July 2010 Newsletter

Greetings My Dear Purrfumery Friends!

Summer is here and we are enjoying every minute of it – every corner of the Perfumer's Garden is bursting with color and fragrance! The bees are thick on the borage, and the lemon balm, chocolate mint and yarrow are going wild. At night, we soak in the hot tub and take in the intoxicating fragrance of daturas, jasmine and honeysuckle. Our scented geraniums are full and aromatic, and the antique roses, lavender and love in a mist are in full bloom. My Purrfumery friends experienced the magic of the garden at my Kitty Tea Party and benefit in June. What an amazing day it was! More than 50 cat lovers, cat owners, and cat women came together to lounge, enjoy wonderful homemade treats AND support Friends of Roman Cats. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We raised over $1,000 for this incredible organization and also collected donations for Charlie, a sweet black kitty in desperate need of dental surgery. The Tea Party was a success and I loved visiting with all my Purrfumery friends. We'll do it again soon!

Unlock the Mystery of Scent

Years ago, when my love of natural scents from flowers and plants led me to the world of perfume, I was surprised to learn how different scents affected my moods. I spent the next six years experimenting with amazing ingredients from all over the world and studying ancient books that revealed the mysteries of scent. My research delivered me back in time to what I call "the golden age of perfume," the era before synthetic compounds were used in perfumery. I'll be sharing some of what I've discovered about this magical, bygone era and the power of scent at Olfactive, a series of interactive scent-based experiences at the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden. Please join me from 1 to 2 p.m. on August 8, 2010 for this dynamic mixture of stories and scents! During my talk, titled Honoring Antiquity: The Art of Natural Perfumery , I will also give the audience a rare opportunity to experience some of my aromatic treasures from all over the globe. Thank you Gina Zupsich for organizing this educational and tantalizing series of talks! Follow this link to learn more about this fun event. Admission to the talk is free with a general admission ticket to the garden. To learn more about the Olfactive series, visit http://olfactive.wordpress.com/ Hope to see you there!

Organic Indulgence

Speaking of sumptuous scents, I am featuring certified organic blood orange hydrosols in 1- and 2-ounce bottles for the summer! These juicy and uplifting hydrosols instantly change your mood with a quick, skin-hydrating burst of aromatherapeutic scent! From now through the end of August, I will include a 1-ounce bottle with all orders over $50. Don't wait! I have a limited amount of this beautiful, rare hydrosol! Check it out on our Hyrdrosols page!

Looking for Love?

If so, look no further. I am searching for homes for three of the sweetest kitties ever! I would keep them all, but I believe in sharing the wealth and the fun! Please put the word out, my dear Purrfumery friends! Please call me at 510-528-8040 or email me at laurie@purrfumery.com if you would like to meet the kitties and if you have any questions! Thank you for helping me to find permanent homes for my kitty friends! They all need loving homes as quickly as possible – their foster parents adore them but their arrangements are only temporary. Have a lovely summer! Until then, peace, love, purrfume, and kitty cats, ~XOXO, Laurie

May 2010 Newsletter

Greetings My Dear Purrfumery Friends!

High Tea in the Perfumer's Garden

Just a little reminder for all my Purrfumery friends… Our Kitty Tea Party Benefit for Friends of Roman Cats (FORC) is just around the corner! Please join us for this very special event from 1 to 4 on June 5th in the Perfumer's Garden. Come sit with us among the roses in bloom and enjoy high tea and vegan and vegetarian delights. You'll also be supporting a wonderful group that helps kitties live longer, healthier lives! Our sumptuous spread will include vegan blood orange and almond scones, Russian perfumer tea cookies with patchouli, lemon rose dew drop cookies, and our famous (and fabulous) jasmine and orange blossom chocolate truffles. Did we mention there will be goody bags? Yes! Each guest will receive a Purrfumery goody bag filled with delectable scented treats.

Your $25 party fee benefits FORC and will allow them to continue their work with homeless and ill kitties here and across the globe. Please send checks payable to FORC to the Purrfumery at 727 Sea View Drive, El Cerrito, CA 94530. We look forward to your RSVP by May 25, as space in the Perfumer's Garden is limited. The Purrfumery doors will be open that day from 1 to 5. Guests are welcome to saunter over from the garden and take a sneak peek into my magic world of wonders! All of our perfumes, frostings, bath salts and other treats will be available for you to sample and sniff to your heart's delight. I will donate 20% of every sale made during the tea party to FORC – they are true lifesavers! And, my dear Purrfumery friends, if you can't make the event but would like to support this wonderful group, please feel free to send checks payable to FORC to my address. I will include them with the proceeds. To learn more about FORC and their mission, visit http://friendsofromancats.org. P.S. Velvet & Sweet Pea would like to send a heartfelt thank you to Lisa Camasi for scribing the Kitty Tea Party Benefit anthem to the tune of "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" We love the Beatles!

Kristin Bender, of "All News No Blues" interviews Laurie about the FORC Benefit!

All News No Blues is a great blog with wonderful stories covering good news and fun things to do in the East Bay. There are stories about local people who go the extra mile, and businesses that are committed to giving back to the community. Check it out!

What Do May Flowers Bring?

With the April rains behind us, we spend our days enjoying the fragrant May flowers blooming in our gardens. May is an amazing month for perfumers and perfumer lovers alike. Roxana, of Roxana Illuminated Perfumes, an incredible perfumer, artist and blogger, celebrates the beauty and surprise of May with her special May Flowers blog event. She invited Velvet & Sweet Pea's Purrfumery to contribute a little something about our attachment to May flowers, and of course, we were delighted. Check out our post on May 24th and see a drawing I did 25 years ago of my very first flower stand, Bed of Roses, created from a vintage canopy bed! Oh, the memories! Until then, peace, love, purrfume, and kitty cats, ~XOXO, Laurie

April 2010 Newsletter

Greetings My Dear Purrfumery Friends!

