Saturday, August 30, 2014

Flowering Perks


Since March 13th, when I came across my new workspace, I've been contemplating creating a campaign to get some help with the set up of the atelier, specifically the counters for the apothecary area.


I'm just about ready to debut the project which will offer rewards that are not currently available in my E-shop or website like Mellifera, a new jasmine fragrance, body butters, etc. Some of these delicacies have exotic white flowers as a common denominator, like a heavenly Gardenia item that I have in a small amount. I am also devising some perks that will be special for those who attend the grand opening.


Using an established site like IndieGoGo is an option but I am leaning more toward hosting it here at the journal and sending the rewards out immediately as the donations come in to keep things simplified.


If there is anything special you would like me to offer please leave a comment or send me a note. This week I'll be meeting with some folk to get clarity on what the minimum amount I need is to get the space finished up.


Friday, August 29, 2014

Life is a Flower


Last year in August for the Honey Love Wax Symposium I put together a talk about "Scent and the Honey Bee" along with creating a perfume titled Mellifera. The fragrance is just about ready for debut. Above is a sneak preview of one of the images that Greg finished up yesterday to illuminate the evocative potion. The photo shoot was conducted back in May at the Agoura Antique Mart with the radiant Sophie Fletcher.

"Life is the flower of which love is the honey."
– Victor Hugo

The fragrance is going to be part of the fan funding campaign I've been putting together to get the rest of my new space finished, thus it will not be available at the E-shop or my website until the Autumn. There is going to be a plethora of perfumes I've been holding off on debuting available at that time including a new Jasmine that I am completely in love with.



Tuesday, August 19, 2014

In Between



The work area of my new space, termed apothecary, is finally set up. Thus, all perfumes and new orders will now be created in Agoura Hills. For the time being I've set up the area like I had it here at my home studio to keep things simplified.


The whole space is still being refined, with me making subtle daily changes. I'm in desperate need of furniture, specifically counters and shelving. Its pretty amazing how many bottles of liquids I have amassed in the last eighteen years. Packing and moving all of it in made me realize just how much glass and liquids I have. What a relief that I've only moved ten minutes away.


I have a window display / seating area at the front of the space which for now I am using as a display for my sign and glass ware.


Today I set to work only to realize I have left some valuable glassware and infusions at home. It feels a bit like I'm in between two worlds.



Thursday, August 14, 2014

Silver Filigree


The vintage inspired filigree perfume locket is now available in the silver finish. Perfect for travel or when you want to have something pretty to anoint yourself with without the need to reach into a bag or pocket. Since I am so sensitive to scent I find this locket particularly useful because the fragrance gently wafts out of the delicate ornamental brass filigree so there is no need to open it. Gently hold the locket up to the nose, breath and be instantly transported to a fragrant meadow, beach, etc. For further enchantment, open and apply the creamy elixir to your pulse points.



Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Scent of the Day: Page 47


The scent of most of my days lately has been Page 47. I can't seem to get enough of this one and yearn for it in a format that I could slather all over, not just a little dab at the wrists and neck. Thus, today, after taking a load up to the space, I am making a body butter of it.

The backbone of this fragrance is Jasmine, Champa and Vanilla. Of course the formula is much more complicated than these three individual ingredients, the trio represents the structure of the pulsating heart center.

Image composite is three raw material photos I took and the one of Eve is a selfie down at the beach, near Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Dailies


The daily gathering of little white florets from for the Jasmine sambac tincture continues. Although there was a bit of a dry spell of blossoms for about a week, the plants are flowering once more.


These waxy, abundantly scented little flowers have been getting added to 190 proof grape alcohol since April of this year. Thursday morning, while filtering the tincture, I poured a tablespoon into a glass. After finishing the process and cleaning up, I studied the fragrant potion and drank. The first impression was the strong, sharp, astringent taste of the 190 proof organic alcohol followed by the most glorious floral flavor. Like a well blended, complex botanical perfume, there was a journey of notes which ended with the most delectable tang of jasmine flowers...as if drinking an aspect of the soul of the plant which even the hydrosol cannot capture.

While experiencing this exotic and completely new taste sensation I contemplated how the high proof alcohol extracts botanical components that water cannot, making this format of experiencing the flavor of these delicate flowers a completely new and different adventure.

This tincture is meant for the 2015 edition of the Blossom Cologne. The 2014 edition of the fresh and uplifting cologne can be found here, keep in mind there is a specified amount of the cologne due to the finite availability of the hand infused alcohol contained within the fragrance.


Each plant material tinctures up differently, some do not not release there precious aromatic treasures while others do so very eagerly. Jasmine sambac works well as long as you can keep up the task of filtering old blossoms and adding new ones consistently for a period of three months or so. The alcohol in the tincture I've been making is just about completely saturated with aromatics thus, tomorrow I will begin doing an enfleurage with the jasmine blossoms.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Progress


The progress on the new space continues quite swiftly and productively. It's all feeling like its coming together now and I am absolutely thrilled. The energy in the space is absolutely divine, not only from my point of view but many others who have visited.


The wrought iron trellis that was purchased at the Rose Bowl Flea Market was made into a door and hung while we were in San Diego.



Each day when I head up to continue finishing the painting of the furniture I take a basket or two of items such as books, bottles and props. All these embellishments add more of an apothecary and artistic feel to the space.


