Posted by LAURIE STERN on January 28, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Greetings, my dear Purrfumery friends!
I just returned from Mendocino, where Gary and I took a glorious break. We hiked, we watched whales, and we enjoyed the fresh air. . . Now we’re home and I’m thrilled to see the Perfumer’s Garden is starting to show signs of spring with irises blooming, milkweed flourishing and birds chirping. It’s time to get ready for my favorite day of the year, a day when we can show our love in the most unabashed ways.
It’s almost Valentine’s Day! Will you Be Mine?
High dose of romance
The Purrfumery is brimming with beautiful, romantic options for you and yours this Valentine’s Day, and I will be offering free shipping until February 9th. Please type in BUNNY in the discount box.
We’ve just unveiled our new line of eau de parfum scents—highly dosed versions of our Signature and Limited Edition perfumes—in the most adorable 4 ml and 15 ml spray bottles! Each eau de parfum arrives tucked in a velvet pouch adorned with flowers and its own custom Victorian scent card.
Our eau de parfum line—and our newly redesigned Kittylicious line—are gorgeous and affordable luxuries that make the perfect gift for you or someone you love. Take a look! Did you know our Mojito scent has a reputation for making sparks fly?
Maybe you’d like roses this Valentine’s Day? Wrap yourself in Jewelry of Heaven, a true classic that blends organic jasmine grandiflorum and Turkish and Himalayan roses. Or indulge in an accord of nine rose distillations from all corners of the globe with my Bed of Roses perfume or eau de parfum. My Honey scent is glorious in all its forms—solid, liquid perfume and eau de parfum—and makes an incredible gift. The Purrfumery bees work very hard to make the honey and propolis that I add to this regal composition of orange blossom, Moroccan and Bulgarian roses, antique clove and pomegranate.
Go ahead, get carried away! Happy Valentine’s Day, my dear Purrfumery friends!
Did someone say chocolate?
This just in! TasteTV and the International Chocolate Salon are offering Advance Purchase Tickets through January 31 for the 9th annual San Francisco Chocolate Salon. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, so mark your calendars! Discounted advanced tickets are available for a few more days. I hope to see you all in San Francisco in March for this deliciously fun event!
Lavender linked to trust
I have witnessed the most incredible, transformative moments during my Perfumery Adventures and Custom Perfume Experiences, where visitors are surprised and delighted by how they feel when they inhale certain scents. I know scent has the power to unlock our hearts and minds, so I was intrigued when I read this story about lavender on Nova Next.
Researchers have found that subjects who played a trust game in a lavender-scented room exhibited signs of interpersonal trust more readily than those who played in a peppermint-scented room, or in a non-scented room. The study was published in Frontiers Psychology journal. Very interesting!
Palomacy is pigeon diplomacy!
You all know about my pet rescue pigeons Polka Dot, Pansy, King Lou, and Sprite. Since Polka Dot walked through my cat door three years ago, I have connected with a great group of animal welfare workers at Palomacy. This incredible group of people has made it their mission to rescue and find homes for injured feral and abandoned pigeons and doves and save them from an untimely death. Palomacy is pigeon diplomacy, and they give these lovely, sweet birds a second chance through advocacy and education. They’re based in San Francisco, so check them out!
Palomacy has wonderful, lively fundraisers—I attended one over the holidays and had a blast!
Dinky’s legacy
I want to thank everyone who has reached out to share their condolences about our Dinky. He went to a better place on Christmas Eve after a brief illness. Dinky was Gary’s garden kitty and he spent many hours working in the yard, doing his part. We love him and miss him, but know that he is out of pain now. His sweet image will be forever memorialized on our Terrain packaging. . . He was such an outdoorsy little guy! Love you, Dinky!
Until next time. . .
Peace, love, purrfume and kitty cats,
XOXO~Laurie
Posted by LAURIE STERN on November 30, 2014 · Leave a Comment
Greetings, dear Purrfumery friends!
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The kitties and I had a Thanksgiving feast with family and then another magnificent dinner a few days later with friends—we are so grateful for the generosity and love that is all around us! It got me thinking about giving back and how we can all make a difference to the people and charitable organizations in our lives. This is the season for giving and sharing, and I don’t want to get so caught up in the holiday rush that I forget to lend a hand. Here’s what the Purrfumery is doing this season:
Type LEAPINGBUNNY at checkout and receive 15% off your order
You all know that the Purrfumery is certified by Leaping Bunny, right? Leaping Bunny is the organization that ensures none of my ingredients or my suppliers ingredients are tested on animals. When you type LEAPINGBUNNY in the code box at checkout, you will receive 15% off your order through December 15th. And, I’ll be contributing a portion of December sales to two very important organizations: the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS), which seeks humane alternatives to animal testing; and to Kindness Ranch, a Wyoming sanctuary and rehabilitation place for animals who have been used in laboratory research.