We’re back after a very busy March! There is so much to tell you! We spent some of last month planning our upcoming Kitty Tea Party Benefit for Friends of Roman Cats (FORC). Based in San Francisco, this amazing group helps homeless kitties in the United States and abroad, and provides emergency funds for surgeries and other veterinary care. FORC even leads tours of gardens and community cat colonies in Venice, Florence and Rome. I have supported FORC for years, and turned to them recently to help me provide love and care to a family of kitties after their owner, my dear Purrfumery friend Iris, passed away in March. I am so grateful for their help and concern. My friend Lisa Camasi and I have been planning to do a benefit for them for some time. Finally, we’re ready! Here are the delicious details:

Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery invites you to a Kitty Tea Party Benefit for Friends of Roman Cats from 1 to 4 on June 5th in the Perfumer’s Garden. Come sit with us among the roses in bloom and enjoy high tea and vegan and vegetarian delights! Our sumptuous spread will include vegan blood orange and almond scones, Russian perfumer tea cookies with patchouli, lemon rose dew drop cookies, and our famous (and fabulous) jasmine and orange blossom chocolate truffles. Did we mention there will be goody bags? Yes! Each guest will receive a Purrfumery goody bag filled with delectable scented treats. Tickets are $25 (tax deductible) the proceeds of which will allow Friends of Roman Cats to continue their work in promoting humane care and spay/neuter of homeless cats throughout Italy as well as here in the Bay Area. Please send checks payable to FORC to the Purrfumery at 727 Sea View Drive, El Cerrito, CA 94530. We look forward to your RSVP by May 25, as space in limited. The Purrfumery doors will be open that day from 1 to 5. Guests are welcome to saunter over from the garden and take a sneak peek into my magic world of wonders! All of our perfumes, frostings, bath salts and other treats will be available for you to sample and sniff to your heart’s delight. I will donate 20% of every sale made during the tea party to FORC – they are true lifesavers! And, my dear Purrfumery friends, if you can’t make the event but would like to support this wonderful group, please feel free to send checks payable to FORC to my address. I will include them with the proceeds. To learn more about FORC and their mission, visit FORC. P.S. Velvet & Sweet Pea would like to send a heartfelt thank you to Lisa Camasi for scribing the Kitty Tea Party Benefit anthem to the tune of “For the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” We love the Beatles!

Perfume Blogs, Mother’s Day, and More…

Two of our favorite perfume blogs, Perfume-Smellin' Things and Scent Hive, have featured our products recently! Thank you PerfumeSmellinThings and Scent Hive! On Perfume-Smellin' Things, Beth’s review of our perfumes (and the effect they had on her beloved) and her sweet ode to San Francisco left me speechless with delight! To read the review, go to Perfume-Smellin' Things. Scent Hive featured our spring gift sets and even had a Rose Jasmine Perfume and Passionflower gift set Giveaway. Fun! We also love Scent Hive’s suggestion that perfume lovers think of our gift sets when shopping for something special for Mom. Yes, Mother’s Day is May 9 – it’s just around the corner. If you’re looking for something yummy and fun for a wonderful Mom but you’re not sure what she’ll like, give me a call and make an appointment to visit the Purrfumery. Whether Mom prefers woods or florals, perfumes, frostings, hydrosols or bath salts, we have a scent to stir and enchant each and every soul. And, as a special treat for those women we love, we will include a free frosting with the purchase of any perfume or spring gift set through the month of May. Love you, Mom!

Also in May, Ms. Wilkins’ Heritage Rose Show

If you love roses, mark your calendar for the Heritage Rose Show, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 16th at the El Cerrito Community Center. My dear friend Miriam Wilkins, an avid antique rose lover who passed away in November 2009 at the age of 91, founded this event many years ago. Miriam was an amazing woman – her own garden featured more than 1,000 varieties of Old Roses during her lifetime! Before she passed away, Miriam asked me to create a custom perfume for her, saying she wanted to smell her beloved roses in winter. Miriam sat right beside me when I created her custom perfume. This was a first for me – I had never created a custom perfume in the presence of the wearer. But Miriam was different. I wanted her to experience the scent and beauty of roses from Bulgaria to Morocco. And, I wanted this delicate scent I was creating to smell just as striking and wild as a rose cut from her garden. She knew her roses intimately and I wanted her to tell me when her new scent was finished. A few weeks after Miriam passed away I opened my front door and to my surprise and delight, found a Bulgarian Kazanlik Damask rose plant on my doorstep. It was a gift from Miriam, ordered before she passed away and delivered to my door by her daughter-in-law. This is the famous Bulgarian perfumers rose that I procure and use in my Purrfumery creations! I can barely wait for its first bloom. Thank you deeply, Miriam.

An Open Heart

Miriam was also a generous and compassionate animal lover, and inspired those around her to open their hearts to animals. I find myself thinking of her gentle spirit as I continue to search for homes for my dear friend Iris’s kitties. I have been so moved by the generosity of people who, during my search, have expressed care and concern for these animals. I would like to thank my friends Vicki and Lisa for their tremendous effort and for getting the word out that these kitties need new homes. Please email me if you or someone you know is looking for a beautiful and amazing kitty, we need to find homes ASAP. Thank you also to my holistic veterinarian, Anne Reed, who pushed these kitties’ reset buttons and put the spring in their step! All the kitties here at the Purrfumery love Dr. Reed. She is absolutely committed to finding the best solution for your animals. Velvet & Sweet Pea highly recommend her, and they are the pickiest clients! Best of all, she makes house calls (I call her the "country pet doctor"). She also has beautiful pet clinic in Point Richmond.

