The day job sometimes brings experiences that I would never have guessed, most recently with a high end product (which we can’t disclose yet)… where we got the opportunity to meet with the director of R&D, and participate in a scent crash-course on the creation of scent from essential oils. This, followed by a whirlwind trip to the New York gift show, to get completely immersed in the world of fragrance.
Meanwhile, in my parallel universe (aka: ‘after hours’) we have had one old friend (and two new ones) introduce us to their amazing lines. (Some are new launches, others are line extensions). What does all of this mean? I’ll interpret it as a resurgence for an appreciation for organic scents. I have a new found love for the emotional & physical power of scent when its derived from nature, and next time we’re hiking the trails at camp, I’ll remember to breathe a little deeper.
Here are our new favorites: An essential oil, A unisex fragrance + bug repellent & a cologne
BRAND: Sparrow For Everyone:
PRODUCT: True Essential Oil.
About the creator: Susan Flaga, Co-owner of the renowned Chicago salon, Sparrow, located in Logan Square. Much loved by local and international press for giving good hair: from The New York Times to InStyle.
About the creation: “Sparrow True Essential Oil came from a quest to find something real, something healing and something for everyone. It comes from the belief that one product can be a foundation for healing. Our blend of 12 oils, all derived from flowers, nuts, and seeds is free of any man-made ingredients. The journey to develop Sparrow True Essential Oil began with months of studying, mixing and sourcing essential oils. When we stumbled upon Cathy Hope, whose small home-based company sources only the best ingredients from around the world, we knew we were on the right path. We were able to get access to oils that were ecologically ethical, wild-crafted, certified organic and pure. We took great care in finding the right balance and combination of oils that could be light yet still moisturizing.”
What we fell most in love with is the gorgeous film they made- named ‘hope’, documenting the amazing journey of creating the oil.
BUY IT HERE $88
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BRAND: Juniper ridge.
PRODUCT: Backpacker’s cologne / Pacific Northwest NO. 1114-4
About the creator: Juniper Ridge was founded in 1998 by hiker, mushroom-forager, and wilderness enthusiast Hall Newbegin.
About the creation: “Warm ginger, spicy Cedar, driftwood, citrus, deep conifer forest, mountains and rivers without end. Scent notes: Pacific Northwest coastal forests in a 1 ounce bottle. Fragrance for men and women distilled from plants, conifers, bark, moss, mushrooms, and other things found hiking in the Oregon backcountry. Crafted in small batches using steam-distillation, enfleurage, tincture, and infusion. ” (shown here: the new line ‘Winter Redwood‘)
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BRAND: Remix
PRODUCT: “WEED” cologne / bug repellent
WEED by REMIXbeauty™ is an organic essential-oil-based, unisex cologne that doubles as an all natural bug repellent. It’s also great for the jet set, who can use it in hotel rooms to cleanse the space of any creepy crawlies before jumping in bed. The cologne smells woodsy, and sexy, with fresh, citrusy head notes of orange and lemon-eucalyptus, heart notes of jasmine and floral essences like rose geranium, base notes of woodsy sandalwood and earthy vetiver. Trust us, you’ll want to wear WEED all the time, whether camping or hiking or going out for dinner with your boo. It’s the perfect multi-tasker for spring and summer… Attract humans, not insects.
About the creator: Giselle Wasfie, L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist (CA/IL/NY) @ REMIX Acupuncture + Integrative Health, LLC. She’s also a music/arts/culture journalist (LA Times, DailyCandy, Vice, VIBE…), former Glamour magazine editor, author of a love-n-hip-hop novel called SO FLY, as well as founder/blogger @ ImaginaryFrend.com.
About the creation: 100% natural ingredients in distilled water and witch hazel. Made by hand in the USA. Avoid using during pregnancy and avoid getting product in eyes. This product has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. Individual results may vary. All essential oils sourced by Snow Lotus in Santa Rosa, California.
BUY IT HERE $40 2.0 fl oz spray in a glass bottle.