Some thoughts as the year ends

The year of 2011 was one of regrouping for me after a difficult personal/family situation that had lasted over one and a half years, finally ending in mid March 2011 and allowing me to concentrate fully on the business again. I restored all the scents back to the website in the spring, and then I worked with a graphic artist to design the new boxes. The oak leaf illustration led to a new face for the website that debuted last summer. All the while I was working on a number of scents, but only two were released in 2011: To Dream early in the year and Fig Tree in fall. I completed many tasks that put me in a good position to make the most of 2012, and I can’t wait to get started!

I’ll be batching Nostalgie over the next couple weeks and releasing it in January. I’ve had very encouraging feedback from many testers and am really happy about it. I had been rushing to try to get it out in December, but I’m glad I took my time with it. I have some other new scents and exciting projects coming soon, and I hope to start open hours by appointment this spring (that goal was on last year’s list too, but I think it will finally happen this year).

I look forward to meeting other west coast perfumers in some upcoming events being planned for 2012. So far I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Mandy Aftel and Ayala Moriel — both visits were such a treat! I enjoyed talking perfumery and smelling some of their creations. I love Mandy’s Tango, Parfum Prive, Honey Blossom, and Candide. I look forward to trying Secret Garden. I’ve been a fan of Ayala’s line since long before we met, but she shared samples of some new scents that were fun to sniff. Her new tuberose coming this next year is a gorgeous perfume that is not to be missed. Her Orcas release this year is the first scent that I’ve liked that smells coastal (it’s marine in a natural way instead of synthetic marine, and it makes you think of a rugged tree-lined coast rather than sun-tanning on the beach). Sniffing the creations of natural perfumers pulls at my heart to keep emphasizing naturals more and more in my own scents.

I wanted to say thanks to a number of people who included me in their best of 2011 posts. Thanks so much Jessica of Now Smell This, Birgit of Olfactria’s Travels, and Victoria of EauMG for including To Dream in your lists of 2011 favorites! Thanks Natalie at Another Perfume Blog for including Fig Tree shea cream in your 2011 list, and thanks Lavanya for including Champagne de Bois in your 2011 favorite discoveries list on Pieces of Paper, Squiggly Lines. Champagne de Bois also appeared in Victoria’s New Year’s Champagne theme post on EauMG. Many thanks also to Elena of Perfumeshrine for mentioning me in her post today for the close of 2011. I’m truly honored to be included in the company of so many fabulous perfumers and products.

I didn’t try many of the new releases this year, considering how many new scents came out. Of the mainstream scents I tried, I liked Bottega Veneta and Tom Ford’s Violet Blonde. My biggest disappointment was Chanel 19 Poudre, which I did not like despite good lasting power on my skin (some people complained of poor lasting power, but for me it just felt too generic). One of the most beautiful perfumes I sniffed for the first time this year was a sample of vintage Deneuve parfum that a generous perfume fairy gifted me — it is gorgeous.

On the ingredient horizon, Mysore sandalwood has been easier to source, and I acquired some lovely tuberose and mimosa absolutes this year. I’ve also been organizing my inventory and have a better system for keeping track of the many bottles.

I’m so grateful for all the kind and wonderful people I’ve met in the perfume community. Many, many thanks for your support, and I wish you all a fabulous 2012 full of happiness and fragrant delights!