Time to Reflect

Yes, March was a busy month, but I made time to reflect on what I love and what is important to me. I am truly blessed to have a business that embodies all that I love: perfume, the natural world, sensuality, and kitties! Thank you, my dear Purrfumery friends, for being a part of it all! I hope to see you at the Kitty Tea Party Benefit for FORC in June, or sooner! Until then, peace, love, purrfume, and kitty cats, ~XOXO, Laurie

February 2010 Newsletter

Hello dear Purrfumery friends!

Those January storms are behind us, but the rain they dropped on the Perfumer’s Garden will bring all kinds of new growth. The months leading up to spring are very exciting for me – I’m just waiting to welcome all the amazing and fragrant new plants and flowers, some of which will find their way into my Purrfumery creations! February is an especially fun month because while the plants and flowers are stirring under the soil, love and mystery is stirring in our souls! Valentine’s Day is on the way, my dear Purrfumery friends, and I know the perfect way to educate you and your beloved on the sensual, surprising, striking nature of scent…

My Kittylicious Valentine

It’s so fun to get all Kittylicious on Valentine’s Day! I like to ease into this very special day with a hot bath (of course!), then smooth on a rich and fragrant Whipped Body Frosting. A dab of Kittylicious Eau de Parfum and I’m ready for romance! This year, I have created irresistible Valentine’s Day gift sets for my Purrfumery friends that include a bath salt, a body frosting, and a Kittylicious perfume. Some of the gift sets also feature my luscious Calliope bath oil and delicately scented hydrosols, too! You can find these tempting winter specials on the Seasonal Offerings page through the month of February. At first I thought I would have them for Valentine’s Day only, but then I decided what the heck! Let’s carry the spirit of love and kittyliciousness through the entire month of February! I’ll even include our Tuberose Gardenia Whipped Frosting with your perfume order of Honey, Songbird, Jewelry of Heaven, Jasmine Dawn & Dusk, Gardenia, and Narcissus Poeticus during February.

Mojito Magic

I included our Mojito Cologne in one of the Valentine’s Day gift sets for two very good reasons. First, it smells amazing on men and women. And second, I received a very exiting email from one of our Purrfumery friends who visited the Kitty Tea Party in December. At the tea party, I suggested to her that Mojito, a scent that combines the essences of dark rum, spearmint, and Mexican lime, would be a perfect scent to wear on a date. Well, she took my advice, wore it and found love! I am delighted to hear the news of her new relationship, which blossomed shortly after she dabbed on this sexy and invigorating scent from our new Kittylicious line. Magic!

Discover Your Perfect Scent

Don’t forget, my dear Purrfumery friends… If you’re not sure what perfume to choose for that special Valentine’s Day soiree, call me and make an appointment to visit the Purrfumery, where you can sniff and sample to your heart’s delight! Until then, bundle up and enjoy these blustery days of winter. Peace, love, purrfume, and kitty cats, ~XOXO, Laurie

January 2010 Newsletter

Hello dear Purrfumery friends!

The kitties and I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year! Hope it’s off to a great start for everyone! Here at the Purrfumery, 2009 ended on a fabulous note. As you can see from the pictures, the Kitty Tea Party and Sale in December was lots of fun, with Purrfumery friends visiting from Concord, Discovery Bay, Oakland, even New York! I loved meeting my Purrfumery friends in person after only knowing them through email – that was the high point for me! Jewelry artist Amy Honigman was also at the party, and displayed several tables of her amazing jewelry. Everyone enjoyed my homemade kitty cupcakes, jasmine and neroli chocolate truffles, and of course, the very surprising patchouli Russian tea cookies. We sipped tea and lounged in the Perfumer’s Garden, sniffed and sampled perfumes and other yummy scents… it was an event to remember! Thank you to everyone who visited the garden! Toward the end of the year we also heard our body frostings had been voted best of the year by two perfume blogs! Our supple Kashmir Rose and Tuberose Gardenia Whipped Body Frostings tied for best of the year on Scent Hive. And, on Smelly Blog, judges gave a shout out to our Tuberose and Gardenia Whipped Body Frosting, naming it one of the Best of the Best of 2009! Thank you Smelly Blog and Scent Hive!

Mojito Magic

Before I forget, I must pass along some exciting news emailed to me by a Purrfumery friend who visited the Kitty Tea Party. I suggested to her that Mojito, a scent for men and women that combines the essences of dark rum, spearmint, and Mexican lime, would be a perfect scent to wear on a date. Well, she took my advice, wore it and found love! I am delighted to hear the news of her new relationship, which blossomed shortly after she dabbed on this sexy and invigorating scent from our new Kittylicious line. Magic!

The Enchanted Bath

One of my favorite things in life is to take a nice, hot bath in the morning. I treasure this quiet time, and spend it relaxing and gathering my thoughts, preparing for the day. Sometimes I take my winter breakfast of fresh dates, tangerines, and the most incredible tea – Mix and Mingle – by Naja Tea, into the steamy tub with me. I also bring another special treat – soaps made by Justine Crane of The Scented Djinn. I LOVE her perfumes, and just tearing open her beautifully packaged soaps makes me feel so special and pampered. Try the licorice soap! It is sublime! Anyway, back to the bath… Velvet and Sweet Pea and Monkey lounge around the tub as I transport myself to another time – a bygone era when people took time to relax in the heat and luxury of a hot bath. Soon, I am mixing and mingling in another millennium… I want to share my love of the bath with you, my dear Purrfumery friends. Through the month of January, I will include a large bottle of bath salts with any purchase over $50. If you have a preference, let me know at the time of your order or I will surprise you with a selection based on what you order!