I support these organizations in honor of Velvet and Sweet Pea, my two precious cats who I rescued from a life of lab testing. They changed my life forever and paved the way to a new consciousness about the horrors of animal testing and the use of animal musks in perfumes. Ultimately, the lessons Velvet and Sweet Pea taught me became the principles of the Purrfumery. . . and my life! Thank you for being a part of this mission, my dear Purrfumery friends!
Free shipping until Dec. 2
I am offering free shipping for just another 2 days, so save a little extra on your holiday shopping when you place your order by Dec. 2 at midnight.
Free Daphne Face & Body Frosting while supplies last
I made a batch of daphne enfleurage that is just gorgeous! I was enjoying the lovely scent of the daphne when I suddenly caught a whiff of the Chinese osmanthus bush that’s blooming outside the Purrfumery. The scent from its tiny blossoms is glorious this time of year. I blended the daphne enfleurage into a frosting and added osmanthus absolute and aged sandalwood. The result is an incredible Daphne Face & Body Frosting! It’s super moisturizing for winter-chapped skin—I will add a .25 ounce container to orders while supplies last. It’s wonderful for your hands, too.
Shop local—visit the Purrfumery!
Where else can you sink into a plush sofa, sip tea with sweet Purrfumery honey, and nibble neroli blood orange truffles while you shop? I look forward to seeing you—give me a call or send me an email and let’s make an appointment! Come sniff and sample the magic of our natural world! Purrfumery products are $10 and up, and I’m happy to help you find the perfect gift.
Thank you for your love and support!
Until next time. . .
Peace, love, purrfume and kitty cats,
XOXO~Laurie
Posted by LAURIE STERN on November 18, 2014 · Leave a Comment
Greetings dear Purrfumery friends!
I was walking through Berkeley the other day and I noticed all the holiday magic in the windows, and the gold and purlpe twinkle lights on the trees. The holidays are here again! It’s such a fun and festive time of year – a time when you look for just the right gifts for the people in your life, whether they’re your friends, family, or co-workers. Often, holiday shopping means running around town in a flurry and finishing just in time. It doesn’t have to be that way, my dear Purrfumery friends! I offer scent lovers near and far many options for shopping and gift giving!
Here are a few ways you can give the gift of natural perfume this season. . .
Visit the Purrfumery
All my products, from perfumes to the newly redesigned Kittylicious line, are available for sample. And, I’ll have my newly blended eau de parfums – all the perfumes you love will now be available in adorable eau de parfum sprays! The choices are endless! Hydrosols are perfect stocking stuffers. Oh, and the Whipped Frosting Face and Body Butters are back in stock! Fresh as an orange blossom, and ready to sooth and hydrate your dry winter skin! I’m happy to help you create the perfect gift and add a touch of whimsy with gorgeous packaging.
If you’re looking for something experiential and completely unique, give the gift of a Perfumery Adventure or Custom Perfume. No two Perfumery Adventures or Custom Perfumes are alike. . . .
Free Shipping until December 2nd!
For my Purrfumery friends who prefer to shop online, I’m offering free shipping from until December 2nd. Just type purrfume in the discount box. You will love the convenience of receiving gifts that are wrapped in gorgeous fabric bags with ribbons and scent cards!
Corporate Events with Fl’Air!
Florist Pat Gibbons and I recently launched Fl’Air Events, a unique hands-on program that combines flower arranging with the art of perfumery. If your organization is looking for a fun and interactive holiday event, give me a call! We can set up in a conference room or other meeting place.
Our interactive, two-part program begins with Pat's floral demonstration where she uses color and texture to create different combinations. Then, we set you loose with piles of flowers and clippers to make your own seasonal centerpieces to take home.
Once the centerpieces are complete, I take you and your group on a journey into the heady world of scent where you’ll experience flowers and plants on a whole new sensory level. I’ve collected some of the rarest and most expensive natural perfume essences in the world – including Bulgarian rose and Assam oud – it’s all here for you! Inhale deeply! You’ll also learn how I combine these precious materials to create a perfume. Depending on which program option your group chooses, each person will either learn how to make a bath salt, or an aromatic room spray, or a see a demonstration on how I make solid perfumes.
I’m thrilled to be working with Pat on Fl’Air Events! She is an incredible florist, an excellent teacher and a great friend!
One more thing… my Budapest travel log!
