ÇaFleureBon Profiles In American Perfumery: Hope Freeman of Nateeva Fragrances + Caribbean Dream Draw

Hope Freeman of Nateeva Fragrances

Profile: I was born in South Florida, Miami actually. That’s where fragrance found me in the form of a Gardenia bush. For the 11 years we lived there, I cherished the experience of that scent. In fact, it is a favorite flower to this day (it grows on the terrace of my home in New Jersey). That connection of scent and sunshine and the perfect pleasure of it all just stayed with me.  But fragrance didn’t leave me behind when I moved up north.

Replique Raphael Paris Perfume Bottle (1964) vintage ad

I remember my mother taking a bath in Replique, one of my early scent memories. The sensual, woody notes of this fragrance just captured me, it was incredibly luxurious and of course, such a special scent to recall. Though the dry down was deep and intriguing, I loved the top notes of citrus and spice and the heart of sunny flowers — like jasmine and mimosa and tuberose. When you think about it, this must have had some special memories for my mother too as the fragrance was launched in 1944 and I am remembering it from a far more recent timeframe. But I guess you could say that I’ve always had a passion for fragrance.

Laurent Le Guernec of IFF

Professionally for me this love affair with fragrance officially began in the 1970s. I was in my early 20s when I was recruited by a fragrance house for a job in advertising in downtown New York City. So essentially, I fell into the business. Once in, I knew this was where I wanted to be. After stints at Florasynth (which later became Symrise) and then at Coty, in 1992 I joined International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) as a senior fragrance evaluator. I’ve been at IFF ever since. To me, IFF is the pinnacle. I partnered with Laurent Le Guernec on the first three scents. As a perfumer I could not admire him more. He has the ability to interpret the very essence of a precious location

Hibiscus,Yellow Elder Flower and Lingum Vitae

 Our first three are inspired by the native flowers of the Islands we chose: St. Martin – Hibiscus – this flower comes in so many colors it’s just captivating, ruby red is my favorite though; The Bahamas – Yellow Elder Flower, (not to be confused with Europe’s Black Elderflower (by the way, it’s the Bahamas national flower) and Jamaica – Lingum Vitae which  is known as the Tree of Life. The flowers are delicate pale blue, so ethereal against the deep, dark wood of the branches. By the 4th of July, we’re planning to add to our first trio and bring out the Dominican Republic and also, Saint Thomas. Later in the Fall, we’re planning to add Aruba.

Hope Freeman & Jay McSherry, Nateeva

I love a surprise, so I am keeping mum on what’s coming for 2018. But each scent in our series is and will always be genuinely connected to the earth, sun and sky of the Islands I’ve visited with Jay McSherry, my life partner and co-founder of Nateeva.

Photo from Nateeva Instagram

On American Perfumery: What I love most about having my own fragrance collection is being able to go all out with my own creative sense. In every fragrance I have ever developed for clients, I’ve always tried to add an unexpected touch. Something that surprises intrigues the emotions and the imagination. Intuitively, I’ve always had a sense of what people like. What’s interesting for me day to day is being an American woman among a hive of French perfumers, I love it! It is empowering to share my point of view as a woman, first of all, and secondly, as one native to the United States. Interestingly enough, I am actually third generation American so that alone gives me a perspective that’s able to see both the American and European sides of any fragrance equation. 

Photo courtesy of Nateeva

So far, as an entrepreneur, I find the reaction to Nateeva inspiring. It looks like my creative intuition is leading me down a beautiful path. When the idea of creating my own fragrance collection first came to mind, I wanted to convey this feeling of letting your senses take you on an exotic journey to places you’ve visited – or wished to travel to. After traveling so much personally, I just wanted to bring to women – and eventually men – the exotic scents that let me imagine as if every day were a moment in Paradise.

Favorite Artist: I love the work of Georgia O’Keefe. I guess it’s intuitive the way many of the flowers she has painted have found their way into Nateeva fragrances, like Hibiscus and Plumeria. I find her work spare and romantic at the same time. Her choice of colors is so authentic, I just want to soak it all up – that feeling of sun and heat and scent that I feel when I see her art. It’s transporting for me. ​I can’t say that I have a favorite Georgia O’Keefe painting. I adore them all.  Each one has its own special meaning to me.

hibiscus with plumeria,  Georgia O’ Keefe

-Hope Freeman, creative director/founder, Nateeva Fragrances

Editor’s Note: Hope started the Nateeva Fund which donates a portion of Nateeva’s proceeds to help fund Animal Shelters and other organizations to meet the challenges of the stray overpopulation.  We first learned of Nateeva in Hernando Courtright’s Sniffapalooza Fall Ball 2016 recap. Hope is our 124th American perfumer to be included in our series.