My Kittylicious Valentine

Isn’t it fun to get all Kittylicious on Valentine’s Day? I like to ease into this very special day with a hot bath (of course!), then smooth on a rich and fragrant Whipped Body Frosting. A dab of Kittylicious Eau de Parfum and I’m ready for romance! This year, I have created irresistible Valentine’s Day gift sets for my Purrfumery friends that include a bath salt, a body frosting, and a limited edition Kittylicious eau de parfum in a French crystal stopper bottle. We’re getting them ready for you now, so look for them on the Seasonal Offerings page in the next week or so. You can find these tempting winter specials there throughout the month of February. At first I thought I would have them for Valentine’s Day only, but then I decided what the heck! Let’s carry the spirit of love and kittyliciousness through the entire month of February! And, don’t forget, my dear Purrfumery friends… If you’re not sure what perfume to choose for that special Valentine’s Day soiree, call me and make an appointment to visit the Purrfumery, where you can sniff and sample to your heart’s delight! Until then, bundle up and enjoy these blustery days of winter. Peace, love, purrfume, and kitty cats, ~XOXO, Laurie

November 2009 Newsletter

Hello dear Purrfumery friends!

I have been very busy getting the Perfumer’s Garden ready for our Kitty Tea Party Extravaganza! The cats and I have been crossing our fingers and paws that you have saved the date... It’s almost here!

Please join us as we visit among tables of perfume, cologne, bath salts, hydrosols and body frostings, and sip tea and nibble on homemade kitty cupcakes and treats! All of our pampering treats will be available for you to sample, including our limited editions and our new Kittylicious Eau de Parfum line. This yummy new line includes frisky Black Cat, invigorating Mojito, and sumptuous Jasmine Orange Blossom and Rose Jasmine. As a holiday gift for someone you love, a teenager’s first bottle of luxury perfume, or a “just because” treat for yourself, our Kittylicious line is a beautiful and affordable indulgence. We unveiled this new line just a few weeks ago and have already received rave reviews from Purrfumery friends everywhere. Plus, we’ll have organic catnip hydrosols and high quality catnip buds to delight your very special kitties.

Imagine! You can relax, sniff and sample to your heart’s content, meet other natural perfume lovers and get started on your holiday shopping! If you’d like to give the gift of relaxation and fragrance, look no further. The Purrfumery will offer our popular line of bath salts at half price, and have other items at very special prices, too. There will also be a special guest jeweler, our friend Amy Honigman, who will be sharing her exquisite line of bracelets, earrings, and necklaces! We look forward to seeing you in the garden, dear Purrfumery friends! Please RSVP to laurie@purrfumery.com or call us at 510-528-8040. We want to make sure we have enough kitty cupcakes and treats for everyone to enjoy! If you haven’t visited us before, the Purrfumery is located at: 727 Sea View Dr., El Cerrito, Ca. 94530. Until then, peace, love, purrfume and kitty cats!

September 2009 Newsletter

Hello dear Purrfumery friends!

I’m here to tell you that everything you’ve heard is true. Black cats really do have magic powers. Why just last week I was deep in meditative bliss, mixing yummy, edible essences of cocoa, aniseed myrtle and blood orange when a silky black kitty whispered to me from beyond. She said… Laurie darling, Halloween is near, and it seems so very clear! You must mix a scent that’s delicious – and I’m not being superstitious when I say you’ll name it “Black Cat” so your Purrfumery friends can chat, about the fun and fancy that will float their way when they dab it on before they play. And just like that, she was gone! Now, just in time for All Hallows Eve, I offer you Black Cat perfume! Beguiling little Black Cat will cast her spell on you with a bewitching blend of mouth-watering cocoa, sensuous ylang ylang, juicy blood orange, and a trick-or-treat hint of sweet, surprising aniseed myrtle. Like fun, sexy, sophisticated candy, this scent stays fascinating all the way to an alluring dry-down of Tahitian vanilla infused organic grape alcohols. It’s my little treat for you at only $35.00. Wear it on that special night and cast your spell! Black Cat makes an enchanting gift, bottled in a cute little roll-top bottle and nestled into a satin pouch adorned with a velvet pansy. Learn more about this enchanting scent on our seasonal offerings page. To order, you can also email me at laurie@purrfumery.com or call me at 510-528-8040. Read Trish at Scenthive's fabulous new review of Black Cat! Kitties need Halloween trick-or-treats, too, so all Black Cat orders will arrive with Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Catnip Delight Treasure Bag, filled with tiny samplings of organic catnip bud and organic catnip hydrosol!

Kittylicious Eau de Parfum – Affordable Indulgences

Velvet and Sweet Pea are thrilled to introduce our new line of Kittylicious Eau de Parfum! While traditionally Eau de Parfum denotes a less concentrated version of a full-strength perfume, each of these new scents is unique and created specifically to shine as an Eau de Parfum. Sexy, yummy, and playful, Kittylicious scents smell delicious and last an extravagantly long time on your skin. As a “just because” treat for yourself, a teenager’s first bottle of luxury perfume, or a mood-booster to toss in your purse before a night of dancing, our Eau de Parfum is a beautiful and affordable indulgence. I unveiled a few of these new scents, including that frisky little Black Cat, at the Rockridge Out and About festival last week and received rave reviews from shoppers and Purrfumery friends who visited our table. Even in this difficult economy I want each of us to have the chance to indulge a little, to feel pampered, and to smell amazing! Mojito – Who doesn’t adore a mojito and its minty, fizzy kick? When I read a newly released study showing that mint is one of the most powerful aphrodisiac scents, I knew I had to capture the nightlife swagger of a mojito in a form you can wear right on your skin! I combined essences of dark rum, spearmint, and Mexican lime to make a sexy, invigorating scent that is equally mouth-watering on men and women. This tipsy blend is set in a base of Tahitian vanilla infused organic jojoba oil. Mojito makes a sparkling gift, bottled in a convenient roll-top bottle and tucked into a velvet pouch garnished with a velvet mint leaf.

