CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery: Heather Kaufman of Jolie Laide Perfume + Unconventional Beauty Draw

heather kaufman jolie laide perfumes

Heather Kaufman of Jolie Laide Perfumes

I was born in San Francisco and grew up in Mill Valley, 15 minutes north. My father was a native San Franciscan going back for several generations and my mother immigrated from Nova Scotia when she was 18. Mill Valley was a bucolic place to grow up. I was surrounded by trees, mountains, and marshes. A creek ran past our backyard, filled with fish and birds and the scent of wild fennel drifted in from the banks. A large wisteria tree commanded our patio, while nearby, a fragrant acacia tree drove my father mad with allergies. As a child, I had an innate curiosity about scents. Taking an interest in plants and flowers, I learned their names from my mother. Later, I found I could pick out subtle fragrances in wine, food and in nature and identify them. Eventually, my interests lead me to essential oils, and about 7 years ago, to Mandy Aftel, whom I’ve studied with to become a natural perfumer.

 heather kaufman and her mom

Heather and her Mom

I've created Jolie Laide Perfume, a botanical perfume line that embraces the intricacies of nature. A French phrase meaning unconventional beauty, my perfume combines natural scents that are both luscious and odd, coming together in a way that allows each individual to explore their complexities within.

breathless-movie-poster-1020238047

Breathless Movie poster, Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg

Each name is taken from a title from the French New Wave, an inventive genre of film that broke conventional barriers and sought to form a new narrative.

 

heather at FRAGments june 22 2013

Heather Kaufman at FRAGments June 22, 2013– Photo by Maggie Mahboubian

What it means to be an American perfumer: American perfumers come to perfume with a beginner’s mind. We don’t seem to be as constrained by the traditions of perfumery as European perfumers might be. There’s a freedom and freshness to our approach. While we pull from traditional perfumery, I find we’re more daring and open with our ideas about it. We’re a younger culture and we take risks both in perfume-making and business. For many of us there’s an emphasis on returning to nature. The entrepreneurial spirit here allows people to pursue these ideas and has allowed for a wide marketplace for artisan perfumers that seem to be burgeoning now. It feels like anything can happen.

 alexander calder

Alexander Calder and  one of his wire sculpture

My favorite American artist: My favorite artist is sculptor, Alexander Calder. He was a rare breed—a person who could touch the lives of young and old, rich or poor, the everyman. He was quirky, whimsical, and passionate; a prankster, inventor and artist. There is balance and an expression of nature in his work. He loved life and making art. He continued to create up until the time of his death. I’m inspired by his work and his zest for life.

Heather Kaufman,  Founder and Natural Perfumer for Jolie Laide Perfumes

 jolie laide perfumes

Thanks to Heather we have a draw for your choice of  her 100 percent botanical fragrances: 50 ml of  Masculin Feminin , Jules et Jim, Baises Vole or A Bout de Souffle. I believe these scents will be new to most of our readers, so please click on the links to learn nore about each of them; they are handmade in small batches and are created with rare raw materials. This is a US only draw.

To be eligible please leave a comment about what you found interesting about Heather's profile and your choice of fragrance. Draw closes July 22, 2013.

Please LIKE CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery on Facebook, and support American Perfumers. Your comment will count twice.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


35 comments

  • I’m loving the way Heather combines fragrance oddities and brings them together as one unique scent. I can only imagine. Great she is using naturals to create such fragrances. I also thoroughly enjoy how she is naming her scents as well. Hard to pick one but I’m digging the A Bout de Souffle. In the USA. Thank you.

  • I love her inspiration from French new wave film! Very interesting combinations of scents. I would love to try Masculin Féminin. Live in the US.

  • I like her description of what it means to be an American perfumer. I would pick Jules et Jim Eau de Parfum. It sounds so nice! I’m in the u.s.

  • I like the name of her perfume line and the idea of combining scents that are “luscious and odd.” I liv ein the US, and I would pick Masculin Feminin. Thank you for the draw!

  • Someotherspring says:

    I’m so inspired by her thoughts on the freedom and freshness of American perfumery-it really is a new frontier, which I find exciting. I’d like to try Baises Vole.Thanks for the draw op,and I live in the US.

  • ElizabethN says:

    I’m happy to learn about a Bay Area perfumer, and it’s interesting that she studied with Mandy. I’ve tried several of Heather’s scents and enjoyed them. I’d love to win Masculin Feminin.

  • leathermountain says:

    Masculin Feminin is my choice. Luscious and odd, Jolie Laide, I love the whole concept. And I am also a fan of Calder, since childhood.

  • Jolie Laide , yes the concept suits me and I’m curious! I have a US address.The bay is so strong with perfumers, you guys are lucky to have those influeneces and I was interested she’s studied with Mandy.How did that rub off I wonder? I have a US address, in fact its Bay area!

  • and I’ll add that Stolen Kisses , Baises Vole would be my choice. Such a beautiful name, making us feel we might be opening up ourselves to excitement as we take the bottle in our hand- should one use it now, this moment…yes I’d say- you only have one wild and precious life!

