Paraphrase Perfume

With so much dialogue about work that isn't even made with our own minds it is a joy to be able to do work with our hands. Small things that on the surface may not seem to add up but to us, they make the product. Things that we could ( and may one day need to) automate or outsource. Caps, labels, lids, boxes. All these touches that add up to an experience. Making products on a small scale is really not the way the world is set up. It is more expensive, inefficient and leaves us out of a number of opportunities. It is a lot of planning, a lot of doing, a lot of our lives that go into putting these bottles together. It is also a joy to make use of the body we have been given and work with our hands. It may not make sense but it is a joy and a pleasure and I am so glad to be able to do it.

I mean clearly I am biased but I think it is the best thing in the world.

The world of fragrance has been so secretive, the whole production and supply chain hidden away.

Independent perfume has really cracked open that world and let people become so informed and invested in how their favorite products are made. From inspiration, formulation to bottling. You can fall for a perfumers work and speak directly to them about all these things.

Which is why you should come to FUMED FUMEDexpo in Atlanta this October. Besides the fact that the inagural Chicago show this spring was a crazy, beautiful, you had to be there event. FUMED Atlanta just expanded the floor space and doubled the amount of brands being shown. There will now be 70 independent perfumers and brand owners to chat with, connect with directly and to walk you through all of their work.

Find out everything you ever wanted to know about your favorite perfumes, meet the perfumers, enjoy a drink with us, feel the perfume world IRL.

Photography, particularly the outdoor brand shoots we have done are so funny.

The aim is always depicting a slowness, a sumptuousness, lingering light and gentle moments to express everything I am trying to capture in each bottle. To prime people for a slow and pleasure filled state of mind that I think perfume is perfect for.

Photoshoots are never like this. They are chaotic, filled with gently pressure and honestly just a ton of work. A handful of people coming together out in nature, hoping the light, the wind and all of mother nature cooperate. Hoping you brought everything you need. Working quickly so you can be ready when those perfect slow moments do present themselves. The light shines just right, or the model is exactly embodying the feeling you need.

This morning was moody, cool and windy. We got to the park we were shooting at and it was busy. People (very kindly) asking what we were up to. Dark clouds on the horizon rolling in fast. but as soon as we got the picnic blanket down the light started falling just right. We flowed right through everything we wanted to shoot in the only hour of sunlight that morning, just like it was meant to happen.

Photoshoots can feel stressful but addicting. That feeling of being there at exactly the right time, capturing a bit of this existence exactly how you want to remember it. They are something I am so glad we can still do.