Nateeva Jamaica, The Bahamas and St. Martin fragrances

Thanks to Hope Freeman we have a draw for a registered reader in the USA for your choice of a 100 ml bottle of  St. Martin, Jamaica or The Bahamas ($125 value), click the link to each for composition. You must register here. To be eligible please leave a comment with what you found fascinating about Hope Freeman’s path to perfumery, your choice should you win and what Caribbean or tropical island destination you think would be a great inspiration for a Nateeva Fragrance. Draw closes 6/07/2017

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

Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebon and check out nateeva_fragrances

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

 

 

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22 comments

  • ntabassum92 says:

    She seems to be highly influenced by florals, especially tropical florals from her youth. I can relate to that – I don’t like the heat, but part of the reason why I am loathe to move up north is because I will miss the smells of flowers that I have smelled all my life. I think it’s fascinating that even though she lives in New Jersey, she is able to grow those flowers and harness that spirit of warmer getaways. I would like to win Bahamas. I think Bermuda would be a great next perfume 🙂

  • GrandmaGaga says:

    Although I’ve never lived in a tropical climate, (rather the desert southwestern US!) tropical flowers are so appealing. I love that she donates a portion of her profits to charity. I think Bahamas is most attractive to me but Jamaica sounds wonderful, too! Although
    I can’t picture what it would smell like, what about Cuba for an inspiration?

  • I was not surprised that Hope’s favorite artist is Georgia O’Keefe featuring closeups of beautiful flowers as she is inspired by the flowers of the islands. I am happy to be introduced to this new line, as I would never have heard of it otherwise. I love tropical florals. I was tempted to say I want Jamaica as i love the place but I am intrigued by the red hibiscus flower used in St Martin so i would pick this if I won. I have liked your independent perfumer’s page way in the past. Thank you for this info and the draw. USA

  • fazalcheema says:

    Hope’s account of her mother’s love for fragrances is interesting, especially, Replique. i have replique extrait, too but have not opened it yet. It is great Hope still works with IFF that made it easier for her to find a perfumer who could translate her ideas into perfumes just as she wanted. My choice will be Bahamas. Thanks for the generous draw. I am in US.

  • NiceVULady says:

    How fortunate to have fallen into the fragrance business and then to subsequently realize that this is something you truly love to do. I’m having a really hard try choosing between Jamaica and St Martin, but I think the Jamaica would be my choice. Thank you for the draw. I live in the USA

  • VerbenaLuvvr says:

    This perfumer has the experience in this business to prove that she does in fact know what people like, so I expect her offerings are top notch beauties. I have not traveled to any of the destinations represented in her collection, or any tropical island at all, for that matter, but would love to at least smell what such beautiful places are like through fragrance :). Maybe Puerto Rico for a future inspiration? I think I should like to try Bahamas, but any of the trio sounds lovely. I live in the US. Thanks for this draw!

  • I see that Hope was drawn into the perfumery business while working inside it and realizing it’s something she must follow. Like the idea of the line so far and would love to try Jamaica. As for a future inspiration island, I suggest Fiji. Thanks for the draw. US

  • Bryan Christopher says:

    Reading this article and looking at their website, St. Martin is the one that caught my eye. As someone from a tropical country (Philippines), we grow hibiscus and admire the flowers when they bloom. My sisters would pick some of these and put them on their hairs as accessories. Her path to perfumery is nice, as she was able to delve deeper than most of us into the production of perfumes. which is pretty neat and should be helpful for her products now.

    Yeah I’ll agree and choose Cuba too as a future inspiration island, keeping with the Caribbean theme and all. Thanks for the chance and have a nice day! St. Martin – In US.

  • I find it fascinating that Hope just “fell into” a job in perfumery (synchronicity at work IMHO) and ended up being a third generation American in (as she called it, and I LOVE this) a “hive” of French/Parisian perfumers!! ALso love that her mom wore Replique…a haunting scent for sure!

