Profiles in American Perfumery: Akuura Kulak of Aroma Sanctum Perfumes +A Magical Giveaway

Akuura Kulak of Aroma Sanctum Perfumes

Akuura Kulak, perfumer and founder of Aroma Sanctum Perfumes

I grew up in Salem, Massachusetts, in a very old house on the waterfront. Salem is famous for its witch trials in the Puritan era, but is also a seafaring town with a long history of shipping trade and pirates.

We lived a couple of blocks away from the House of the Seven Gables, a gloomy manor house with a gorgeous garden, and I spent a lot of time playing there as a child. My strongest scent impressions from childhood were the sea, in all its moods and seasons, old wooden buildings, flowering gardens, the earthy smells of my uncle’s farm, and of the forest. I used to gather mushrooms in the woods with my Polish grandfather, and remember the smell of them, as well as the wet mossy earth in the early mornings (to this day I still love oakmoss scents). I was a quirky kid who loved art and the outdoors, and was always drawing and painting (mostly landscapes, and horses, which I loved). My family was Catholic, and tried to bring me up as one, but I rejected it at a very early age, being more interested in ancient religions and pagan faiths. The only positive thing I remember about going to church was the incense- it was heavenly! I still burn frankincense and other resins regularly.

I had many diverse interests- art, horses, astrology, herbal medicine, ancient civilizations and religions, the occult and the mystical. I figured I would be an artist or designer of some sort when I grew up. My mother had a very keen nose, she could smell things no one else could, and I think I inherited it from her. I loved perfume as well, but unfortunately found I was allergic to most of them! Being a natural redhead comes with its hazards- I was allergic to a lot of things, laundry detergents, household cleaners, and other scented products, they all gave me skin rashes and migraines. So I concentrated on the visual arts instead.

mystical art

The Seeker, painted by Akuura Kulak  of Aroma Sanctum Perfumes 1978

After graduating high school I went to Mass. College of Art in Boston, where I studied graphic design and photography. I began exploring the world of perfume very slowly and cautiously- to my delight I found I could tolerate some of the older French perfumes, especially from Guerlain, and I wore Shalimar and Mitsouko. I had also found a cute little shop in a nearby town owned by a lovely Egyptian couple, who sold imports and art. They had beautiful perfume oils there, and I collected quite a few, and had fun mixing and matching them for myself and my friends.

In 1983. I became very ill, from stress and overwork – I developed a really stubborn strep throat infection that no doctor or drug could cure, for almost a year. My father passed away during this time, adding to my stress. I had been studying herbs and essential oils, and in desperation decided to try and heal myself. I had some high quality sandalwood oil from India, and started using it in baths, massage oil and even in a gargle regularly, and finally got over the infection. This really impressed me, and I dove into aromatherapy, reading whatever books I could find on the subject, and learning as much as I could about essential oils and their uses in healing and in perfumery. Sandalwood remains one of my favorite scents today.

I began to fantasize about opening a perfume store that concentrated on oil perfumes. In 1992 I was walking down Newbury Street in Boston ,and saw a shop just like that! It was Essense Natural Perfumes- I knew I had to work there. I pestered the owner for weeks until he hired me part time. Within a couple of months I was managing the store, and learning a lot about mixing perfumes, and about retail business There I had the privilege of working with Sarah Horowitz and Dawn Spencer Hurwitz– the business was only open for a couple of years, but little did we know how this fun little job would change all of our lives!

plumeria in Hawaii

Akuura Kulak of Aroma Sanctum Perfumers sniffing plumeria in Hawaii, 1993

In 1993 I took a trip to Hawaii, and got to experience an intriguing new place full of amazing scents. Every time I am out in nature I am always picking bits of plants and smelling them, and filing the memories away.

Akuura Kulak of Aroma Sanctum Perfumes apothecary in 1998

Aroma Sanctum Perfumes- the beginning-Apothecary

In 1996, fed up with my stressful job, I decided to start my own perfume retail business. I had moved back to Salem, and it had grown from a quaint little historic town to the witch/Halloween capital of the world. I started out small, sharing space with various occult shops and bookstores in the downtown area, so the vibe of my business was  witchy/apothecary, and October was our busiest season.. Things really took off, and after moving several times around town, I finally found the perfect little storefront for myself in the center of it all.

