Roxana Villa
PROFILE: I was born in the port city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, into a lineage of women with European roots and a rich culture in cooking, knitting and home remedies. My grandmothers, aunts and mother all wore fine fragrances from Europe. For special occasions the children of the family were all spritzed with a Neroli rich cologne, which I adored, called Colonia de Bebe. It was produced by my grandfather’s company and is no longer available, thus in 2008 I recreated it as Blossom.
Roxana's Aunts and her Mom (Back row 2nd from left) at the Mar del Plata
In 1965, when I was three, my parents left the political chaos of Argentina for the greener pastures of the US. We settled in Los Angeles where eventually I graduated from Otis Art Institute with a BFA in Communication Arts. One year later I was living in Brooklyn Heights doing freelance editorial illustration for magazines and newspapers and teaching at art schools. One of my regular monthly features was illustrating the fragrance column of Connoisseur Magazine; little did I know I would soon find myself in that industry.
Roxana loves eating chocolate
My introduction into perfume was through Colonia de Bebe, mentioned above, Avon and the beautiful perfumes my mother would return with from her travels to Paris. Occasionally she would take me with her, if not I was brought back gifts like maron glace and French perfume, L’air du Temps was one of my favorites.
Bontanicus by Roxana Villa
In the nineties my artwork began to reflect a love of myth, the occult and nature thus my commissions shifted from political commentary and business topics to the health and wellness arena. My client list expanded to include book and advertising accounts with big budgets. I moved back to LA and welcomed my daughter Eve into the world, who was born and raised completely naturally.
While inhaling juniper essential oil at a sweat lodge I was transported out of my current surroundings and dropped into a very fragrant forest of conifers. Among the tall evergreens I felt grounded, renewed and deeply connected with the earth. That adventure expanded into the study of many topics from shamanism to professional aromatherapy. It was at an Artists Workshop in Austria titled Old Masters, New Visions where I witnessed the divine interconnection between the visual arts and perfume. I decided to weave all my talents into a perfume business highlighted with the word "Illuminated" referencing the15th century when the arts were united by the use of raw plant matter.
Bee Prosperity Greg Spalenka
ON AMERICAN PERFUMERY: The roots of fragrance begin with plant aromatics strewn on fires, ointments made to embalm kings and sweeten the aroma of leather gloves. The birth of the modern perfume industry led to synthetic molecules which soon began replacing naturals. We now find ourselves at new pivotal point in the scented trail that aligns with the current trend toward supporting indie artists, sustainability and a more holistic lifestyle. America, rich with its pioneering history, has fostered a wealth of independent perfumers working in a variety of mediums. This new land embraces all the various forms of expression, including individuals as myself who work exclusively with a palette derived from nature. The botanical perfume artist practices integral perfume, working to create beauty through the expression of pure plant extractions within the paradigm of sustainability and health.
This painting by Greg was done as a poster for the School of Visual Arts, which was posted down in the subways.
People liked it so much they peeled it off the walls
FAVORITE AMERICAN ARTIST: Choosing one artist as a favorite is as difficult as choosing one essential oil. In the eighties I adored the visionary and fantasy artists who worked for Omni Magazine. During art school and while living in NYC, I was inspired by Frida Kahlo and the illustrator Matt Mahurin. Most recently I have fallen in love with the work of The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
Artist Greg Spalenka with his beautiful wife Roxana Villa
The American artist who I feel captivates a bit of the soul of the Pre-Raphaelites combined with a fantastical element is my husband Greg Spalenka. I feel very blessed to have Greg as the illuminator of the images which accompany each fragrance in my line.
–Roxana Villa, Natural Perfumer and Founder of Illuminated Perfume
example of mini compact with solid perfume
(Imagery relates to the chosen perfume, there are at least three prints in a set. Prints are signed on the back by Greg and or Roxana, depending on the image).
Editor' Note: It has been quite some time since I have been in touch with Roxana. It was through Tama Blough's article The Sisterhood of the West Coast Speak Out! and her participation at the recent Artisan Fragrance Salon that we reconnected. When I last spoke with Roxana she was cooking fruit, as we had discussed creating a perfume that would be an homage to our mutual Argentine heritage. If you are intrigued by a scent dedicated to the native botanicals and culture of Buenos Aries, please leave that in your comment as well. –Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief