Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The Replacements


The new round bee tins are slowly replacing the honey pots and thus eliminating a little plastic from the shop. My ideal is to find something that will accommodate 5 grams of solid natural perfume, like the honey pot.

The quest continues.

Photo: Lyra Bee Tin

Monday, April 22, 2013

Figure 1: Noir


Roxana Illuminated Perfume introduces a curious collection of natural perfume narratives beginning with Figure 1: Noir, a fragrance tailored for those with a passion for patchouli.

From her tool box of artistic disciplines, Roxana illuminates an eccentric curiosity birthed of primordial earth. Figure 1: Noir is an intriguing perfume oddity, deep and resinous with a loamy plume of botanical musk. This first aromatic curiosity features harmonious notes of patchouli, green vetiver, agarwood, Mysore sandalwood, orris and valerian juxtaposed with the pungent tartness of buchu leaf, kewda, black cumin, green cognac and davana. The effect is as intimate and universal as human skin with a wild animalic shadow.

Figure 1: Noir is available as both a liquid and solid perfume in a variety of sizes and formats including a sample set of both for $17.50.



Image 1: Photograph Roxana Villa
Round solid perfume compacts, agarwood, earth and valerian root

Image 2: Photograph Lucy Snowe
Image 3: Illumination Greg Spalenka

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Loved into Being



 "A garden, where one may enter in and forget the whole world, cannot be made in a week, 
nor a month, nor a year; it must be planned for, waited for and loved into being."
~ Ancient Chinese Proverb


Today I am continuing work on the Figure 1: Noir LookBook. Tomorrow is Earth and Honey Bee Awareness Day which will find me at the Backwards Beekeepers booth at Santa Monica College from 3- 5pm, in their brand new Organic Learning Garden.

Here in our native plant woodland garden the sacred white sage (Salvia apiana) is blooming along with many others and the spectacular Matilija poppies (Romneya coulteri) have big bulbs ready to open soon.

Back when we removed all the non native invasive plants from our yard and decided to plant natives we didn't know what we know now. So much learning comes from doing. The reason our native garden has been so challenging is first our own limitations back then of understanding native plants and how they grow. The other two factors which took awhile to figure out is that the front slope besides being clay soil also contains large amounts of fill and some toxins given off by the non native eucalyptus tree roots. Slowly but surely, with determination, the front slope is finally starting to take shape. We still have more planting to do.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

I Feel the Earth Move


All the ducks are getting lined up for the Figure 1: Noir release for Earth Day. There are still a few items to take care of like more photos, writing the press release and sending samples to my favorite bloggers. In the meantime I have been wearing both versions and getting feedback from the fandom. 

At the moment the solid version that has gone out to folks and showcased at the San Francisco Salon is much more dense and earthy than the liquid. Some of you have expressed that you like them as they are and use them together, while others are in admiration of the liquid but not the solid. Thus, I have made another mod of the fragrance, shifting the solid to be a bit more like the liquid with the fruit note slightly more in the foreground.

Here is a quote about Figure 1: Noir solid, mod 1:

"It reminds me of being in a cool, dim cellar with damp wood, mossy earth and a tantalizing drift of stored fruit from some distant corner."
                                                              ~ Linda

Photograph is by Lucy Snowe, one of the many she did for me.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Illuminating the dark and mysterious


Figure 1: Noir was introduced at the San Francisco Artisan Fragrance event last month. Although the fragrance has not been formerly launched with the press release samples are already in the shop and reviews from happy noses are sprinkled throughout this post. Most importantly, and the reason for this post today, is the fantastic imagery that has been created for this new botanical perfume. The opening image above is the "official" illumination for Figure 1: Noir created by Greg Spalenka with his exquisite model Jessica Lough.

"A primal, feral animal, searching the blackest night. His fur damp and musky, his paws dirty with earth, dug up roots, and the faint aroma of trodden berries. This is the image that Noir conjured in my mind. Fig. 1: Noir is heavy, earthy, strong and long-lasting. And utterly beautiful. The sweet berry notes that emerge soon after application are subtle, but when under the shadow of this intoxicating patchouli they mingle together so well. This is a true blessing for patchouli lovers."
                             ~ Sam (In reference to the liquid)

The photo shoot took place in Seattle while Greg was up that way doing an Artist as Brand workshop. At some point Greg will be publishing more specifics about it with photos over at the Spalenka blog. Prior to photo session I had given Greg some keywords about the fragrance, informed him that the color harmony would be black and a bit about the feel I was looking to convey.

"I've been wearing the Noir liquid everyday now for a few days as I'm continually drawn to it. I love the deep earthyness and enjoy the liquid on its own for awhile before applying the solid to give it some extra staying power. It has a mystery to it, for me anyway as I can't pin down the botanicals in terms of recognition as I can with your other fragrances (other than the patchouli). So I have surrended to it and find it extremely balancing and grounding"
                             ~ Karen


I also commissioned Lucy Snowe to do some photography after I saw the beautiful still life shots she had added to her E-shop recently. There are still a few more shots to be done which I will get to work on as soon as the coyote skull I ordered arrives.

Figure 1: Noir was first one of the chocolate solid perfumes which originated in December of 2009. The fragrances in this series had simple names beginning with the term Figure and a number as a reference to botanical illustrations.

