ÇaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery Nir Guy of Perfumology + BLYSS, A Fragrant Love Letter Draw

Nir Guy of Perfumology

Profile: I was born in Northern Israel and grew up in Havertown, Pennsylvania.

Perfumology Signature Shop

I own a perfume shop in the King of Prussia Mall about twenty miles outside of Philadelphia, and I live in Philadelphia with my wife Lyssa and two dogs, Ralph and Penelope. Growing up my family spent a lot of time traveling between our home in the States and family Israel, so my older sister and I grew up traveling quite a bit. My parents lived in Enugu, Nigeria working on irrigation infrastructure for years and traveled extensively before I came along. Traveling is in my blood. I‘d get lost in the Duty Free perfume section of every airport. Each place providing me with a scent memory; growing up impacted by dewy evenings in northern Israel during the summer, dry maple leaves from the woods in Havertown, lavender fields in Provence, rich dirt and damp air in the Black Forrest, cheesiness echoing through Ghouda. The list of scent memories goes on seemingly forever, and absence of smells scars on my memory.

 A young Nir and his sister,Yifat at Fragonard’s factory, summer 2000

 

By the time I graduated high school I had already a few bottles from Fragonard and Gallimard, several a few custom bottles, plus my helping of commercial scents. I didn’t even wear them to school, they were for my personal pleasure.

 Market in Israel

I spent a lot of time in Israeli markets, with fresh fruit and vegetables. Graduating from The Fox School of Business at Temple University in the beginning of 2008 focused on finance and international business. At the time I wanted to start a career as a financial advisor, but environment at that time didn’t work out for me. This period was the opposite of fragrant or exciting. Offices are always bland, scentless, afraid of offending senses, and required “phone time.” I spent years studying, working with numbers and legal documents, feeling khaki in a sea of beige. My world was no longer full of color, sound and smell.

 Bulgaria 2001 with Tali, Nir's mom

Me and my mom, Tali, at the Black Sea when we visited Bulgaria in 2001, when I first had the opportunity to try and take home Bulgarian rose oil. I still have it. Eventually I had to get away from offices and return to life. It was then that my mother and I landed a partnership to open our first perfume shop in 2012.

Perfumology boutique in King of Prussia, PA

Soon after I bought a few essential oils to start blending my own scents. Our customers taught me as much about fragrance as my personal studying. Everyone’s taste is so different, it’s like crowdfunding perfume knowledge. People would express love for one note or brand, and hate others. We hear stories about classics like Ombre Rose, Yatagon, or 4711. Everything had deeper meaning. Soon our customers asked when I’d produce my own. My passion is constantly apparent, something I like to wear on my sleeve. Sadly uncommon to the Philadelphia region for perfume salespeople. Some people really wanted my brand in their wardrobe.

 

Nir Guy with Perfumer Justin Frederico of PBL Labs

Justin Frederico and I met early 2016 through a mutual friend. By trade, he’s a chemist with the same scented obsession as me. We hit it off right away talking about fragrances, scents, the perfume industry, and how people around us who don’t understand our sensitive noses. Justin and I spent hours discussing what we liked and did not like in perfumes, looking for perfect raw materials that fit our criteria. My wife was the inspiration for the women’s fragrance, to be named Blyss, which I needed to be perfect. We started with a few designer fragrances to kick off direction. Over the course of a year we were challenged because none of our compositions fit the vision. We found the right raw materials: a perfect orange from a small orchard in Italy, rich bulgarian rose, ylang ylang and patchouli, but not the perfect formula.

Nir and his wife Lyssa

Justin was ready to give up and referred my business to another perfumer. Naturally, I refused. We spent roughly an hour on the phone that night. I don’t remember much from our conversation except my level of excitement. By some miracle, his wife showed up to my store the next morning with three magical formulas that were perfect. He had a late night blending accords that matched my descriptions. This time we added white plum, the orris root was more pronounced, kept the patchouli subtle. Blyss turned into quite the gourmand party. I took the samples home to check with my wife and she was also in love with the scent. Her eyes lit up similar to when I first gave her jewelry. We found our winner, and two other formulas for later. The opening is fun and exciting, like my wife Lyssa. Blyss opens with white plum, green apple and a clean orange from Italy. Since Lyssa is also bold Bulgarian rose dominates the composition of the heart with jasmine typically appearing right after. Holding it together at the base are ylang ylang, orris root, and patchouli. Lyssa is lovely and down to earth,yet sensual and unique

At Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Right after Blyss’ completion I took a trip to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with some friends. I kept thinking about the perfume during the week long hike. My mind was consistently focused on scents, more so than previous trips. Now I’m catching the dusty cap of the inactive volcano, although difficult at altitude. Amazing to smell the dry grass in the Serengeti, the woods that surround lake Manyara, the unforgettable smell of baboons, the beach and spices of Zanzibar. When we returned home I found our formula more complete after some time macerating.

 

A small collection of essences and materials from Nir's personal  perfume “organ,” 

On being an American Perfumer: We opened Perfumology out of opportunity mixed with necessity, needing jobs and found a business partner at the right time for us. Being the creative director for my own perfumes allowed me to use my international scent memories into invisible works of art that people choose to wear. My experience leading up to creating a perfume business is uniquely American. At my store, I have the pleasure of employing good people and supporting other independent brands to supply our shop. Customers actively choose independent brands, luxury fragrances or Blyss over other  more mainstream brand perfumes. Our industry and country have allowed me to build Perfumology and support incredible people in the industry.

Trent Reznor in his studio, courtesy of Death and Taxes.

