Artemisia Natural Perfume is an independent perfume house in Oakland, California that specializes in using the finest natural elements to create evocative, sophisticated, sometimes quirky, always different perfumes that tell stories on the skin, melding with each wearer’s unique chemistry to subtly change into scents that draw you inward into scent memories and, beyond, into internal dream spaces…. I believe it is the thoughtfulness that went into creating these scents that manages to suggest to the wearer inner questions or perhaps inner reminders of their own uniqueness and a sense of gentle reverence. I suppose this is what good art does to the viewer. Lisa Fong, in that case, has reached the level of good art in the realm of perfumery.

The Artemisia perfumes are subtle; they do not overwhelm a work space or room, preferring to stay close to the wearer’s skin, again working more toward one’s “inner space” promoting a more internal, meditative state of mind.

I find myself not surprised to learn of Lisa Fong’s other talents, she is a studied flamenco dancer, an accomplished violinist, and a mathematician. These talents weave well into her style of perfumery… the perfumes are well thought out, well proportioned, they have flair, and they are harmonious.

 

My particular favorite of the moment is a scent perfect for fall, a warm spicy floral called Havana, where fine French cognac mingles with antique clove and blood orange flowing into a tropical reverie of coffee flower with hints of Himalayan cedarwood. It is a charming and sensual fragrance that has me singing La Paloma and dreaming of the beautiful music and culture of Havana Cuba…

sillage: mild

longevity: mild

natural or blended: natural

worth the risk to buy unsniffed: I would suggest trying an array of samples from Artemisia Natural Perfumes in order to determine which scent works best with your personal chemistry.

 

 

 

La Paloma

Cuando salí de la habana, válgame dios

Nadie me ha visto salir sino fuí yo

Y una linda guachinanga como una flor

Se vino detrás de mí, que si señor…

 

 

When I left Havana my God!

nobody saw me go,

nobody but me and a pretty little gaucho maid

like a flower she came down the pathway following after me…yes Sir

that same little gaucho maid that I longed to see

 

–Monica “Skye” Miller, Natural Perfume & Senior Editor