Akuura Kulak at Aroma Sanctum Perfumes retail store closed Salem MA

Akuura Kulak at Aroma Sanctum Perfumes Salem MA

These were the crazy years, but lots of fun! I designed my first line of fragrances, in oil form, and also sold scented natural body products and essential oils. I really honed my skills as a perfumer, designing signature perfumes for people and kept them on file. I worked right on their skin, and was amazed how different people’s personal chemistry can be, and how it affects perfumes, especially in oil form. Salem had become an international destination, especially in October, and we had customers from all over the world. I got my friends to help me during the busiest time, and we dressed in various costumes throughout the fall season; it was like one long Carnival. I was practicing astrology and other occult arts, and it was during this period that I met my good friend and mentor, perfumer Neil Morris.

Akuura Kulak in Pirate Costume

Akuura Kulak of Aroma Sanctum Perfumes in pirate costume

I get inspired by many things- even dreams! I do sometimes smell a fragrance in a dream before creating it. This was the case with Pirate, a very spicy leather fragrance born from a vivid dream about being on a pirate ship! I also seem to have clairalience, which is the ability to smell scents that are not physically in the environment. And have had several experiences smelling ghostly presences.

Sedona Storm

Sedona Storm, painted by Akuura Kulak 2019

During the pandemic it became increasingly difficult to run my retail business, and I decided to close the shop and move to Arizona, mostly for health reasons. I now sell online to my various clients all over the world, and am enjoying my beautiful new home. I am captivated by the scents of the deserts and the mountains forests here. I still love and ride horses, and enjoy their unique scent as well- I hope to use these themes in my new Western series of perfumes soon.

Akuura Kulak and Neil Morris, Arcane Knowledge

Akuura Kulak of Aroma Sanctum Perfumes with and Neil Morris- Arcane Knowledge

Neil Morris and I have collaborated and made a perfume together, the first in a series, called Arcane Knowledge. This is a smoky, mysterious fragrance with a mystical theme. It was both a challenge and an adventure- we are complete opposites in our tastes, working methods , creative process etc., but we learned so much from each other. Neil got me to try working with a lot of the modern aroma materials that I had previously been afraid of using. I am forever grateful for his friendship and his knowledge.

In 2025 I had a very scary brush with skin cancer, and almost lost my nose!. Such a nightmare for a perfumer! Luckily they caught it in time, and after many surgeries I still have a nose and it still works! I appreciate my sense of smell so much more, and will continue on my journey of learning and making perfumes. I think perfumery is a magical art, truly alchemy- not only does it evoke powerful past memories, but it can open the doors of perception to different realms of being, and even healing of the spirit.

Akuura Kulak lives in Arizona

Akuura riding in Arizona

On American perfumery: America has always had a tradition of trailblazing and a pioneer spirit, and I see this is American perfumery today. I am amazed at the creativity and the abundance of the artisan and niche perfumers here! Some have a formal education in perfumery/chemistry, but many like myself are self taught adventurers, working with just their noses and a prayer, and I am happy to see they are accepted and judged for their creative brilliance, not their background , training, or connections in the industry. There is also so much available now in the way of courses, both online and in person, and educational forums online, as well as relatively easy access to quality materials from around the world. All in all, it’s an exciting time to be an independent perfumer here!

Palo Duro Canyon, Georgia O’Keeffe 1916 free use

Favorite American artist: I have always loved Georgia O’Keeffe, not just her innovative art but her independent spirit. She was a bold and courageous woman artist, in a time when many women artists weren’t taken all that seriously. No doubt her involvement with Alfred Stieglitz helped her career, but I think it was really her work and dedication that made her successful. She knew what she wanted to do, and didn’t let anyone or anything stop her. Now that I live here, I resonate with her love and fascination with the magical southwest, and have started painting again myself. I hope to visit her historic ranch in New Mexico one day..

