tonalities of mellow yellow.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Think Pink

Pink isn't just a color, it's an attitude!
~ Miley Cyrus


Variations of the theme of pink to brighten and lighten your Moon day. Today's contribution is part of PoppyTalks Spring Color Week.

Image above is the Illumination of Lyra created by Greg Spalenka, below is a photo illustration of Lyra liquid botanical perfume with her hand made crochet pouch by Martha of TwoKnit.


"I don't think I will ever get tired of wearing pink."
~ Emma Bunton


Here I am in the early 1960's, perhaps 1964, wearing my little pink dress and sitting on the balcony of my Aunt Elsa's apartment in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

"The tones of gray, pale turquoise and pink will prevail."
~ Christian Dior


Pictured above, Lyra as a solid natural perfume in a pink crochet pouch.


The pink in my palette is based on my skin tone, which is a pale dusty rose pink. I also have a pink that moves into coral tones, like the illumination on the first image by Greg.


I used a pink, textured Italian paper to make the folded packages for the liquid perfume samples and 1 gram bottles. Below is Greg and I getting married, I'm wearing one of my very favorite jackets purchased while in fabulous Vancouver. It's a textured pink brocade with some lace, a definitive poet-artist item with a vintage look.


"A woman should be pink and cuddly for a man."
~ Jayne Mansfield