"It's is a striking fragrance, Unbelievably earthy and musky--very unusual for a pure botanical perfume."  ~ Heather (In reference to the solid)

Greg is offering the Figure 1: Noir illumination as a print for sale at his E-shop.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

California Native Plant Tour 2013


The 10th Annual Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour took place Saturday & Sunday. More than 40 gardens in the Los Angeles region, each planted with at least 50% California natives were showcased.


During a visit to a patio garden in Santa Monica I heard the host talking about a honey bee with "blue knees." I bent down to take a look and sure enough the little feral bee had blue violet pollen sacks! I'd never seen anything like it before. I'm intending that the blue is due to the color of the pollen from the flower and not a toxic pesticide or fertilizer. The wildflower the bee was gathering nectar from is Gilia capitata  a species of flowering plant in the phlox family, native to western North America.

Garden 4 in Burbank
The photos below is from a garden that was surprisingly planted during the high summer heat of July, one of the worst times to plant natives, yet they survived due to a very diligent gardener. Here's the text from the tour website:  "They killed their lawn! This two-year-old, owner-designed, 1250 sq. ft. front yard is now a thriving wildlife habitat and gathering place for family and entertaining—and a showcase for colorful, fragrant native flora, water conservation, and energy and waste reduction."


Anacapa Pink Island Morning Glory hedge in Burbank, the honey bees love this plant. 
I'm considering planting this one where our non-native morning glories are failing.


The house in Burbank had quite a lot of wildflowers, this fuzzy, 
golden section beauty above and below is called Caterpillar Phacelia, Phacelia cicutaria.


On Sunday we traveled over the hill to the Santa Monica area. Garden 26 in Brentwood  This garden is "a two-year-old 2,000 sq. ft. front yard of sage, buckwheat, penstemon and other drought-tolerant natives that provide color, support wildlife and tolerate heavy soil. Enhancing the scene is a very old coast live oak that elegantly overhangs the driveway. Drip irrigation and a weather-smart controller complement green elements of the home." This cute 1950's cottage, which has a similar feel to our little house, featured blooming Ceanothus and a small field of native poppies. Due to the owners mindful planting her garden is filled with the song of birds. This garden was designed by Nancy Cipes and Margaret Oakley Otto of Oakley Gardens.


Native strawberry as a ground cover, we planted this one during the autumn 
on our front slope under the oaks, doesn't quite look like this...yet!


 The view of the front garden from the living room window.

 
The welcome mat had a honey bee!


Unfortunately I had too much going on this weekend and wasn't able to visit some of the spectacular gardens located in other parts of the city like Pasadena and downtown areas.

More posts here at the journal about California native plants can be found here.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Medallions in Gold, Silver and Bronze


The mysterious judges of the 2nd annual Artisan Fragrance Salon in San Francisco have bestowed awards in ten categories. At this event my work was acknowledged in eight of those categories.

I received two Gold medals: Top Artisan Perfumer and Best Ingredient Combinations, two Silver medals: Most Unique and Best Packaging and four Bronze: Best Aroma, Best in Salon, Top All Around Product Line and Most Seductive Scent. Most interesting to me of these is the overlap with the LA event with Best Ingredient Combinations, Best Aroma, Best in Salon, Top all around perfumer and Most Seductive Scent.

As mentioned with the LA Artisan Fragrance Salon, the "award" thing makes me a little uncomfortable whether I win or not. Like the Aborigines, it seems better to acknowledge individual talents or an individual who may have excelled from one year to the next rather than a comparative / competitive scenario, especially with something as personal as fragrance.

The best part about these awards is sharing them with YOU, my devoted and loyal fans!

At this Salon helping me was Jerusa, a friend and psychiatric doctor. I absolutely loved having her at the booth due to her extremely loving and supportive energy. It also helps that she is a huge fan of my fragrances. During the show I kept encouraging her to venture out, but she chose to stay. At dinner I asked why she didn't leave the booth more, she said "Your lovely words and insights are inspiring, the booth was like a magnetic for me, the stories...your perfumes are fragrances of healing love and empowerment." Depending on the attendee at the booth Jerusa would share her own story or listen to the persons smell observations. In most cases she would tell them how each time she wears Chaparral she gets stopped and asked about her fragrance. It was like having my very own tribe right there with me during the show. Once again many thanks to each of you. xo

If you'd like to read more about the SF Salon, attendee Lanier Smith wrote up a fun piece his blog Scents Memory, there's a photo of me speaking with fellow Argentine and perfumista Viginia Blanco. The aromatics on the scent strip she is inhaling is Cepes (mushroom) absolute.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

1st Annual Seattle Artisan Fragrance Event


The artisan and luxury fragrance show is now headed to the Northwest for the 1st Annual Seattle ARTISAN FRAGRANCE SALON. Taking place on Sunday, May 5th, 2013 at the Bell Harbor Conference Center located at 2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66 | Seattle, WA 9812.

Fragrance lovers of all genres rejoice! Participants include and range of artists working in botanical, natural, mixed media and modern palettes:

and myself

Like the two prior Salons in San Francisco and Los Angeles, this happening is in conjunction with the International Chocolate Salon occurring in tandem.