I just returned from a retreat/vacation to Budapest, where I indulged in an incredible spiritual and physical journey! Gary and I decided to go to Prague and Budapest on a whim – we departed out of New Jersey after seeing my mom and dad, who just built a new home. The home I grew up in, that my dad built, was in bad shape even before Hurricane Sandy. The new place is a testament to my dad’s determination and spunk! He’s shown me you are never too old to do something big time!
We landed in Prague completely inspired and stayed on the beautiful square where we met up with our friends. We played in fairy tale Prague for a few days before heading for Vienna and finally Budapest. In Budapest, we booked an AirBnB near the Great Synagogue and joined the party! Budapest is a big party. Young people are taking over the gorgeous buildings that were shot out and burned during World Wars I and II and they’re turning them into Ruin Bars. Art nouveau and music are everywhere and this city, which is still emerging from communism, is vibrant, alive and beautiful. I’d always wanted to see Budapest. My two grandfathers were from there and my sister and I had always wanted to visit together. Sadly, she passed away eight years ago, and we never had the opportunity. I carried her in my heart as I traveled, and relished the surprises of this gorgeous city – the new emerging from the old!
I’ll save the best for last: We have never seen anything like the baths in Budapest! The city has more thermal springs there than any other city in the world! There are huge public baths where people of all ages frolic together to their hearts’ content! My favorite was the Rudas Thermal Bath. It was built during the Ottoman Empire in 1550. We bathed under a huge dome that has bits of colored glass in it – the color-flecked light shines in rainbows as you bathe – it’s glorious. It felt mysterious and magical. That’s my kind of religion!
We walked all day, every day and ate the most delicious handcrafted desserts and pastries. Cafe Gerbeaud has been making deserts for royalty since 1858 and they take their work VERY seriously. They use the best ingredients and go way over the top, with gold leaf and fruit foams. Velvet & Sweet Pea’s has the same philosophy and uses the best natural materials and blends the richest, yummiest fantasies to indulge our senses and spirits! I am happy to be part of an ancient artisan tradition, and I honor it in others.
Come see me and I’ll show you how I do it!
Until then…
Peace, purrfume and kitty cats,
XOXO~ Laurie
Posted by LAURIE STERN on October 16, 2014 · Leave a Comment
Greetings, dear Purrfumery friends!
The crisp air and crackle under my feet can only mean one thing: Fall is finally here! The kitties and I spent the summer working on custom scents, and decided to spruce up a few things, too. Just in time for Halloween, we have a little something for your pillowcase…
Sale on Kittylicious (in its fabulous new packaging)!
I’ve had such a great response on all our roll-on products that I decided to offer our Kittylicious line in these cute, convenient bottles, too. I also gave Kittylicious a new look – the new labels, pouches and scent cards are dazzling and colorful and delightfully fun... perfect for this super-popular line that features sexy Mojito, sweetly warm Jasmine Orange Blossom, beguiling Black Cat and classic Rose Jasmine. Through October 31st, I’m offering Kittylicious at $36 per 4 ml roll-on bottle (regularly $55-65 for 5 ml), or all four gorgeous scents for $130. It’s my way of saying Happy Halloween, my dear Purrfumery friends, and Happy Fall! The prices will be going up a little on all of the Kittylicious scents in November.
Change is in the air… just in time for the holidays
Kittylicious isn’t the only line I’m changing – I’ve also been working on some new versions of your old favorites, like Fir~ever Young and Bed of Roses. I’m just planting the seed with you for now… look for new products and sales next month as we deck the halls and get ready for the winter holidays!
Purrfumery honey wins Best of the East Bay
The Purrfumery bees are dancing in their hives! We just heard that our honey won Best of the East Bay at the Biofuel Oasis Harvest Celebration on September 27th in Berkeley. I heard the competition was fierce, so… wow! Gary and I send a big thank you to Sienna for submitting a jar and to Harvest Celebration tasters, too. Our bees work very hard and we reap the rewards when we put honey in our tea, on our scones… and in our perfumes!
Visit the Purrfumery
Even as the weather turns cooler, the Perfumer’s Garden is a vibrant, inspiring hideaway. The roses are gorgeous and the hydrangeas are a sight to behold – I invite you to make an appointment and come see for yourself! We can have a cup of tea with some honey from our recent honey harvest – Gary and I are convinced that this year’s honey is the best ever – the flavor is very warm and sweet and floral. Very different from previous harvests!
And, if you’re considering a custom perfume for yourself or someone you love for the holidays, now is the perfect time to visit! You can sniff and sample and explore the mysteries of scent… it’s a marvelous journey that begins at the Purrfumery.
Hope to see you soon!
Peace, love, purrfume and kitty cats…
XOXO~Laurie
