Tuesday, June 3, 2008

A Walk in the Woods


The perfumes I create are made with actual plant material, sometimes tinctured or infused, and essences obtained from nature in the guise of essential oils. The natural or botanical perfumer has a vast palette to work with in creating their artwork, lets call it earthwork. We are advocates of both the art of perfumery and the plant kingdom. By creating and using pure fumes utilizing the gifts of nature it brings one to the center of self and a profound connection to Mother Earth.

"There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story." ~ Linda Hogan

I came to working with precious aromatic gems by a calling from the plant world, a subtle hum, like that of the Ents in Lord of the Rings. It's a gift to work with these vital essences and live here at the base of the great Santa Monica Mountain range. My home and studio are a haven in the thick of the chaparral biome with its varied flora and fauna. I've come to see a parallel between native plants and botanical perfume, both are subtle, both are authentic, both speak in a language that is different from what we are accustomed. It is similar to the subtle healing energies of homeopathic medicine.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume™
Image above ©Greg Spalenka

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