JoAnne Bassett a Couture Natural Perfumer creates masterpieces from exotic oils and essences. Some of the magnificent raw materials she uses are 20 years old and are mellow and beautiful like vintage fine wine. Her style of perfumery and high quality natural oils is unheard of in mainstream and niche fragrance lines. In the late 1800’s synthetic fragrance oils were introduced that reduced the cost to produce fragrances. Most of the niche fragrance houses are using synthetic aroma chemicals that are created from petroleum and other laboratory chemicals. These inexpensive chemicals comprise 90% of the perfume ingredients in a fragrance bottle available for sale today. Even the most expensive French houses use the chemical soup they call fine fragrance. The packaging is more costly than the ingredients and the juice inside of the bottle. This is a secret most of them do not want you to know. When the advertising lists ingredients like rose, sandalwood, jasmine, etc. they are really referring to synthetic aroma molecules. The rose they refer to is a chemical mixture created in the laboratory: ROSALVA (I) (9,DECEN-1-0L) – Floral, Aldehydic, Rose, Waxy Fresh, dewy rose note that sells for $9.50 for one ounce. Bulgarian Rose otto or oil that is steam distilled from the rosa damascena rose petals costs $500.00 for one ounce. This is a good illustration of the actual ingredient costs of the well known perfume houses. JoAnne uses real rose otto and only natural essences in her fine creations.
Natural perfume raw materials are created from live plants, flowers, trees, herbs, and grasses. They have the live plant energy and the deep complex smell of the essential oils and absolutes. These intense and absolutely stunning oils create exotic and amazing natural perfumes that really need to be experienced to understand them fully. When they are applied to the skin they blossom like the flowers they were created from. There is no comparison to a laboratory created oil and an oil or essence created from nature.
To put this into perspective, in the times of Catherine de’ Medici, an Italian noblewoman and Queen of France, some of the finest materials were used to create her luxury all natural perfumes. Orange blossoms, rose petals, jasmine flowers, all were picked by hand and processed for her use. She demanded the most elegant perfumes and her private perfumer spared no costs in procuring the materials needed. Royal perfume ingredients create perfumes for royalty or wealthy patrons. She would not have been happy with synthetic, cheap materials and why would you? This natural trend continued and the French royal court of Marie Antoinette also were endowed with exclusive natural perfumes. Others including noble men enjoyed this extreme luxury. No costs were spared and they had a large assortment of perfumes created just for them.
JoAnne continues this tradition with using rare and precious oils from nature in her Custom Bespoke Perfumes and in her Collections. These custom one of a kind creations are enjoyed by women and men with impeccable taste. For 22 years she has created these gems and has clients from all over the world. People with discerning taste seek her out and have bespoke perfumes created for their families. She is able to do this without meeting individuals in person. A phone consultation and her ability to read people has resulted in marvelous custom perfumes. People return to her year after year and commission her to create a new one and to also reorder previous formulas. An in person consultation with an Aromatic Journey is available by appointment.
JoAnne is meticulous in her ability to create complex 100% natural perfumes. Her perfumes have the ability to uplift and support with the aromatherapy benefits the natural oils are known for. These unique combinations of essences are created in her perfume room one at a time. Her collections are born with her ability to turn an idea or experience into scented form. The whole process from the idea, to the actual mixing of the natural essential oils and absolutes to create formulas, the dermal testing, the evaluation, the alchemy that she performs, the maturing of the bases, and the bottling and labeling take place in her perfume room.
The artisan process also may include tinctures and macerations of raw materials such as live gardenias, heliotrope, roses, jasmine and uncommon flowers such as Parma violets that you would not normally be able to experience in their natural state. Today’s niche fragrances are created with chemicals that imitate the actual flower using head space technology. The whole purpose of the use of these chemicals is to reduce the costs. Unfortunately the actual juice may be worth 25 cents and the remaining expense of the fragrance consists of the bottle, box and advertising costs. Millions of dollars are spent on promotion of the fragrance during the launch and afterward to keep the inventory moving.
JoAnne spares no costs in her juice which is the actual fragrance. She uses vintage oils and essences that are difficult to procure and are often no longer available. Bulgarian white rose otto is an extremely gorgeous and precious material and is used is some of her floral perfumes. They call it the flower of light for the ecstatic energy it provides in the perfume. This very costly vintage material is priceless. Her gold bespoke perfumes are created with her top of the line oils and are the creme de la creme!
Her Custom Bespoke Perfumes are available in a very special hand blown glass bottle that is complete with a dauber to apply it. The bottle can be ordered in your favorite color choice. Men and women indulge in a custom for themselves. Couture gowns, bespoke suits and shoes, and custom jewelry are available. There is no reason you need to smell like 90% of the population. Why not order your own signature scent? Your very own scent is one that really speaks to you and is your essence. Wear it with confidence. I personally have tried her luxurious creations. I think it is a wonderful personal branding opportunity, where we can embrace the traditions of an ancient art form.
JoAnne resides in Orange County in sunny Southern California near the ocean. The Gold Coast sparks her creativity and she is surrounded with lush raw materials to pique her curiosity for new scents. Experiencing the intoxicating jasmine and rose flowers that bloom locally help her with new exquisite combinations for her fragrance collections. The opulent and decadent oils she immaculately and masterfully blends together are pure luxury and one not to be missed. Her natural fragrance collections are remarkably elegant with classic nuances and are extravagantly irresistible.
Visit her online at www.JoAnneBassett.com and peruse her collections. Send an inquiry email to receive Custom Bespoke Perfume information and to receive a discovery session regarding your fragrance preferences.
Contact: JoAnne Bassett, P O Box 10352, Newport Beach, California 92658 Phone 760.309.2571
This blog post is taken from Lorre White – the Luxury Guru