Mojito Cologne 6 ml $55.00

Jasmine Orange Blossom – Wrap yourself in a perfect blend of sweetness and sensuality. If you love my Honey perfume, you will relish this sumptuous blend of French orange blossom and narcotic night-blooming jasmine. Jasmine Orange Blossom makes a lush gift, bottled in a cute little roll-top bottle and tucked into a velvet pouch adorned with a velvet blossom.

Jasmine Orange Blossom Eau de Parfum 6ml $65.00

Rose Jasmine – Timeless and serene, this classic perfume blooms on the skin with gorgeous rose and sultry jasmine to create a scent that is calming and uplifting at the same time. A scent for the heart and spirit, Rose Jasmine is the embodiment of inner beauty. Rose Jasmine makes a lovely gift, bottled in a cute little roll-top bottle and tucked into a velvet pouch adorned with a velvet blossom.

Rose Jasmine Eau de Parfum 6ml $65.00

New! Organic Victorian Hydrosol – An instant pick-me-up that fits perfectly in your car, purse or secret drawer, our limited edition Victorian hydrosol was created using a special co-distillation process. Distillers use a method invented in 10th century Arabia to create many of our favorite hydrosols, distilling a single flower or herb to its very essence. This very special co-distillation blends organic lavender, lemon verbena, and rose geranium together, in a process that mingles their aromatic and chemical components. Our Victorian hydrosol is a cool, soothing treat you will love… while supplies last.

Victorian Hydrosol 2 oz $15.00

Tea and Gifts in the Perfumer’s Garden

December 5 is just around the corner! Mark your calendars for this day of fun! We will lounge in the Perfumer’s Garden among tables of perfume, cologne, bath salts, hydrosols and body frostings, and sip tea and nibble on homemade kitty tea cakes and treats. Imagine! You can relax and meet other natural perfume lovers and get started on your holiday shopping. This will be all kinds of fun so I hope to see you here. I will be in touch again next month but for now, please save the date for a visit to the Perfumer’s Garden.

This is Your Moment!

I love to hear from all my Purrfumery friends, and welcome your requests for private and group appointments. Whether you’re looking for something special or just want to learn more about the Purrfumery, please let me know so we can find a day for you to visit.

Back to Black Cats

Perhaps you’ve heard that black cats are the most frequently euthanized kitties at shelters – some people still associate them with bad luck. This goes back to the Greek myth of Galenthias, who was turned into a black cat and became a priestess at the temple of Hecate, also known as the Mother of Witchcraft. During the 12th and 13th centuries, rumors spread about witches in Europe who had the power to turn themselves into black cats. Later, during the 17th century, witches’ kitties were put into baskets and burned alongside their owners. Awful! Thankfully, there are cultures that believe black cats bring good luck, riches and prosperity. But the harmful myths endure, leading more people to abandon black cats at animal shelters. Please help us reverse this horrible history! Take a moment to honor the magic, mystique and beauty of the black cat. Have a very Happy Halloween!

August 2009 Newsletter

Hello dear Purrfumery friends!

The “Name My New Scent” contest was a huge success and the response was beyond my wildest dreams! After receiving hundreds of naming ideas for my new, limited edition scent, I have finally selected one that captures the essence of nature and youth. The name is… Fir-ever Young! I have been working on this scent for 10 years, and all I needed was a name to finish it. And now, thanks to Kyoko Jackson, a scent lover in Berkeley, it’s finished! Thank you, Purrfumery friends, for sending me your wonderful, creative ideas. I couldn’t have named my new scent without you! People came up with the most wonderful, fun, delightful names. I loved “Fir-fume,” and found so much humor in it! I also loved “Un-fir-gettable” and “Fir-bidden.” Scent lovers sent personal stories – one even sent me the story of a romantic escapade with her suggested name, “Love in the Mist.” Another sent a poem with her suggested name ‘Woodland’s Heart.’ It was very connecting for me, and very touching. Other great name suggestions included “Emerald Dragon” and “Dragonfly Fog.” The range of names from romantic to humorous means this scent changed you from the inside! You experienced it in a very intimate, personal way, and that is always my goal. Thank you for taking the time to experience my new scent.

Fir-ever Young is a gorgeous fragrance with sweet, raspberry jam juiciness and notes of conifer, silver fir, blue spruce, and juniper. I also added notes of verbena, black currant, and a hint of rose for softness. The name Fir-ever Young really spoke to me because this scent was inspired by fir balsam absolute and my backpacking trips to the hot springs in Big Sur during my art school days. The name also reminded me of my favorite Bob Dylan song “Forever Young,” which was such an anthem for me when I was growing up in the ‘60s. Fir-ever Young is a limited edition – I couldn’t possibly recreate it the same way again. I added bits and pieces of this and that for the last 10 years. There is nearly every kind of tree in it, so to speak, and these elements will never be the same again. Here’s why: Natural essences have their own terroir. A French word used in winemaking to describe the influences land has on the taste of grapes, in natural perfumery terroir implies that natural elements have a “somewhereness” that you can detect in their scent. For example, the land conditions that existed 10 years ago when I began crafting Fir-ever Young will likely never occur again. Those land conditions influenced the scent as it exists today. And, I have aged this scent, so its natural essences have really softened and mellowed with time. I’m offering 5ml bottles of Fir-ever Young for $45 to my newsletter subscribers. It’s not up on my web site yet, but will be in the very near future. To order, please email me at laurie@purrfumery.com or call me at 510-528-8040.

