Once again it’s Monday…okay, okay, it’s not Monday…but we’re going to pretend that it is! Today is one of our favorite days of the week because we feature a seller and their handicraft. All of our featured sellers are artists, crafters, or hobbyists. We hope and pray that every Monday you will see some WONDERFUL finds and get inspiration from their ideas. In order to keep these features as fair and uniform as possible, every store has received the same questionnaire.
Let the MADNESS Begin!
Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
My name is Amanda Feeley. I live in Iowa, with my husband, Kevin, 4 children (2 girls and 2 boys), Morgen, Ewen, Bowie, and Teagan; 2 cats, Rocky and Shadow; and a bunny, George. I am a Graduate from Simpson College with a degree in Music, currently using that training to raise children and homeschool
I make botanical perfumes. Meaning perfume without any chemicals/synthetics/preservatives. I use raw plant materials - essential oils, absolutes, and concretes and turn them into luxurious smells!
Tell our readers a little bit about the history of your store.
I used to go to a store in a mall called Nature Botanica, and they had a perfume bar. It was lots of fun. When I went out of business, I was pretty disappointed. Then for Christmas 2009, my husband had read an article about a perfume maker, and she had a "DIY" perfume making kit available for sale. He asked me if I'd like one, and I said, "Sure!" Mixed it up, had fun, and waited the appropriate amount of time. When it was “done,” I smelled it, and thought, “Huh, that turned out pretty good…” Ordered another. Then I ordered Mandy Aftel’s book, and how to course. Then I started ordering all sorts of fun substances to play with, from reputable businesses. Started putting this with that, with this other oil, and before you know it, I’m on perfume number 11! LOL At which point I asked someone on the online forums, when do you know you're ready to sell your perfumes? He answered, a bit cheekily, "When someone buys one?" I thought, why not? Esscentual Alchemy was born!
Tell our readers what makes your store UNIQUE from all the other stores that sell a product similar to yours.
This is a highly intimate, and sensual experience for people. You really can't smell this type of perfume on someone until you get up close to them. Botanical perfumes are unique to YOUR body chemistry. They don't smell the same on each person. These perfumes come directly from the Earth to you, and they ground and connect you to those plants.
"Perfume is liquid emotion. A great perfume is a work of art. It is silent poetry, invisible body language. It can lift our days , haunt our nights and create the milestones of our memories." (Michael Edwards, Fragrances of the World, 2000)
"A spiritual process as well as an aesthetic one, the art of perfumery is at once holy and carnal, spiritual and material, arcane and modern, tangible and intangible, profound and superficial." (from 'Essence & Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume' by Mandy Aftel)
It's very spiritual for me, working with these plant materials that have been used for thousands of years, and by such people as Cleopatra. It grounds me, and connects me to the Earth. I'm finding people pleasantly surprised at how emotionally involved they feel to a natural perfume!
My personal philosophy, is that we should be aware of what we ingest into our bodies, whether we are eating it, or using a substance. The skin is our largest organ, and it's frightening how many chemicals we dump on it during the course of a day, especially women.
Perfume making is similar to making wine, as you must have patience to wait until enough time has passed for the alchemal magic to happen.
I truly feel that my college degree in music has helped me be a better perfumer, due to the composition classes I had to take! You've got to have balanced chords and you're composition has to go somewhere, otherwise it's terribly boring!
Tell our readers about your favorite items that you make and list in your store.
Oh that's a tough question. It's like asking me which of my children is my favorite, in some ways. I've created them, and they didn't exist before, and won't with anyone else.
Feature one of your items and tell the story about that particular item.
Ophelia
"There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray,
love, remember: and there is pansies. that's for thoughts.
There's fennel for you, and columbines: there's rue
for you; and here's some for me: we may call it
herb-grace o' Sundays: O you must wear your rue with
a difference. There's a daisy: I would give you
some violets, but they withered all when my father
died: they say he made a good end,--"
Invoked from Hamlet, she is innocent, and brings tears to your eyes, when you read of her untimely end.
I was “mixing up the medicine,” as Mr. Dylan used to say, and the bit about Rosemary being for remembrance popped into my head, and all of a sudden, I started to cry. I could feel her, and her sorrow. It was the first time anything like this had happened to me while working with oils. It was a good thing, unexpected, but good.
Tell our readers if you do custom orders, designs, etc. If you do, what kinds of services do you offer for custom orders, what are your policies regarding custom orders?
I offer a bespoke perfume service. That is what you call a personalized perfume, which after it's made, is never made for anyone else again. This is a perfect gift for a bride, or a special anniversary gift or birthday! There's something awesome about having something that no one else has. It's also a way for me to really get to know someone. What we do, is email first about what types of scents you like, what kind of mood you are looking to evoke, and then based on that, I make up several trial sizes with slight variations. We work until you find the one you like best, and then I put it in my Book of Perfume, or Essais, and I will never make that perfume for anyone but you. Refills are offered at a discount to you for life. I require half the amount up front, and the balance when the perfume is completed to your satisfaction.
SPECIAL OFFER FROM Esscentual Alchemy:
Enter “Monday Madness” in notes to seller for 10% off any purchase over $25.00 and free shipping. Free shipping with every purchase =) (expiration date is Dec. 31st)
Find Essecentual Alchemy Here:
Email: absinthedragonfly@gmail.com
Our "Monday Madness" slots are open to any artist, crafter, or hobbyist that has an online store. If you would like to submit your name and store to be considered for a Monday feature on our blog, please contact us here.
***All images and links are used with the artisans permission & are sole property of their owner***
2 comments:
EsscentualAlchemy has AMAZING perfume, i got the Ophelia. it really settles out sweetly and has really awesome fragrance!
I also have some of their perfume. I have Blushing Beauty...natural, floral, and heaven scented!!
Post a Comment