The 7 Virtues Lotus Pear
Fruity floral perfumes are a much-maligned genre. Perhaps this is so because people frequently associate them with a coy girlishness bordering on the saccharine. I would challenge this preconception (were we all in the same vicinity) by putting forward any number of fruity/floral perfumes before your noses: I guarantee that you’d be surprised at how versatile they can be. Fragrances which include fruits and flowers may assume the guise of resinous, chypré, leathery, aquatic, verdant, and woody: they may smell fresh, dry, juicy or exotic – vintage or contemporary. That’s a vast umbrella; best not to rush to judgment.
Barb Stegemann appeared on ‘Dragon’s Den’ (The Canadian Shark Tank) in 2010 and realized her dream to pitch her business: a perfume company which sourced its ingredients from Afghanistan. Kevin O’Leary, aka Mr. Wonderful on Shark Tank didn’t even give Barb any chance
Many of us find ourselves conflicted during these ongoing tempestuous times – we tend to be cautious about being frivolous when we’re surrounded by the turbulence, uncertainty and the suffering which surround us. Philanthropist, energetic businesswoman, founder and entrepeneur Barb Stegmann of The 7 Virtues has created a way to salve our collective conscience without forgoing the primary pleasure of perfume. Barb is dedicated to improving the lot of the less fortunate globally through the employment of clean, vegan and sustainable fragrance and packaging, encouraging struggling nations to cultivate and harvest crops as an alternative to those utilized in the drug trade – and providing work which will pay a fair wage while embracing programs which support and help advance families’ welfare.
photo Boone Sommerfeld
The 7 Virtues Lotus Pear proceeds help to fund a singular and unusual cause: Days For Girls, an international organization (in this particular instance, the locus is current-day Nepal) dedicated to the eradication of ignorance, stigmatization, poverty, lack of education and menstrual supplies. Although menstrual practices and customs follow a time-honored, centuries-old tradition, chhaupadi – the risks are great. From the onset of puberty until menopause, women are isolated in a small unheated cowshed where they are exposed to extremes of temperature, snakebite, pneumonia and other illnesses – all the while unable to be in contact with family and community, unable to attend school and religious rituals. Food and drink is passed on to them with no physical contact. The re-education process is slow and laborious, but thanks to the partnership of The 7 Virtues, it is becoming a reality.
Barb Stegemann at CPL Aromas photo via Barb©
Another marvelous consequence of The 7 Virtues’ ethical practice is upcycling. The Turkish rose and Tunisian orange blossom which they employ in Lotus Pear conserves water and minimalizes waste, using leftover distillation water from hydro distillation and a modicum of floral absolute – as opposed to costly essences which require far more flowers and the land for growing them. Egyptian geranium oil is harvested so that soil health is fostered with no excess water usage or squandering of resources. The end result is a beautiful, ecologically sound fragrance which spares our precious planet – a win-win situation.
All this alone would be more than sufficient reason to purchase The 7 Virtues Lotus Pear. So now is the time to tell you that it’s luscious. Juicy, exotic and luxurious: these elements conspire delectably – AND at an extremely reasonable price. Lotus Pear is the exception to the rule which proves the point. It may appear guileless, but it’s sophisticated and possesses excellent longevity and tenacity. I harbor a particular fondness for its pear note; Poire Williams (made from Bartlett pears) is an eau de vie (brandy) which is produced in Alsace Lorraine, where my father’s family originated. Its satiny crispness blends well with pulpy peach, softened sweetly with tender rose, orange blossom and jasmine. The greenly fruity and floral aspects of lotus bear a twinkling of indole; geranium imparts its complex rosy/herbal leafiness. A gardenia note intimates tropical ripeness, while vanilla smells woody and comforting.
The 7 Virtues Lotus Pear is an uplifting example of the fruity floral category. Its sweet, tropical nature might be perceived by some as feminine – but frankly, it’s high time that these associations be laid to rest. Wear what pleases; wear what suits – what you crave. Living one’s life in fear of others’ judgment is but a shell of an existence. It’s up to you whether you perceive yourself as Carmen Miranda or Mother Nature’s Child: embrace it and be at peace with yourself and your planet. When you purchase and wear any of Barb Stegemann’s fragrances, you can be assured that you are contributing to the greater good.
Notes: Williams pear, peach, upcycled rose and orange flower, jasmine, lotus flower, Egyptian geranium, gardenia, vanilla.
MAKE PERFUME, NOT WAR®
Bottle kindly provided by Barb Stegemann – many thanks! My nose is my own… all photo provided by Barb unless otherwise specified
~ Ida Meister, Deputy and Natural Perfumery Editor
Thanks to the generosity of Barb Stegemann and The 7 Virtues we have one 50 ml bottle of Lotus Pear available to one registered reader in North America. Be sure to register or your comment will not count. To be eligible for the draw, tell us where you live and what appeals to you about Ida’s review of The 7 Virtues Lotus Pear and where you live. Draw closes 3/13/2022
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