Akuura Kulak, perfumer and founder of Aroma Sanctum Perfumes

Sacred Sandalwood by Aroma Sanctum Perfumes

Sacred Sandalwood Parfum is Akuura Kulak’s interpretation of aged Mysore Sandalwood essential oil

Notes: Sandalwood, Virginia Cedarwood, soft musk, French vanilla, benzoin resin, tonka bean, cinnamon leaf

Thanks to the largesse of Akuura Kulak at Aroma Sanctum Perfumes we have a giveaway draw for Sacred Sandalwood Parfum for one registered ÇaFleureBon reader in USA Only. YOU MUST REGISTER and leave a comment lease leave a comment with what you found fascinating about Akuura Kulak at Aroma Sanctum Perfumes path to perfumery, a quote that resonated and where you live. Draw closes 8/17/2026

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ARTISAN PERFUMERS AND BUY DIRECTLY FROM THEIR WEBSITE

Akuura Kulak at Aroma Sanctum Perfumes is the 185th in our American perfumer series, which officially began in 2011 with Dawn Spencer Hurwitz of DSH Perfumes.

All photos belong to Akuura Kulak at Aroma Sanctum Perfumes unless otherwise noted.

Akuuru Kulak collaborated  with Neil Morris for the first in their three-fragrance series released earlier this year reviewed by Ida Meister Arcane Knowledge

Please read former Editor Michel Devine’s Aroma Sanctum Perfumes fall favorites here and Olde Salem Perfume Magick here

Please like CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery and your entry will count twice. Please leave that in your comment.

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27 comments

  • Sybelle16 says:

    That Akuura Kulak has had 30 years of success after making the leap and leaving the corporate world behind to follow her dreams, going from a novice perfumer, honing her skills, to a master perfumer, is quite impressive. Embracing the spirit of Salem’s history with witchcraft and incorporating that witchy essence in her brand in the beginning and tying it to the Halloween season as a marketing strategy and having fun building her brand while doing it. Part of her early success was her ability to offer bespoke, high-quality, ultra-exclusive olfactory creations for her clientele that led to expanding her brand and patrons nationally and internationally. A very impressive feat. As a perfumer, her nose and sense of smell is keen to creating profiles and her brush with skin cancer made her appreciate her sense of smell so much more. She can “continue on my journey of learning and making perfumes” as she puts it: “…perfumery is a magical art….it can open doors of perception to different realms of being, and even healing of the spirit.”
    CA USA

  • Neil Morris says:

    Dear Akuura! So glad to see your profile here! You are an amazing perfumer and an even better friend. I’m so glad you are a part of my life. The Cafleurebon community will love your perfumes! I had so much fun co-creating Arcane Knowledge with you. Congrats & Love!

  • Thegolden.Senteur says:

    What fascinated me most about Akuura Kulak’s journey is how she approaches perfumery as both an art and a deeply personal experience rather than simply making fragrances. One quote that really resonated with me was, “Perfume is the alchemy of the spirit.” It perfectly captures the idea that fragrance can evoke emotions, memories, and even become part of someone’s identity. Her passion for creating scents with intention makes me even more curious to discover Aroma Sanctum. From USA.

  • Meredith says:

    I am so pleased to see Akuura featured here! I discovered her at the Fool’s Mansion in the mid-90s and have always had a bottle of my customised blend on hand since and have fallen n love with others over the years. I am intrigued by the mention of clairalience and wonder which is her scents have ghostly inspiration! Looking forward to sniffing the collaboration with Neil Morris.

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thanks for this deeply personal and atmospheric profile! Akuura Kulak of Aroma Sanctum Perfumes seems to have built a creative life where art, nature, mysticism, and scent are almost impossible to separate. I was especially drawn to the childhood memories of the sea, old wooden buildings, gardens, mossy forests, mushrooms, and church incense—those kinds of scent memories seem to have become a palette that followed her into perfumery. The story of Pirate being born from a dream feels particularly fitting, almost as though those early impressions of Salem’s maritime history and her fascination with the mystical eventually found their way into fragrance.

    What really stands out to me is her description of perfumery as alchemy—something that can unlock memories and even open “doors of perception.” Her journey from graphic design and photography to essential oils, the Salem apothecary, and eventually Aroma Sanctum feels wonderfully organic. I also love the connection to Georgia O’Keeffe and the move to Arizona; there’s a sense that the landscape keeps changing, but the underlying curiosity about nature remains constant. It makes me think of a perfume as a painted landscape: part memory, part place, and part imagination. I’d love to explore Akuura’s fragrances, especially Pirate and Arcane Knowledge.

  • Melissa carella says:

    I have been a fan of her perfumes for a very long time.
    Sacred Sandalwood is my all-time favorite scent!

  • Debra Tremblay says:

    Love your essential oils. I love to match them to the seasons of New England. October moon, celestial smoke , witch fire. Are my fall Halloween favorites. Summer love is Boho beach and Ocean rose. So many good ones not enough days to wear them all!
    Keep following your nose!

  • bustednose says:

    I found Akuura Kulak’s journey into perfumery so fascinating, especially how her early life growing up in Salem surrounded by historic maritime air, old wooden buildings, and rich natural surroundings shaped such a unique olfactory palette. A quote from the feature that really resonated with me is when she described how her early childhood impressions formed an everlasting bond with the scent of the sea, wet mossy earth, and flowering gardens. Learning how she translated those mystical, artistic, and natural influences into her independent craft is deeply inspiring. I’m in Texas USA

  • sunnybird says:

    Akuura seems so in touch with herself and her natural environment – my favorite part was where she talked about how perfume can be a “magical art” that can “open the doors of perception to different realms of being, and even healing of the spirit.” Perfume has been spiritually healing to me far more than I would ever have expected, as a youth who was similarly sensitive to detergents, fragrances, etc. and loves perfume as an adult!
    Northern Nevada, USA

  • Annika says:

    Akuura has certainly lived a full life in fragrance from her origins in Salem, MA to her new life in Arizona. I also have a love of incense from my (lapsed) Catholic upbringing and an interest in herbal medicine and essential oil and the moods one can elicit with scent. Sandalwood is such a seminal note, it’s fascinating to see what someone with Akuura’s depth and breadth of knowledge can do with the note. I love that she gets inspired by dreams and that she “sometimes smell a fragrance in a dream before creating it.” In USA

  • Lisa Frias says:

    Akuura’s perfumes have always had a compelling vibration of both spirit and artistry, and her expertise is evidenced by her skilled technique and potent intuitiveness. Working with her is a journey of discovery, one that honors the role of scent as a personal and profound storyteller. She has been crafting my signature scent for more than 20 years, and I’m so delighted to see her recognized in this way.

  • MarciaL says:

    The infusion of environment in her journey sounds like it’s fully present in her scents, a real talent. I loved the part where she said
    “I also seem to have clairalience, which is the ability to smell scents that are not physically in the environment. And have had several experiences smelling ghostly presences.” I have never heard of this concept, but it’s really interesting.
    Seattle WA USA

  • greenec says:

    This was lovely to see. I first met Akuura when I lived in Peabody. I was a graduate student studying theology. I always liked fragrances but they were never that primary in my mind. My girlfriend and I at the time stopped into her shop in Salem and loved her perfumes. I bought two of her oils and still have them! (That was back in 2018). Who would have thought that today I would be an independent perfumer, myself! I found one of the ones I bought – The Green Man-and it zoomed me back to those days. It was ironic that her oils were probably one, little, hidden stop along the way to get me to perfumery— without even knowing it!

    What resonated with me the most was her line about independent perfumers trying to make it on a prayer, especially contrasted with the typical pathway of chemist-perfumers at the big perfume houses and schools, like Givaudan. She gives hope to all of us who aren’t born into high-born families or didn’t go a traditional route, but still have a passion and lure to make perfume.

    I currently live in San Francisco, but am Northshore, MA, born and raised!

  • goknitintheocean says:

    Hi there,

    Akuura resembles a friend of mine from Nevada. Both women apparently have that joie de vivre that captures their imagination and bottles it into stories and scents! I was especially moved by her history with skin cancer, as I’ve had several surgical treatments myself. Thank you for bringing us this lovely and well-illustrated review. One might say the story of these scents, told now, is peak SUMMERWEEN!

    Cheers,
    Deborah
    NYC/USA

  • opalbear says:

    I love this article! I had no idea about this perfumer and her artwork is incredible! I absolutely love sandalwood. I grew up with Mysore sandalwood as a ubiquitous scent, soap, prayer beads, attars, it was the scent of my childhood and I instantly feel soothed when I smell it now. I would love to smell her sandalwood creation! Thank you for the generous giveaway. I am in the US. Oh and I also love that she created a perfume based on her dream, Pirate. So cool!

  • foreverscents says:

    I spent some time on Akuuru’s online shop and I was amazed at the scope of her fragrances. I will definitely make some purchases. I loved reading about Akuuru’s history and her path to become a perfumer. I like that she has created fragrances from scents she smelled in a dream! I am sure the Arizona desert will inspire her, just as the New Mexican desert inspired Georgia O’Keeffe.
    I live in the USA.

  • Debra Zambello says:

    Been purchasing her oils for years! I grew up in Beverly and my grandparents worked on Essex st. Salem is my second home!

  • SammoB. says:

    What a life! I truly appreciate your ability to go after what you want. One of my earliest scent memories is smelling a hand carved chess set my dad had that was made of sandalwood, its the best scent in the universe and would do anytjing to smell it again. I love the sound of Sacred Sandalwood as a certified sandalwood lover. NJ, USA

  • mmerline says:

    I’m always struck by how childhood memories of landscape and scent feature prominently in these profiles; like Akuura remembering the earthy smells of farm and mushroom harvesting, and her passion for oakmoss scents, they seem to define a future perfumer. Also, fun connection to Sarah Horowitz and Dawn Spencer Hurwitz, who I didn’t realize had worked together early in their careers. Interesting that Akuura works in oils, which wear differently than sprays in my experience, and make for terrific travel companions. Also, her brush with skin cancer struck me; so glad she’s alright, but also I hadn’t thought of how that could dramatically impact both a perfumer’s livelihood and passion. Another compelling profile—love this series.

    I’m in WI, USA.

  • Regis Monkton says:

    I first heard about Akuura Kulak when I heard about an incense fragrance she made with Neil Morris. Ever since then, I’ve been intrigued to try all of her fragrance releases. I like when Akuura says: “I dove into aromatherapy, reading whatever books I could find on the subject, and learning as much as I could about essential oils and their uses in healing and in perfumery.” I hope to do the same eventually. I’ve been very interested in finding a good sandalwood fragrance and Akuura’s Sacred Sandalwood seems like one I should definitely try. I live in MD, USA.

  • roxhas1cat says:

    This sounds divine. Georgia O’keeffe is an amazing artist and her ranch and museum (Santa Fe) are must visits. I will be watching this brand for sure for some desert inspired fragrances. Hoping for some ponderosa scents which the bark smells of butterscotch. Ms. Kulak’s ghostly experiences intrigue me. Thanks for the chance to learn about such a fascinating life. USA.

  • peppermoon says:

    I’m so happy that I made it in time to submit a comment to this giveaway, I really resonate with this entire article. Thank you to ÇaFleureBon for introducing me Ankuura and Aroma Sanctum. Her story is inspiring to me. It’s actually interesting that the art piece that she included in the article, The Seeker, mimics her life’s story – walking her own path, searching for knowledge despite the dangers and trials that cross her path.

    As for what specifically resonated with me in the article, firstly, I’d love to be her when I grow up! Perfumer, artist, herbalist and witch?! The occult and herbalism are two topics that I’ve always found fascinating and continue to study (I actually just picked up a great new herbalism book yesterday). There is an astounding amount of crossover between those topics; the history of perfumery is deeply intertwined with the history of the occult and the study of nature’s properties. I agree whole-heartedly with her statement, “I think perfumery is a magical art, truly alchemy- not only does it evoke powerful past memories, but it can open the doors of perception to different realms of being, and even healing of the spirit.”

    Secondly, sandalwood is currently my favorite note. It’s so meditative and calming. I’ve been going down a sandalwood note rabbit hole recently, trying different sandalwood attars from different countries to discover their unique terroir. If she based Sacred Sandalwood around the scent of aged mysore sandalwood, I know I will fall in love with it. Please consider me for the giveaway – I will treasure this fragrance!

    Thank you for the giveaway, I am in GA, USA.

  • SFrei says:

    I absolutely loved this profile. Akuuru’s journey is facinating! Now that I live here, I resonate with her love and fascination with the magical southwest, and have started painting again myself. I hope to visit her historic ranch in New Mexico one day..
    I am in the Southwest myself and it is indeed magical.

  • FreiS says:

    I absolutely loved this profile. Akuuru’s journey is facinating! Now that I live here, I resonate with her love and fascination with the magical southwest, and have started painting again myself. I hope to visit her historic ranch in New Mexico one day..
    I am in the Southwest myself and it is indeed magical. I also love that Neil Morris is a dear friend and Mentor.