Greg Spalenka
“Myth must be kept alive. The people who can keep it alive are the artists of one kind or another.”
Myth speaks to the journey of the soul, of the evolutionary process of our lives; handed down by the great religious, psychological and spiritual traditions of the world. Joseph Campbell took great length to describe and collect these small stories containing the universe, and it is in this methodology Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume provides small vials of archetypal aromas- Figure 5: Bois being the latest rendition of the The World Tree.
“God is the experience of looking at a tree and saying 'Ah!'”
Aptly named for sketching the micro and macrocosms, a “figure” is the sketch of what something looks like, is described as or is perceived to be, and “bois” a French word meaning “wood”- Figure 5: Bois offers what is above in the leaves and whispering branches as well as what is below in roots and secretive soil. We all must venture into the woods, a theme from primate past to fairytale following, in order to discover our authentic selves- this journey begins with a familiar voice asking a different question. A cedar beckons into a honeyed forest alive with green leaves and fresh unknown.
To answer the call is to enter the truth inherent in every fable; to see our pitfall and it's possible prevention. Figure 5: Bois is the result of a conference of trees, a representative from the species globally; Cypress, Sandalwood, Palo Santo, Agarwood, Guiac and Ho imply guardians of knowledge which form the stories of their indigenous cultures and religions. Together with Roxana they grow a new forest psychology, and a sweet and sincere forest aroma with an all too familiar, very real message yet softened by the loving way Roxana has of interpreting and storytelling (skills invaluable in the passing on of sacred knowledge.)
Myths often act as warnings of big bad wolves, and there is one well hidden in the glorious aesthetics of Roxana Illuminated. You may see him out of sheep's clothing- but know myths are mirrors with which we see ourselves, collectively acting as a whole.
“If you want to change the world, you have to change the metaphor.”
Because neither forest nor myth can be absorbed on esoteric notions alone- we need roots, something from which our own realizations may blossom- Figure 5 Bois gives root far reaching inward as canopy does outward with cypriol and grounding resins highlighted by the earth level mushroom and coffee- hinting at the psychotropic level where Roxana's work is created.** Balsam gives hope to our tale- birthing Branch Theory which provides if the conference of woods is the limb of our World Tree, these middle accords are the differentiation of what fruits are born- all variations on the offerings every culture and land, leaf and bud bring to the entirety of the living forest. As all woodlands, these great lungs, both Earth's and our own, bound together in whatever bounty we can fertilize- will find joy in the exchange of life giving aroma, carbon dioxide for oxygen, seedling for sawmill, and the interplay of requisite reliance. Implied notes of charred wood bring a sense of the circular nature of the journey, while there may be no such note in Figure 5 Bois, it gives the notion of wood forever changed, forever giving back it's self to the forest floor.
“The role of the artist I now understood as that of revealing through the world-surfaces the implicit forms of the soul, and the great agent to assist the artist was the myth.”
Roxana Illuminated is that forest, that singular tree in Figure 5: Bois- using botanical materials which, by their very cultivation, are preserving the forest for the tree, and offering the World Tree back to us, both literally as perfume to inhale and exhaling it again to the mystery of perfume inhaling us.
Notes: cedar, cypress, sandal, guiac, ho, agar, palo santo woods, balsam, cypriol, coffee, mushroom along with leaves, resins and roots.
-Einsof, Natural Perfume Editor
(disclosure: my sample was provided by Roxana Illuminated for review)
Our Review for Figure 1 Noir which was released in 2013 is here
Musing the Goddess
*Roxana's husband, Greg Spalenka, creates the visual imagery which accompanies Roxana Illuminated. Like any mythical marriage, this leads to a greater storytelling, for the truth and the myth become intertwined and one harmony in the multiverse. Greg's current exhibition Musing the Goddess is on display at Cornell Winery in Agoura Hills, CA starting June 20th.
“Marriage . . . is not a love affair; it is an ordeal.”
**Roxana has recently opened a real world version of this workshop (including art, retail and perfume classes) located within the Atrium of the Whizin Market Square tucked in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California.. Its birth and the birthing of so much of Roxana's process can be viewed through her online journal/blogsite.
“Myth is much more important and true than history. History is just journalism and you know how reliable that is.” All quotes from Joseph Campbell.
Thanks to Roxana we have a sampler pack with the solid and the EdP for our US and Canada registered readers. To be eligible, please leave a comment with why you would love to win Figure 5 Bois based on Einsof’s review and if you have a favorite Roxana Illuminated Perfume. Draw closes 6/22/2015
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.