Michael Paul of Day Three Fragrances
Profile: My transition from full time professional magician to full time perfumer felt seamless, and happened almost subconsciously. Such a transition might seem unlikely, considering how focused I’d been on my performing career for the last twenty-four years, but looking back on it now, I probably should have expected that perfumery would eventually become a part of my life.
Michael Paul auditioned for America’s Got Talent
I was eight years old, when David Copperfield began performing his magical TV specials. I wanted to be just like him. Lots of kids that age become interested in magic tricks, and eventually grow out of that phase shortly thereafter. Yet, my obsession with illusions never faded. Certainly, my father played a big role. He was both a sharp entrepreneur and an amazing drummer, and he encouraged me constantly to pursue my passion for performance. He always emphasized the role of hard work in artistic success. From the first time I performed a magic trick, he was both my harshest critic, and my biggest fan. Eventually the hard work paid off; I found myself performing on the biggest stages and in the most prestigious magic venues in the world.
Photo of Michael Paul of Day Three Fragrances Performing
Early on in my performing career, I recognized the impact that fragrance could have on my audience. Of course, my personal fragrance would be important for those times that I was interacting close up with my audiences, (I wore a lot of Prada Amber Homme for its soapy, clean feel). Yet I also realized that I could use fragrance to enhance certain magical effects. In one effect, I’d invite a woman on stage and fold a paper napkin into the shape of a rose. Then, she would be asked to imagine her favorite flower.
Photo of Michael Paul of Day Three Fragrances Performing
After she thinks for a moment of her favorite flower, she is asked to smell the paper rose… It now smells like the flower she is thinking of. Often, the smell of her flower would evoke powerful emotions, and my volunteer would be moved to tears. Scent had transformed a cute trick into a piece of true astonishment. I enjoyed working with scent in my shows, and eventually began blending materials in my free time, for the fun of it. Experimenting with, and learning the finer details of blending was relaxing; a perfect hobby to get lost in when my brain needed a break from thinking about magic.
Michael with his family and pet Pitbull Cleo snuggling
Then, COVID-19 changed everything. On a Tuesday night, probably a month into being locked down, my daughter Dakota was sitting on the floor in my office, likely sensing the stress that was building within me, (suddenly unable to work as a performer). She had a fist full of scent strips, freshly dipped in the amber bottles of perfume formulas that lined my desk. She sat quiet for a moment, then smelling one of her favorites, looked up and said “you should sell these”. I responded how any reasonable adult would: By giving her a long list of reasons why starting a fragrance house is impractical and explaining that it would be next to impossible to compete in such a crowded market. “Why do you have to compete?” she said. “I mean, what if someone really liked this perfume and just wanted to buy a bottle? It is art, not competition, right?” And with that suggestion from my teenager, my fragrance house, Day Three Fragrances was born.
This Bible verse inspired the name: “And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:11-12 ESV
Life is Like a Box of Perfume
To say we started from scratch would be an understatement. There was no budget, no marketing experience, and no industry connections. Just a sleight of hand artist whose only professional experience involved crafting moments of magic. But as luck would have it, magic and perfumery are, philosophically speaking, very similar arts. Like magicians, perfumers create special moments for their audience that cause them to think, feel, and be moved by the illusions created by a sort of (olfactive) sleight of hand. And like magic, perfume can spark intrigue, or transport the wearer to a different time and place. A good perfume is truly magical.
Michael Paul of Day Three Fragrances with his wife accepting the Aftel award for La Tacita De Cafe on Thursday May 11, 2023 at the historic Cicada Club in Los Angeles.
It was only a couple of months after Day Three’s initial launch that I decided to submit a fragrance to the 2023 Art and Olfaction Awards, our first real exposure to the perfume community. That submission, La Tacita De Cafe, would go on to win the coveted Aftel award for handmade perfumes. At the time of this writing, the Art and Olfaction Awards show happened about a week ago, and it still hasn’t really hit me that Day Three Fragrances was awarded such a prestigious honor.
Friends, family, reviewers, and other supporters have been asking, “What’s next for Day Three Fragrances?” My response is simple. I’m just going to stay focused on creating magic.
Michael Paul of Day Three Fragrances studio: where the olfactive magic happens
On American Perfumery: It really feels like American perfumery is in an exciting place right now, because of the diversity of perspectives on the scene. It is becoming a reflection of this rich tapestry of traditions and influences that we have here in the states. Culturally speaking, we have this melting pot, and it is resulting in some really beautiful, bold perfumery.
D.J. Jazzy Jeff via wiki
Favorite American Artist: Picking a favorite American artist is a lot like picking a favorite food… I have so many favorites that my answer may change from day to day, depending on my mood. But today, my favorite American artist has to be DJ Jazzy Jeff. You might know Jeff from his appearances on “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” TV show with Will Smith. He’s an amazing DJ, who has his own style of mixing and mashing up old school classics. He’s also innovated turntablism and live remixing in a way that’s all his own. In a crowded field of amazing American DJ’s, Jazzy Jeff stands out as both classic and highly original.
–Michael Paul, Perfumer and Owner of Day Three Fragrances (www.DayThreeFragrances.com)
Day Three Fragrances La Tacita De Cafe
Thanks to Michael Paul, we have a drawing for one 50ml bottle of La Tacita De Cafe, and a 7 perfume discovery set from Day Three Fragrances for one registered user in North America and Europe. To enter, you must be a registered reader. Please leave a comment with what you found fascinating about Michael’s path to perfumery and where you live. Drawing closes on 5/28/2023
Day Three Fragrances La Tacita De Cafe Notes: Top notes of wild orange and spices. Heart notes of bayahibe rose, Dominican coffee, caramel and rum. Base notes of tonka absolute, vanilla, amyris, sandalwood, brown sugar accord and amber.
Michael Paul of Day Three Fragrances is 173rd in our American Perfumer Series, which officially began with Dawn Spencer Hurwitz of DSH Perfumes on July 11, 2011.
All photos belong to Michael Paul unless otherwise noted.
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