The perfume Chaparral is not a reference to the creosote bush, Larrea tridentata, which sometimes goes by many name chaparral, as well as greasewood and la gobernadora. I named the fragrance after the California biome distinguished by wet winters, hot summers and drought-tolerant shrub land. This biome is also found in the Mediterranean, South America, Australia… Continue reading The alchemical trinity of Chaparral
Tag: california
Rain!
The rains have FINALLY arrived to Los Angeles! I’m so happy as I am sure the woodland plants and beasties are as well. We were able to get all the natives we purchased at the Theodore Payne Foundation and redo a few of the walls around our 1950’s ranch style house completed within hours of… Continue reading Rain!
California Christmas 2015
While driving south toward Hermosa Beach on Christmas morning I had the warm snuggly thought that, last night and on this morning, all over the world people were opening little packages of botanical perfume sent with love from a little perfumery in Agoura Hills. Maybe this had occurred to me in previous years, in one… Continue reading California Christmas 2015
What are your favorite FALL Colors in 2015?
FALL officially arrived to Northern hemis-peeps* the day of the Autumnal Equinox, but to us here in parched Los Angeles the sign posts became obvious this week. Ginkgo biloba, Liquidambar, Lagerstroemia indica (aka crepe/crape myrtle) and the two natives Platanus racemosa (California sycamore) and Vitis californica have been displaying their beautiful cloaks. The Liquidambars being the most stunning… Continue reading What are your favorite FALL Colors in 2015?
Spring in Summer
Some of the plants in my garden are acting as if its Spring, even though we are in the middle of Summer. I’m guessing this is due to the extremely weird weather coupled with a little extra watering with our shower water. If you didn’t know, California is having a massive drought and thus we… Continue reading Spring in Summer
Everlasting
Friday evening, during the Street Art Live event at Wizard (Whizin) Center a gentle soul who auspiciously resembled Frodo came by the perfumery. We began chatting and soon found we shared a love of plants, specifically those of the California wildwoods. My friend Marie, who was spending time with me at the perfumery that evening,… Continue reading Everlasting
California Christmas 2014
Merry Christmas from Southern California, where the day was cool with brilliant sunshine. Here’s a pictorial display of our day down in Hermosa with the Neuhart clan. The morning usually starts off with hugs, kisses, a drink (tea in our case), the traditional family photo and opening of gifts. Santa is very abundant at the… Continue reading California Christmas 2014
The Birds and the Bees
The heavy rains from last week gave our very dry earth a much needed soaking producing a few blooms in the garden. The girls have been hard at work collecting nectar and pollen. A hive check is over due, which will likely result in a frame of honey or two. The Cistus is flowering. I… Continue reading The Birds and the Bees
Rosa 2014
Monday morning I filtered the 2014 edition of Rosa liquid perfume and began listing all the variations. The wafting of the aromatic molecules from the filtering process wafted throughout the entire house for a few days and is still very present within the studio. The photo above of the Rosa flacon was taken amongst fresh… Continue reading Rosa 2014
Seeding Truth
It’s a rare thing to inspire me to get away from my work and the studio, particularly in the middle of a rain that has been producing flash floods in a drought stricken area. Be that as it may, in the early evening last night just as the City of Angels was in the midst… Continue reading Seeding Truth