Stills from Harold and Maude starring Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort

 “‘What is your name?’

‘Harold, Harold Chasen.’

‘How do you do? I’m Dame Marjorie Chardin, but you may call me Maude.’

‘Nice to meet you.’

‘I think we’re going to be great friends, don’t you?’”

Johna Gibson Bowman, natural perfumer for HazelFern Scents

So began the cult classic love affair of Colin Higgins’ 1971 film: Harold & Maude, and fourteen years later, so began my love affair with it. When I came across Johna Gibson Bowman and HazelFern Scents’ triptych of perfume oils themed after the dark comedy, I contacted the Bryan, Tx craftswoman about her connection to the film and its ensuing perfumes. She explained:“Harold and Maude is my favorite movie ever; it might seem really weird to some people who are familiar with it, but I find that story to be so incredibly bright and uplifting.”

I agree with this statement and indeed, ‘Maudism’ is well known as a pop-spiritual path to which I “adhere”; so ‘weird’ may simply be part of the territory. Johna, who also saw the film at an early age elaborates: “I love that scene where Harold tells Maude he’s going to the dentist! I was 14 the first time I saw that movie and remember thinking that it was a great half-lie because he’s really still just going to a doctor that picks at your head!”

Beyond the obvious scene of Maude’s Odoriffics, where Harold inhales a New York subway- a easy favorite for any perfumista, Johna pulls inspiration from the Californian locale and quirky yet universal truths Mr. Higgins is conveying:  “A few years ago while I was watching it I realized that I was always “smelling” things during certain scenes.

That propelled me into trying to create those mental scents myself. I used synthetics first, but eventually reformulated them to be completely natural because I wanted that visceral closeness between the perfumes and my actual impressions. For example, The Cosmic Dance has always had sort dark, deep chocolate and wood quality with bursts of smoldering embers.”

HazelFern Scents Cosmic Dance

“‘Oh, that was fun! Let’s play something together!

‘I don’t play anything.’

‘Nothing? Oh, dear me. Everybody should be able to make some music. That’s the cosmic dance!’”

Perhaps learning the steps to this Cosmic Dance is the real take away from what began as a thesis for film school, an education in connection between life, death and transformation into something else. Palo Santo, the main note in HazelFern Scents Cosmic Dance would suggest the same universality as well as it does warmth and reminiscent of Maude’s fireplace while the two conspire about locker room advice and the benefits of learning the banjo. Amber and cocoa sweeten the deal while lavender wafts unattended like a player piano while Maude dances the jig of life. Notes:  amber, palo santo, cocoa, lavender

HazelFern Scents The Earth Is My Body

“‘The Earth is my body; my head is in the stars… who said that, Harold?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Well, I suppose I did, then.”

Asthmatic trees provide another opportunity for an educational field trip which gives an ecological nod to the idea of everything being connected, how to properly parallel park, as well as where to best find a shovel. Violet leaf and patchouli provide redwood soil to lemongrass and lofty forest heights- provided by properly pine: the hippie version of forest bathing. Oh, and do shut off the car radio; it saves the battery. Notes: violet leaf, old patchouli, Moroccan rose, lavender absolute, black pepper, pine, lemongrass

HazelFern ScentsLe Chanson de Maude

“‘Tell me, do you dance?’

‘Pardon me?’

‘Do you sing and dance?’

‘Uh, no.’

‘Ah, no. I thought not.”

Unforgettably, the soundtrack to Harold & Maude comes primarily from Cat Steven’s ‘Tea for the Tillerman’; record my sister handed down to me (the same sister allowed her tarot card reading friend to introduce me to supposedly verboten film. This foreshadowing of the entire dynamic between our two protagonists is a first question of mine upon meeting someone- yes or no, it’s not the answer i want to hear- it is the way they emote it. i do believe everything i ever needed to know I learned from Dame Marjorie Chardin. Notes: blond tobacco, tolu balsam, nutmeg, jasmine, ylang ylang, Egyptian rose, sweet orange

Disclosure: I received my sample from HazelFern Scents, you make me feel like a schoolboy! My opinions are my own.

–Drew Chafee, Natural Perfume Contributor

Art Director-Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief 

Because Johna, HazelFern Scents, and Maude want to give the nose a treat, a sort of olfactory banquet- in her own unique and individual way. We have a very generous draw for your choice of a full sized bottle of your choice (leave in your comment) and 2 samples of your choice for one REGISTERED reader anywhere in the world (register here).

To be eligible please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Drew’s review of HazelFern Scents Cosmic Dance, Le Chanson de Maude & The Earth Is My Body, where you live and if you have seen Harold & Maude. Draw closes 5/22/2018

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