The Purrfumery In the News

Joan Morris, Home and Garden editor of the Bay Area Newspaper Group, visited the Purrfumery in June and wrote the most amazing profile about us. The story ran in the June 13 edition of the group’s family of newspapers. Give it a read and consider following Joan Morris’ work in the future. She is a wonderful writer who really captures the essence of what she’s covering. Thank you, Joan, for the beautiful story you wrote about my work here at the Purrfumery. Thanks also to photographer Dean Coppola for his artful pictures of the garden and the Purrfumery. Get the story here. Another Joan – Joan Morais – also visited the Purrfumery recently and wrote about us in her blog. Joan is an aromatherapist with a passion for the natural world. She teaches fabulous classes about making your own cosmetics without nasty preservatives. The results, according to her web site, are products “that are friendly to the skin, people, animals and the earth.” Check out her web site at www.joanmorais.com for course information and overviews. While you’re online, check out the Scent Hive review of our Tuberose and Gardenia Face and Body Frostings. We made the Top 10 Summer Pastimes and Fragrances list!

Upcoming events

We’ll be bringing the Purrfumery to Rockridge from 11 to 6 on Sunday, Sept. 27 for the Out and About Rockridge Street Festival. Come say hi! I will let you know more in next month’s newsletter, but for now, visit the festival web site at http://www.rockridgeoutandabout.com/

I can't wait to meet our new Purrfumery friends! XOXO ~Monkey

Tea and Gifts in the Perfumer’s Garden

I just love to bring my Purrfumery friends together in the garden, and that’s exactly what I will do on December 5. Mark your calendars because this is going to be a very special day. We will lounge in the Perfumer’s Garden among tables of perfume, cologne, bath salts, hydrosols and body frostings, and sip tea and nibble on homemade kitty tea cakes and treats. Imagine! You can relax and meet other natural perfume lovers and get started on your holiday shopping! This will be all kinds of fun so I hope to see you here. I will be in touch in a month or so with more details about the event. Until then, enjoy the last days of summer!

June 2009 Newsletter

Whipped Frostings

Hello, dear Purrfumery friends! I tried to wait it out. I thought to myself, "When I add them to my web site next month, that’s when I’ll tell them.” But I just can’t wait. I have to tell you about what’s new at Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery. First, there’s our new line of Face & Body Whipped Frostings. And, I have a new scent coming out next month but I need you, my dear Purrfumery friends, to help me come up with a name. I’m stumped – that’s why I’ll be sending out samples and holding a Name My New Scent contest this month. More on that later. Let’s start with the frostings, shall we?

Velvet & Sweet Pea’s new Face & Body Whipped Frostings have been getting plenty of delightful attention at LA’s Blunda Aromatics and on perfume blogs like Scent Hive. Each batch is a labor of love, made without water and literally whipped into the consistency of creamy soft, whipped frosting. The best way to deeply hydrate your skin is to spray on a hydrosol first and then lock in the moisture with some frosting!

Our Face & Body Frostings will put your skin in shape with organic shea butter, virgin oil de coco crème, organic oils of marula, avocado, red raspberry seed, rose hip seed, sesame, safflower, vitamin E, and essential oils. We even use organic jojoba oil that we infuse with Tahitian vanilla beans for six months. These yummy frostings nourish dry and dehydrated skin, and are rich in antioxidants and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They’ll be on my web site soon, but you can order now by emailing laurie@purrfumery.com. Or, give me a call at the perfumery at 510-528-8040. The new frostings are also available at Blunda Aromatics, Los Angeles. Shipping is available only to cooler climates (west coast) during the summer months! Now for the frosting flavors, and a little perfume history…

Tuberose Gardenia Face & Body Whipped Frosting

I put “Extra Fancy and Rare” on the label because this frosting contains the most amazing organic gardenia and tuberose enfleurage butters. These butters are extremely rare and incredible, the result of an organic pilot project in Columbia that revives an ancient perfumery technique. Enfleurage is very costly, and is rarely used today. The method used to create enfleurage goes back thousands of years to ancient Egypt. Enfleurage reached its peak in 1860 and made the reputation of Grass, the perfumery capital of France. To create enfleurage, perfumers place tuberose and gardenia petals on organic palm oil for several days to absorb the fragrance. They repeat this several times with fresh flower heads until the oil is rich with fragrance and essential oils. It’s a labor-intensive process, but well worth the effort. You’ll see! Tuberose Gardenia Face & Body Whipped Frosting~ 1 ounce jar ~$25.00

Kashmir Rose Face & Body Whipped Frosting

We make this frosting with our marvelous blend of organic butters and oils and add Himalayan Rose otto and a pinch of Moroccan Rose absolute. Rose soothes the skin and the soul, and works as an anti-inflammatory and cell rejuvenator. Its subtle scent is also a stress reducer and an aphrodisiac! We created this come-hither scent with the neck and décolleté in mind, but users love it for their hands, face… anywhere! Kashmir Rose Face & Body Whipped Frosting~ 1 ounce jar ~$20.00

Orange Blossom Face & Body Whipped Frosting

We love orange blossom for its light, playful fragrance that reminds us of spring days spent in the garden. We make this frosting with a supple blend of butters and essential oils and add Italian Neroli flowers and organic tangerine and orange essence oils. Blending orange blossom flowers with essence oils creates a gorgeous and uplifting moisturizer that heals and regenerates mature skin. Try in on your neck and décolleté – or from head to toe – for a lasting and moisturizing pick-me-up. Orange Blossom Face & Body Whipped Frosting~ 1 ounce jar ~$20.00

Name My New Scent contest!