  • Thanks for the fascinating profile. It was great to learn about Heather’s time learning under Mandy Aftel, and I love her concept of naming her perfumes and taking inspiration from French New Wave films. I’d have to pick Jules et Jim, if I won.

  • I love the fact that she studied under Mandy and her favorite American artist is Alexander Calder. I think I would love Jules et Jim if I win. Sounds like a wonderful fougere which is right up my alley! Thanks for the draw. In the USA

  • Ooo wow her fragrances sound lovely. I’d like to try Baisers Volés stolen kisses 😛

  • As someone who teaches film, I love the fact that she’s using French New Wave films for inspiration. I also found it interesting that she studied under Mandy Aftel, as several others mentioned in recent articles have. It would be really interesting to see fragrances from each put up against each other for comparison, particularly with an Aftelier fragrance added to the mix as well.

    I’m in the US; several of the fragrances sound great, but I think that Masculin Feminin would be my choice.

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    The most interesting fact is without any doubt Heather’s study under Mandy Aftel who is Roudnitska of natural perfumery…and similarly, her inspiration from French New Wave Cinema also shows perfumery without some French elements is still not very comfortable idea..

    my choice is Masculin Feminin and i am in the U.S.

  • I love the description of the stolen kisses perfume. I also love the fact that Heather was influenced by Calder since I once wrote a paper in college about him, just before I switched majors from Art History to Art Education/ Therapy. What struck me the most learning about Heather was how she was influenced by nature and how her childhood influenced her live of perfumery. I would love to try Baisers Voles stolen kisses. Wonderful article.

  • PatriciaC says:

    Masculin Feminin i would love to explore. “It feels like anything can happen”. Love her quote! We all benefit thats the great part. Thanks for the wonderful story and drawing!

  • I’m fascinated by the concept of composing scents that present an “unconventional beauty” especially in this time of overexposed, under imagined, market researched mass production frags. Sounds refreshing and enticing! I would choose Masculin Feminin because I’d like to know what mate and rooibos smell like in a natural perfume. I’m in the US.

  • angiefunk says:

    I too like Alexander Calder. Very interesting man. His mobile are amazing, he truly broke the mold in art. He never limited himself to one area of art. Suck and innovative man. I am a sucker for Gardenia so I would pick Baisers Volés. I live in the US. Thank you for the draw.

  • FearsMice says:

    Agree with HeatherP.’s suggestion that it would be really cool to juxtapose perfumes from those who had studied with Mandy, along with one of Mandy’s one. That’d be an interesting read! And I learned a new word from Heather K.: agretic. It’s especially hard to make a choice here, but I’ll go with Jules et Jim. I’m in the US; thanks for the draw!

  • I love that the name of her company means unconventional beauty. Her fragrance combinations seem quite interesting and I had a hard time considering which one I would be thrilled to win. Baisers Vole sounds lovely. Thank you.

  • so happy to see Heather featured here. Her perfumes are beautiful and complex and mysterious. No need to enter me in the draw. Thank you!

  • I find it interesting that Ms. Kaufman could pick out subtle fragrances in food, wine, and nature and identify them from an early age, because I am unable to do that!
    Masculin Feminin sounds best to me.

  • I like you on Facebook, and I live in the US! Really liked Heather’s fragrant description of her yard growing up – I can almost smell it!

    I’d like to be entered for Baisers Volés Eau de Parfum! Thank youl

  • I liked hearing her perspective on the differences between American and European perfumers. I appreciate both for different reasons! I would love to try A Bout de Souffle. Thanks for the draw and I am in the U.S.

  • It is interesting to learn how Heather’s early years contributed to her eventual journey as a natural perfumer. Not sure what she means about the juxtaposition of luscious and odd in her creations until I have the opportunity to experience them firsthand. I love white flowers and would be happy to win the Baisers Volé. I am in the US.

  • Interesting even as a child, growing up with nearby Wisteria and Acacia trees, Heather became enamored with the magic of scents. Living in the USA, I would enjoy her Masculin Feminin.

  • I found Heather’s description of the difference between European and American perfumers to be quite interesting. It certainly made the US seem like the New World from a fragrance perspective! I live in the US and would most like to try A Bout de Souffle.

  • Based on my tastes and what I read on the links, I pick Masculin Feminin. USA
    Thanks. 🙂

  • ringthing says:

    I really enjoyed reading Heather’s thoughts on being an American perfumer. It’s that entrepenourial spirit and open thought that makes innovative things happen! Look forward to trying this line. I’m in the US and A Bout de Souffle intrigues me the most.

  • Interesting the names were taken from French New Wave film. I choose the Masculin Feminin. TY.
    U.S.

  • I reckon that her study with Mandy Aftel would make her scents wonderful indeed! I also love the name dedication to French cinema. Hard to pick, but I think A Bout de Souffle sounds very, very intriguing! I live in the U.S.

  • USA
    I liked the description of the combination of naturals: “luscious and odd”
    and the exuberance and creative freedom of American perfumery

    Masculin Féminin would be my choice, they’re all intriguing

  • I like the phrase “Jolie Laide” and love the idea of bringing “luscious and odd” materials together in a botanical perfume. Intriguing. I really want to try A Bout de Souffle! I am located in the U.S.