Favorite Artist or Musician: Trent Reznor is my favorite musician. Both music and fragrance have taught me a lot for my life. He made completely different sounds from the same instruments as others, gave me the most vivid emotions with the art of sound. Pushing my boundaries when they needed pushing and calmed me down when I needed serenity. After starting my perfume brand later in life, I see how music, travel and scent were cornerstones in my formative years.

-Nir Guy, Founder and Creative Director of Perfumology

Perfumer for Blyss: Justin Frederico of PBL Labs

Editor’s Note: Perfumology is located at 690 W Dekalb Pike, King of Prussia and carries such brands as Zoologist, Imaginary Authors, 4160 Tuesdays, Juliette Has A Gun and Eris Perfumes. You can see a listing here. This is the first CaFleureBon Profile where the boutique owner co-created their own fragrance. BLYSS was launched February 2017 as a fragrant love letter to Nir's wife

Thanks to Nir Guy we have a draw for a registered reader in the USA for a bottle of Blyss and for our international readers in the EU and  Canada a 5 ml sprayer sample. To be eligible please leave a detailed comment with what you found fascinating about Nir’s path to perfumery, where you live and we would love to know if you live in the Philadelphia area and which brand you might like to see at Perfumology. There is only one winner. Draw closes 3/8/2017

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

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14 comments

  • GrandmaGaga says:

    It’s always interesting to me when people start on one path in life, often business-oriented and find their path in life leading them to a career/passion for an artistic pursuit. I love that Blyss is inspired by Nir’s wife and that he had such a vision for what he wanted ‘her’ perfume to smell like that it took him far longer than he had anticipated, but he kept at it until it was perfect! I am in the US, never been to Philadelphia but all the scents Perfumology carries sound wonderful.

  • ntabassum92 says:

    Wow! I love that he was working at offices for a long time, but then decided to leave because the environment was so drab. I love it when people are so in tune with their emotions and aspirations that they know when to leave their current situation for something new. I’m in the USA. I am not in the Philly area right now, but I hope to visit sometime soon and I would love to check out this store! At Perfumology, I would love to see other American brands, such as Dame Perfumery, etc.

  • I find these stories of people who find their passion very interesting. Blyss sounds like it took a while to find the perfect formula, but they got there in the end. I would like to see what the end result is. USA. Thanks for the story and the draw.

  • echinacea says:

    I like the part of the story about how the trip to Bulgaria changed Nir’s life. As a fan of Bulgarian rose, I would love to try Blyss. Sadly, I am too far from Philadelphia to visit Perfumology, although I would surely do if I could. I live in the EU. Thanks for the article.

  • What a delightful story! My favorite parts: “Everyone’s taste is so different, it’s like crowdfunding perfume knowledge.” ” This time we added white plum, the orris root was more pronounced, kept the patchouli subtle. Blyss turned into quite the gourmand party.” I live in Arizona.

  • fazalcheema says:

    Nir has had quite a life. He has lived in different places, visited many countries including France and Tanzania and developed passion for perfumes from an early age. He collected perfumes even if he didn’t wear them. I am not in Philadelphia but in NY.

  • Mr Guy seems to have been given a blessed talent of understanding someones yearning to find a perfect scent. What a nice story of an entrepreneurs journey of creating a love letter through a fragrance to his wife! I do live in the US, Southern Illinois where its hard to get into the city to further my passion of fine fragrances. Research and many readings of reviews keep me going… Thank You for entering me into your Draw!

  • Congrats NirSometimes I am thinking I should start finding mt formula; but without technical help and good friend seems impossible. You did it man. Regards to your friend Justin and I like the way you compare the perfume to your wife. Keep doing it. Live in TX, USA

  • ringthing says:

    What a great story, I just love this feature on CaFleurebon. Nir’s ability to truly appreciate the smells of his surroundings at such a young age and recall them so completely is a gift, and I appreciate that he had a perfume collection just for himself growing up. That description of the beige world of business is so true but all that study has led him to success in the business of perfume, a fortuitous combination of hard work and love. His love for his beautiful and engaging wife is inspiring. The shop in KoP features my favorite indie lines. Thanks so much for the generous offer and sharing your story, Kir and CaFleurebon. I’m in the US and wish I lived closer to Philly!

  • I like hearing about people who follow their passion and then can make a success of it. So often, there is the passion, but not the opportunity to be able to follow through either from lack of money or other obligations. Blyss sounds like a love story in a bottle. Sadly, I don’t live near Philly, but I do live in the USA. Thanks for the draw.

  • I am lover of fragrances and hate the bland sometimes draining monotony of working in a office! So this profile stood out to me, because Nir stepped out and decided to be brave and go after his love of fragrance and make a career out of it! He uses his lifetime of scent memories to help his customers find the right scents for them and I think thats amazing! Whats so intriguing about the perfume Blyss that he created for his wife is that every note represents her and his travels to Tanzania. This scent is a beautiful dedication to his wife and the passion the Nir has for fragrances! I live in Philly and I would love to see the brand Maison Francis Kurkdjian in your shop! Thanks for the chance to try this lovley fragrance,

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    Impressive journey and a perfect well deserved gift to a life partner in shape of fragrant love letter. Crowdfunding perfume knowledge is fascinating and as such uplift the passion.
    Thanks to Nir Guy for the generosity and Cafleurebon for the opportunity by letting my relative address in NY, US.

  • doveskylark says:

    There is so much inspiration from this profile: Israel, Philadelphia, travels to Tanzania, the boutique at the mall. But most of all, I love that he created Blyss for his wife. What a lovely tribute to her.
    It would be great if his boutique could carry Nishane.
    I live in the USA.

  • I really enjoyed reading about how Nir created Blyss and would love to wear it. I also appreciated his reflection that in his office period he was “feeling khaki in a sea of beige”. I live in the US (Arizona).
    I Like CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery – Cynthia M Richardson