My Perfume Craft

I remember having a blast picking out different Bob Marley incense packs from Spencers or the local headshop as a young teen. Then, later on my mother gave me my first ever 2 essential oils, bergamot and ylang ylang. Through my 20s I got into collecting essential oils and burning sage, palo santo, cedar, frankincense, and copal. In my early 30s I became obsessed with vintage and niche perfumes. My collection grew rapidly. And It wasnt until having a friend who shared his incredible passion for hand rolling artisanal incense with natural oils and resins, along with meeting another local natural perfumer, that I began to become very curious and inspired. By this point I had a good amount of my own essential oils that I would blend on my skin. Why not try to explore more complex blends with a carrier? 

Why natural? I have been pro-natural ways for a long time when it comes to most things in life. I will say, I am not anti-synthetics. I believe there is a time and a place. But we do need to be aware of health concerns that many synthetics come with (hormone disrupters etc). So even though I enjoy wearing vintage perfumes that probably have a variety of synthetics, you wont catch me bathing myself in them daily. Natural perfumes made with essential oils are generally more palatable and approachable for people who are really sensitive to smell. And not only are they healthier for us, but they are an opportunity to connect with and pay reverence to the plant (and animal) spirits.

Why ritual perfumes? For a long time I have seen the value and beauty in ritual. It had been woven in the fabric of human history and also is something deeply missing in today's mainstream society. Creating ritual allows us to be present, be intentional, and connect to our hearts and to something higher/outside of ourself. Anointing is a ritual used with oils and perfumes that has been around for thousands of years.