The first 50 Purrfumery friends to email me receive a free sample! (Don’t forget to send me your mailing address!) When I discovered fir absolute 10 years ago, I fell in love with its rich woodsy scent and decided to use it as a base for a perfume for men and women. Over the years, I have added to it here and there, and the result is a gorgeous fragrance with sweet, raspberry jam juiciness and notes of conifer, silver fir, blue spruce, and juniper. I also added notes of verbena, black current, and a hint of rose for softness. Friends have suggested names, like “Tree of Life,” “You Turn Me On,” and “Purrrr”. I have brainstormed and wordsmithed new names, too, but haven’t settled on anything. Here’s some background gathered from my soul-searching. Perhaps it will spark your fragrance-naming imagination: When I close my eyes and inhale this scent, I sail away to my art school days when I arrived in California for the first time and looked up into the towering canopies and forests of Big Sur. I was overwhelmed by the power and serenity of the forests and trees, and felt I was just a tiny being in the presence of towering giants. These trees inspired me, just as they inspired John Muir when he climbed to the top of a 100-foot tall Douglas Spruce during a windstorm back in the 1890s. Just like Muir, I believed these trees were for us to experience, not just look at or drive by. When I inhale this new scent, I remember the deep, rich aroma of the trees on those long hikes to the hot springs in Big Sur my first summer away from home. I fell in love with the man who would be my husband that summer, in those lush, endless forests. I think of John Muir, and how he wrote about mountain winds sweeping from tree to tree, affecting each one in a different way. I want the name of this new cologne to convey the magic, strength and beauty of the forest, and how powerful and sensual a walk through the forest can be. I’ll send samples of this new scent to the first 75 people who email me a request to participate in the contest. Dab a little on your wrist and ponder this fragrance that means so much to me. Thanks for your help! I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Have a lovely, scentual summer! Read Scent Hive’s review of our Narcissus Poeticus perfume! This is a wonderful new blog primarily dedicated to natural and organic pampering products. Peace, love, & kitty cats, XOXO ~Laurie

Velvet and Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery Receives Leaping Bunny Certification

Leaping Bunny certified!

After many months of hard work, the Purrfumery officially received its Leaping Bunny certification in 2008, which certifies not only that we do no animal testing (of course!) but also that none of the ingredients we use have been tested on animals by the companies we buy them from. This was a long process because it involved contacting and receiving documentation from each and every supplier we deal with or may deal with in the future – no small job as we source ingredients from all over the world! This certification is important to me because I believe strongly in putting my personal values into my business, and I want my company to completely reflect my cruelty-free ethics and values. What I learned while undergoing this process was fascinating, revealing, and upsetting – animal testing in the perfume and cosmetics industry is far more widespread than most anyone realizes. I hope to write more about the certification experience at a later point, and to share some of the illuminating things I learned about the certification process and the status of animal testing in the industry. Learn more about the use of animal musks in perfumes, a cruel practice that affects even the natural perfume industry: Animal Musks: The Dark Side of Perfume

