Daniel Krasofski of LABdk Perfumes Photo: Kristy Sparrow
Profile: Being born and raised in North Dakota exposed me to rich Native American Indian lore, history and a profound appreciation of nature. My parents owned a number of travel agencies, so we had the opportunity for extensive travel. I recall the joy of discovering new locations by their aromatics; the smell of the Arizona desert after a monsoon, the intoxicating florals of Hawaii, the moist, heavy aroma of Florida, and the heavenly scent of dew covered sage on the open North Dakota plains.
Daniel as a young boy Photo: Alan Krasofski
On a trip to Bermuda at age five, we took a guided tour of a perfumery that produced its own extracts for their products. It was there that I was introduced to the art of enfleurage and steam distillation. Lifelong impression with vivid memories of the large glass plates slathered with fat, the overpowering aroma of plumeria and placing a flower onto the fat covered glass.
Raw material still life prior to Distilling: Photo Daniel Krasofski
As a champion gymnast from ages 6 to 17, I was exposed to many types of bodywork to aid in the healing of my injuries which sparked my intrigue with Eastern philosophy and alternative healing techniques. In 1992, when I was in college studying Fine Art. I discovered the AVEDA Day Spa Institute in Minneapolis. I had been using the AVEDA line of products since high school and was inspired by their underlying philosophy, a 3,000 year old tradition called Ayurveda (Science of Life). After graduation, I began working for the AVEDA Corporation at the Aveda Spa Retreat in Osceola, WI working with other aroma enthusiasts, perfumers, Ayurvedic doctors and founder Horst Rechelbacher. This led to a twenty year career in the Spa industry focusing on Ayurveda and Aromatherapy product formulation, services and program development, international lecturing and consulting for resorts such as Canyon Ranch, Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Ona Spa, among many others. It was my exposure to the AVEDA Indigenous Plant PureFume line composed in 1986/87 that ignited a twenty-five year addiction to plant derived, botanical perfumery.
First commercially available artist scent collaboration in 2002 "Lotus" Photo credit Rachel Abroms
The first commercially available scent I created was featured in Jane Magazine in 2002, which was a reality check in terms of product fulfillment. Since then, all my creations have been done in small, hand-made batches or specifically for the client..
My time in LA has offered me the opportunity to work with many people in the entertainment industry including Madonna, Shirley MacLaine, Trent and Mariqueen Reznor among many others. As creator of all the signature scents for Hollywood’s Ona Spa (2001-2011), I’ve been able to introduce new ways to experience and utilize olfaction. My passion for scent creation, anthropology and performance art was forever changed when a friend told me he was directing a new television show for the CW network called ‘Reign’. Reign is based on the lives of Mary Queen of Scots and Catherine de’ Medici (the founder of the modern perfume industry) which inspired me to create a series of 13 scents from natural materials that would have likely been available to royalty of the 1500’s. The intention was to provide tools for the actor to fully experience that character. This led to another project for Amy Brenneman and her character Laurie Garvey on HBO’s ‘The Leftovers’. I’m currently working on a number of scent projects such as collaborating with Elisabeth Shue developing a perfume for the 336th and final episode of CBS’s ‘CSI’, a forthcoming blockbuster movie being released in 2016, an “Apocalyptic” art installation collaboration with performance artist Lindsay Tunkl, musically inspired perfumes and a soon to be launched beverage line.
Presenting an A+O Award to Ellen Covey for Woodcut. Photo credit Institute for Art and Olfaction
Our art is going through a renaissance, epitomized by the work being done at LA’s Institute for Art and Olfaction, founded by Saskia Wilson Brown, with the mission “The IAO advances public and artistic engagement with scent.” Community and information sharing has shattered the isolated notion of the perfumer.
Daniel' s essential oils and formula notes: Kristy Sparow
I have been very involved from the inception as student, teacher, artist and supporter. Over the last three years, I have designed aromatic classes for the novice and expert, created the Art+Olfaction Awards celebrating independent, artisan and experimental perfumery while also collaborating in the fine art community with olfactory installations. As judge, sponsor and presenter of the A+O Awards, it’s offered me the inspiring opportunity to sample hundreds of creations from global perfumers.
Daniel working at the Institute of Art and Olfaction Photo Saskia Wilson Brown
One of my current projects is to analyze and graph the aromatic profiles of the students’ Perfumers Organ, with the intention of making hundreds of molecules more accessible to the newcomer. We are moving to our new location next month and our mission is only getting stronger. Recently I was invited by Maggie Mahboubian of Lalun Naturals to participate in my second FRAGments Artisan Perfume Event / Collective.
Daniel at FRAGments with “AVEDA: The Early Pure-Fumes 1986-1996.” Photo by Ellen Covey
This year I presented my retrospective “AVEDA: The Early Pure-Fumes 1986-1996.” In the late 1960’s Horst Rechelbacher committed to using only plant based ingredients for all his products, eliminating petrochemical derivatives. His ambition and drive led him to attempt the same for the perfume industry by releasing 70+ elemental and complex “PureFumes” composed in the early 1980’s. The FRAGments event was a perfect example of community in this renaissance of artisan perfumery.
Scent as Art Photo: Saskia Wilson Brown
On American Perfumery I consider myself a fragrance artist. I explore different ways of engaging our five senses, through environmental, therapeutic and theatrical scent experiences. I am not bound by the preconceived notion of what perfume should be, should smell ,nor the concept that scent belongs only in a bottle
Rothko No 14
Favorite American Artist: Having studied fine arta nd deeply appreciating the classics, narrowing it down to one American artist is a challenge but my biggest influence would have to be the Abstract Expressionist color-field artist Mark Rothko. When experiencing his work in person, the ethereal light and color merge with the physical surroundings in unexpected ways, reminding me of the process of blending two aromatic essences to create a new, third synergy.
Daniel Krasosfki, Scent Artist and Perfumer for LABdk
Editors Note: Daniel is planning on launching a new line called LABdk Perfumes by late 2015
Laurie was created as homage to Laurie of the HBO series The Leftovers
We are truly honored as we have a special pre launch event from Daniel only for U.S. registered readers of ÇaFleureBon, Daniel is making a very limited number of his olfactive art available on his website LABdk.com for two US readers, he will be giving 5ml travel spray of the “Laurie” perfume made for Amy Brenneman of HBO series "The Leftovers"
and
5ml “Mary at 15” inspired by Adelaide Kane’s Mary Queen of Scots on the CW.
To be eligible please leave a comment with what you found fascinating about Daniel Krasofski and his incredible path to perfumery and if you would like to win "Mary at 15" or "Laurie". Draw closes June 16. 2015
Please like CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery and your entry will count twice.
You can follow Daniel on instagram @d_krasofski
We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume