When I went to the San Francisco Artisan Fragrance Salon, one of the vendors that interested me was a brand new line launching that very day called Cognoscenti. The Scent Artist, as her business card title proclaims, is painter, architect, and designer Dannielle Sergent, who was encouraged to explore her unique, intuitive take on perfume creation.
Perfume appreciation however, requires more than just the casual spritz. Selecting a fragrance can be as sophisticated as evaluating a wine, if approached in a knowledgeable manner. Contrary to the concept of the “signature scent”, our noses prefer variety.
America, rich with its pioneering history, has fostered a wealth of independent perfumers working in a variety of mediums. This new land embraces all the various forms of expression, including individuals as myself who work exclusively with a palette derived from nature.
House of Matriarch was launched on Christi Meshell’s 36th birthday (November 28, 2009). All of her perfumes are in custom painted bottles. Brilliantly blending actual essences and capturing subtle energies, these scents show that one can stay true to core beliefs, respect Nature, myth and history while bringing them to life through perfumery.
Senior Editor Tama Blough’s report from San Francisco for the SF SNiff and the 1st Annual Artisan Fragrance Salon.
Fragrance and art… Spilled perfume includes Xerjoff, Atelier Cologne, Bond No. 9, Parfums M.Micallef, Guerlain, Spadaro Fragrances, Anya’s Garden, Ayala Moriel Parfums, Kelly & Jones and Opus Oils.