The Art of Composing Fragrance, Naturally

A studio in the El Cerrito hills beckons those with a nose for custom-made perfumes derived from natural ingredients. By Yuko Fukami | November 7, 2010 [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="272"] Perfume artist Laurie Stern at her Velvet | Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery Credit Yuko Fukami[/caption] Back in the days of Marie Antoinette, perfumes were made with essential oils and other plant and animal fragrance materials, but since Coco unveiled Chanel No. 5 featuring a novel synthetic fragrance material called aldehyde, commercial perfumes have been made mostly with synthetic fragrance chemicals untested for health effects. However, a small and emerging group of perfumers make perfumes the old-fashioned way, using only natural and plant-based fragrance materials such as tinctures, essential oils, and absolutes. One of its members is Laurie Stern of El Cerrito, whose products carry the Leaping Bunny certification, which assures that they are free of animal testing. When I contacted Stern in September to request an interview, she was in the midst of creating a perfume for a New York City event organized by Sniffapalooza, a community for perfume enthusiasts. Stern was to speak at the event and also debut a new perfume. I  had to wait. I finally got an appointment,. While driving along a winding street in the El Cerrito hills, I wondered what to expect at her studio, also known as the Purrfumery. I'd read that she makes her own tinctures from flowers in her fragrant and beautiful garden and that she also keeps bees. The moment I walked onto the front patio, my time-space continuum seemed to shift a little. I knocked at a door beneath a Velvet and Sweet Peas sign. Vivacious and warm, Stern greeted me with smiles. The Purrfumery is a wonderland out of Jane Austen novels, a room full of crystals and flowers, lace, ribbons, jewels, and fabulous smells, everything a girl could want. Her world is lusciously sensual and totally Laurie Stern. Velvet and Sweet Pea are the names of her cats that were rescued by Stern some years ago. The two cats adorn the gold-embossed labels of her products wearing tiaras that Stern made for them. Now she has six rescued cats and works to rescue animals in her spare time. I spotted a large antique secretary whose shelves are filled with baskets upon baskets of essential oils and concentrated fragrant liquids extracted from plants called absolutes, all categorized by types of scent. This is where Stern sits and composes. The desktop is cluttered with bottles of oils old and new. In another corner of the room is a table dedicated to antique oil bottles. I could hardly contain my excitement. For a novice natural perfumer like me, her studio is a dream come true. Each of Velvet and Sweet Pea's perfumes comes in Stern's delicately decorated handmade pouches with a scented Victorian card that Stern designed. Using crystal bottles made by Brosse, a French company that makes perfume bottles for big perfume houses, Stern makes each of her oeuvre into a beautiful collector's object. Stern pointed to pouches decorated with velvet pansies hanging on an armoire, saying, "I made all of those." A nature girl from a young age, Stern has sewn all of her life. After graduating from CCA, she made one-of-a-kind handmade lingerie for stores like Bendel's and I. Magnin using antique lace from Europe. After that, she had a successful wedding flower business. Her perfume business brings her past work and passions together. I asked her about the perfume she worked on for ten years. "It was one of those things," Stern said, "where you keep adding things to the blend, and it never seems right until one day, ten years later." A woman in Berkeley came up with the name for the perfume, Fir~ever Young in a contest created by Stern to name the perfume. I tried a dab of the green juice on my arm. The first thing I smelled was conifers, then I noticed the jammy sweetness of fir absolute among some fresh floral scents and black currant. Next, I asked about Song Bird, Stern's favorite perfume. Combining orange flower, boronia, nutmeg, the perfume gives her confidence and makes her feel she can take on any challenge, Stern said. She got the idea for the perfume from scent strips that were rejected by a custom perfume client. As I dabbed Song Bird on my wrist, the scent of muted orange flowers rose from my skin, then later came fruity boronia. Boronia absolute made from a type of Tasmanian heather is very, very rare and costly. Then she opened a bottle of her newest perfume, Bed of Roses. "You're the first one to try it," she said. My heart skipped. A light rose scent with a vanilla-like sweetness opened the perfume. Then it progressed to a greener, sharper rose, more layered and complicated than smelling a single rose. I later also noticed the fruitiness of boronia. The perfume contains nine rose oils from around the world, plus tobacco, cognac, orange flower, boronia, and carnation. Commercial perfumes are made of synthetic chemicals for several reasons. Quality of natural oils can vary from producer to producer, from harvest to harvest, and their supply can also vary from year to year. Synthetics don't. They're uniform and much easier to work with. The supply is predictable, too. Natural oils also cost a lot more than synthetics. One-and-a-half milliliters (there's five milliliters in a teaspoon) of jasmine absolute can cost $50. Rose otto costs at least twice as much. A teaspoonful of boronia absolute will set you back about $300, if you can find it at all. Naturally, perfumes made exclusively of essential oils and absolutes end up being, well, not cheap. The Kittylicious Eau de Parfum line is a more affordable line of Stern's creations. They are light and delicious. Black Cat reminded me of Halloween candy — sweet, chocolaty, with a hint of licorice-like anise. Mojito smelled just like mojitos! It smells of fresh limes and mint, and infinitely wearable. The line also includes classic floral scents, too. Terrain was made for her husband who is a landscape designer. It is a fresh scent that a woman could easily wear. Geranium gives the blend a nice herbal rosiness; frankincense gives it depth. Velvet and Sweet Peas perfumes are sold online at http://www.purrfumery.com and by appointment at her Purrfumery. Stern welcomes all customers, even the ones that come by to make one small purchase. You can also buy sample sets online, but if you're interested, I recommend a visit to get the full Purrfumery experience. Velvet & Sweet Pea's Purrfumery, 727 Sea View Drive, El Cerrito; Mon-Fri, noon-5pm. Phone 510-528-8040; fax 510-526-6829; email: laurie@purrfumery.com

Scents & Sensibility

By Michelle Dissel (Reprinted from the 20th Annual Secret Gardens of the East Bay Garden Tour Presented by Park Day School) In a garden that blends one's love of life with what one loves to do in life, landscape designer Gary Lazar and perfumer, Laurie Stern have come close to creating perfection. Their garden is a luscious, sensual botanical experience brimming with nature's most fragrant fruits, flowers, seeds, leaves and woods. Soon to be plucked and distilled for tinctures, they are now blended in beds of equal alchemy and imagination, surrounded by masterfully crafted outdoor living spaces. Lemon, lime, blood orange and mandarin trees line the driveway providing the citrus bliss to formulas lovingly transcribed in Laurie's alchemy book. The north-side pathway, laid with red brick salvaged from the home's original fireplace and lined with shade-loving hydrangeas, rhododendrons, magnolia, azalea and dahlia, simmers with the scents of honeysuckle, hardenbergia, Douglas Iris, wisteria, sweetpea, and viburnum. The flowery notes will eventually linger in Laura's elixirs, but for now they perfume the glorious view. This is a garden of top notes, heart notes and soul notes. Known for his award-winning masonry work, Gary's built-in BBQ area with its purple-flecked flagstone and periwinkle tile countertop, its built-in stone bench seating and dramatic sheet fountain, is he heart note of the property. This congenial area connects the main house, guest cottage, sauna and garden in a mingling of open areas and private coves. While a Himalayan birch casts dappled shade over the area, the morning glory, Madagascar jasmine, and Lady Banks' roses permeate with pungent spells. Since fragrance and aroma were the main essence of the planting list, the garden is awash with opulently scented plants. Antique roses, lavenders, Dutch iris, gardenia, lilacs, geraniums, violets, clematis, daphne, and digitalis bloom resplendent with a myriad of floral personalities. Fruit notes abound from the pineapple guava, giant Lisbon lemon, kiwi, apricot, and wild plum. And to create earthy fougeres and chypre 'parfums' you'll find a stock of mosses, sages, herbs, wild gingers and ferns. Anchoring these aromatic notes, Gary has laid magical areas of rest and repose: a eucalyptus-scented sauna secreted away on the central patio, a wintergreen-infused breakfast terrace under the birch. The lilac-laced Mexican stone fountain provides the musical water notes to the most luxurious refuge of all: Laurie's open-air outdoor bath. Curtained with 'Cecile Brunner' roses and furnished with a divan and a dangling chandelier, one is perfectly submerged to watch the clouds of butterflies flutter by the buddleia. Indeed the soul note of the garden. For more information of the Secret Gardens of the East Bay www.secretgardentour.org For more information on Lazar Landscape Design and Construction, Inc. www.lazarlandscape.com