    Although they all sound like amazing perfumed escapes to tropical locales…I have decided (if I am blest enough to win) I would like St. Martin with its hibiscus, jasmine, mimosa and amber.

    I think that Bimini would be an amazing scent! Many believe that the island is all that remains above the waves of the tallest mountain from ATLANTIS!! It is a wonderful place and one of those places that haunts you and calls you back…

    Thanks to Nateeva for the very generous draw, and for being a cool enough company to offer free samples to any who are interested and sign up! Can’t wait for mine to arrive! Thanks also to Cafleurebon for the interesting series that never gets boring, even after 124 installments! Looking forward to the 125th!!

    US resident

  • xXxrootxXx says:

    I find it amazing the business found her,sorta like she was drawn in destined to it.
    Id love to win jaimaica
    and hawaii wud be good frag to make
    i live in u.s.

    thnx 4 giveaway

  • I always get joy, when the fragrance evaluator or other fragrance employee
    could realize their own ideas and found her own brend.
    I would like to see a new fragrance about Seychelles.
    I would like to win Jamaica.
    USA

  • Thank you to Hope for sharing your journey. It was delightful to see you with your partner and furry family members, too. I am imagining they are with you each step of the way as you share your fragrances with the world. The beautiful Bahamas would be my destination of choice, and I would suggest the inspiration of the Cayman Islands for a new fragrant stop. Waving hello from the southwest US, and missing the beautiful green, yellow, and pink colors of New Jersey in springtime.

  • One of my early scent memories is the gardenia as well. My grandparents had them along the walkway to their front door. What an inviting smell that was. I love the idea of a fragrance reminding me of a destination or vacation. I love the work of Georgia O’Keefe as well, thanks the beautiful artwork in the article. I had not seen this particular painting before. At her museum there was a lot of her floral work, but not this stunning piece. What a fascinating life journey. I have never been to the islands, but would love to win Jamaica and travel there via scent. thanks for the draw and helping the animals! I live in the US.

  • Extremely interesting…thank you for sharing the story of Hopes Journey, I love her mentioning that she always tried to add an unexpected touch to each of her fragrances as it should be. There is always a surprise in something unexpected. I would love to see a fragrance created for the Maldives with the Pinkrose and my pick here would be Jamaica even though these all sound lovely and office friendly. Thank you so much for the generosity. I am in the US

  • What an inspiring journey Hope has had. I love the fact that a passion choose her… by offering her a job. I also love how she said she interjects the element of surprise to the emotions but more importantly the imagination. I feel a surprise to the imagination sparks a creative form into action in each of us. I would love the St Martin. I am in the US

  • It was interesting to learn that her entry into the fragrance industry was purely serendipitous, although she has certainly made the most of her opportunities. I am still hoping to find a career I love. I’ve never been to the Caribbean, so I don’t have any suggestions. I am in the US, and my choice would be Bahamas.

  • doveskylark says:

    I like that Hope is inspired by places she has visited and also places she’d like to visit. It’s inspiring to believe that every moment has the potential to be a moment in paradise.
    I’ve never been to the Caribbean but I love calypso music, so I’m interested in Trinidad and Tobago.
    I would choose St. Martin if I were the winner.
    I live in the USA.

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    Great read! Thanks for the introduction of new perfume line. Hope’s journey to perfumery is lovely and full of floral. Surprise, traveling and ideas bring change in real life like what Hope Freeman experienced. Jamaica clicks me the most. I Liked Cafleurebon Profiles in American Perfumery on Facebook, so count my comment twice.
    Thanks to Hope Freeman for the generosity and Cafleurebon for the opportunity to participate in the draw by letting my relative address in US.

  • I found it fascinating that Hope Freeman’s path to perfumery began in fragrance advertising where she “fell into the business”. My choice would be Bahama and I think the Cayman Islands with its orchids would be a great inspiration for a Nateeva Fragrance

  • I like CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery on Facebook – Cynthia M Richardson

  • I love the background stories of perfumers and how they came to be working with fragrances and their influences so this article is no exception. I would choose Jamaica if I won i think but would love any of them. I would love to see the inspiration of St Lucia as a fragrance. Thanks so much for this information and introduction for me to these fragrances and people behind it. I live in the USA

  • Leslie Esquivel says:

    What a lovely story! These fragrances sound truly divine, hate that I’m too late for the contest!
    Blessings in your ventures!
    Leslie