One day when Eve and I were trodding up and down the atrium stairs with boxes we noticed a glorious floral fragrance. Eventually Eve discovered that it came from one of the large trees in the center of the Atrium near the stairs. The scent was coming from a beautiful yellow flower known as Magnolia champaca and/or Michelia champaca. In India this flower is floated in water as a sacred offering.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Movie Monday: Outlander


The uber popular book Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon is due out this week translated into new mini series by the Starz network. Although Outlander had been mentioned to me in passing at the San Francisco Artisan Fragrance Salon by Sarah Horowitz, the novel didn't get firmly planted into my consciousness until mentioned to me by Beth Schreibman Gehring. Madame Gehring and I share a passion for scent, herbs cooking and things more pagan in nature. If you are a old time reader of this journal you may recall the Perfume Illuminated posts that we collaborated on which has gone out to influence many regular series on other perfume blogs.

Outlander is one eight books that was first released in 1991 as a historical fiction love story that steps into the realm of sci-fi fantasy. I started listening to the book on tape, thanks to Audible, on our drive down to the San Diego Comic Con. Since then I've become obsessed listening whenever I get a chance. Five of the cast members and the author Diana Gabaldon were part of a panel at Comic Con. Here's the trailer for the series along with the presentation.


When I first started listening to the story I immediately thought of John Carter of Mars because of what transpires with the main character, albeit not quite as fantastical as the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels. As the story unraveled I became extremely curious as to why the book had not crossed my path in the nineties! After all, I was devouring such stories as the Medicine Woman series by Lynn Andrews and the Marion Zimmer Bradley books The Mists of Avalon.

Beth has asked me to create an Outlander inspired fragrance, which I am thrilled to orchestrate. At this point I have so many ideas I feel a bit overwhelmed. I'm sure that once I am done with the book I'll have a bit more clarity as what direction to go in....or not, which is fine to, since creativity is very chaotic.

The first episode of the series is available for free to watch now at the Starz site here. The season premiere will officially take place on Saturday, August 9th. Beth has created a fanpage of Facebook titled Outlander Love Affair.


Saturday, August 2, 2014

San Diego Comic Con 2014


Once again, the largest gathering of popular art culture descended upon the city of San Diego, and once again I attended. The timing wasn't so good, considering the new space is underway and still needs quite a bit of work. However, Greg's art book would debut at the event and I felt very keen to support him.


We drove down from our woodland to San Diego on Wednesday at noon. Our hotel, thanks to Titan, was the Marina Sheraton. A gorgeous, four star hotel with the most ghastly scent in the lobby that made me gag. To my nose it smelled of Oakmoss paired with Clary Sage and perhaps Ylang Ylang...but not in a good way. I couldn't quite figure out why the scent was so putrid. Greg said the aroma reminded him of rotting cleaning products. Whatever the fragrance was, I'm curious what the common folk thought of it.


Luckily our room had no odor what-so-ever (a godsend!) with a beautiful view of the pool from our sliding glass window/door (a second godsend). We were only at the hotel to get a bit of sleep, so I can't see I was able to experience the luxury of it much.



I don't have any new insights compared to last years post, thus I will just show you a bunch of the photos. The banner of Chiaroscuro Gold at Greg's table in Artist alley provided a great back drop to take photos and thus was used by both of us. By the way, the banner is now up at my space in Agoura Hills, albeit we haven't hung it yet.


Pictured above as the White Violin and previously in Victorian garb is a young biology student who is local and we plan on doing some photo shoots with. Each day she appeared in a different costume.


My favorite artist discovery at this years event is from Brazil, his name is Joao Ruas. The discovery was made at the Eidolon Fine Arts. Image pictured above is titled "Nymphs IV" (2011) Watercolor and acrylic on Fabriano Paper Framed 11 x 9.3" 28 x 24 cm. Joao has replaced the artist James Jean as illustrator of the comic Fables. Below is a sketchbook with various imagery by Joao that I was coveting.


As mentioned last year, one of my most favorite aspects of this surreal event is seeing our friends who come from all parts of the world to exhibit their work, walk the aisles and or present upstairs in the hall. Below is a photo of the palette Barron Storey was using while stationed at the 
Eidolon Fine Arts booth.


CosPlay, costume play, is major eye candy. I'm fascinated not only by the amount of time and creativity that goes into each costume but also with how these player will "strike a pose" for you and the camera.






Since almost everyone at the gathering had some sort of camera, the ability to walk the aisles was often hindered by crowds all of a sudden stopping to take photos. Clearly the intention of the first Comic Con in 1970 is barely a flicker as the CosPlay and Entertainment aspects has become the primary attraction.


Gregs book was premiered at the show as a Comic Con "exclusive" since officially it won't be in book stores until the Fall. On Saturday afternoon Greg did a signing at the Titan Entertainment Booth. Besides the new book Greg was also there promoting Artist as Brand with another panel featuring Donato Giancola, Drew and Maria Brophy, Dee (Dawn) Schiller of OddFae and Daniel Davis of Steam Crow. Judging from the audience the biggest impact was how surfer Drew Brophy embodies his lifestyle as an artist brand.



Here is the Sneaky Zebra Cosplay Video from this years gathering.



Photos by Roxana Villa with additions by Greg Spalenka and Douglas S. Joao Roas Nymph IV image via Thinkspace Gallery.