Beckie Sheloske of Rebel Intuitive Perfumerie

Profile: Among the looming brick ghosts of the Industrial Revolution lies Auburn, Maine.  This gritty mill town is where I spent my childhood.  My parents went their separate ways when I was three years old.  My mother, an English teacher, remarried shortly and my little sister was born.  My father is a mechanic and used to race cars at a local speedway when I was a little girl.  He drove me through my childhood in a black Mustang convertible, and taught me about a life of fun and rock n’ roll from the 60s and 70s.

Beckie and her Dad

 In 1997, I moved to Vermont to attend Goddard College.  Goddard was a progressive liberal arts school where there were no grades, no tests and studies were independent.  Full of anarchists, artists, geniuses, and eccentric freaks, I felt right at home.   I focused on herbalism, mind-body medicine, and fashion design. Halfway through college, I took a study leave, attending fashion school in Italy.  Returning from Italy, I graduated from Goddard in 2001 I decided to pursue a career in fashion.  I was offered a job working for a clothing line that employed grassroots values and focused on the use of printed European rayon.   While I was there I was the patternmaker and assisted production. From there I owned a shop offering custom clothing, I freelanced fashion design, and worked as a tailor for a men’s fashion retailer.

Creation Station-story boards, glamour icons, fashion and natural essences

Fashion led me to scent, as perfume like fashion is a creation of a fantasy.  The nature of scent creates a magical, intimate experience and instantly lifts the wearer on a journey through their emotions.  The mystique surrounding perfumers intrigued me with their ability to produce such elixirs.  As my intrigue grew, there were aspects that felt inaccessible but that just fueled my fire to unlock the secrets for myself.

 I sought out aromatics and began building a perfumer’s organ, smelling and writing my impressions.  I smelled the notes and began making connections.  I could sense the layers of synchronicity between them.  I read as many books I possibly could about perfume construction, history and the industry.  I discovered within the research a view that perfume consisting of only naturals would be boring and flat, without dimension.  I felt fervor to set out and prove otherwise so I began designing perfume using strictly naturals, creating my own formulas and establishing my own techniques.   I know now that beautiful, full bodied perfumes can be created using only naturals and that is the artistry that speaks through my line of perfume.

Beckie Sheloske and Katie Knuth

My business partner, Katy and I came together through the inspiration of fashion and similar creative pursuits.  Katy and I are creative soul mates and we have a relationship we both agree is unique.  Naturally, we joined forces as Rebel Intuitive, me as perfumer and Katy as creative director. Together we focus on portraying scent as explored through all the senses. We put an abundance of thought into the images, descriptions, and mood behind each perfume to bring that experience to the wearer.

natural perfume ingredients and tinctures

What it means to be an American perfumer:  To me it’s all about freedom, really.  The freedom in the ability to use all natural ingredients and  to create modern perfumes that are based on tradition, but go beyond. Freedom with the option to make my own rules and challenge status quo as loudly or as quietly as I want.  Being an American perfumer is the position of a genuine artist.

Mae West wearing an opened backed Madame Madeleine Vionnet gown (so VERY red carpet 2015)

Favorite American Artist:  Mae West. She was a vaudeville performer, playwright, Broadway star and sex symbol.  Although she was all of those things, she most importantly was a blunt, independent woman who became an icon simply by being her wild self. She is absolutely inspiring. She challenged opposition, refused to censor her artistic expression and was fearlessly sensual.  Those qualities can also be found in my perfumes.  “Those who are easily shocked should be shocked more often.” –Mae West

–Beckie Sheloske, Perfumer and Co-Founder of Rebel Intuitive Perfumerie

Note: We were so intrigued with Steve Johnson’s review we really wanted to learn about Beckie’s Path to perfumery.

Thanks to Beckie Sheloske we have a draw of Grace at 67^th, Ninon and Winter Lewd  15ml ($129) OR a  spray sampler set to a US reader. To be eligible please leave a comment with what you find fascinating about Beckie and which fragrance prize you would like to win

Please like CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery and your entry will count  twice.

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