Alkemia is about finding joy and delight in the small things in life. Our science combines decades of study in the practice of herbalism, ethnobotanical history, folklore, and alchemical perfumery. Our passion is creating phthalate and paraben free perfumes that morph and shift with your chemistry to create a sensual alchemy of scent and skin that is special to you. The magic? Our blending schedules harmonize with natural cycles to infuse our perfumes with the rhythms of sky, earth, sun, and moon.



How did we start?

I started blending my own perfumes after I started getting migraines from some of my favorite scents. At first they were just for me, but then friends started asking, and their friends started asking. The perfume inspirations just kept flowing, and thanks to a wonderful network of perfumistas, forumites, and bloggers (plus a handful of celebs who 'outed' themselves) , our little Alkemia community kept growing!



What inspires me?

I am enthralled by intensely atmospheric images (often from art or literature), by olfactory memories, and by creating olfactory 'portraits' with scent. For instance, Prairie 66 came from an old secondary highway in the American Southwest in the greyness of a predawn morning - the pavement was cool and moist and everything was exquisitely still - just the slowly cooling engine of my car, the chaparral bushes, the pavement, the red earth, and the sky slowly bursting into flame. Moments like that, you touch something mysteriously divine. Some times I stumble across (or am given) intriguing old time recipes - everything from Victorian era pharmacy compounding records to archaeological articles describing perfumes and unguents from ancient Egypt. How can I resist trying to remake them?



Do we blend at certain times of the year and lunar cycles?

According to folklore, certain times and certain ingredients bring extra beneficial influences like empowerment, joy, wisdom, and/or protection. I incorporate these into my blending process. Goodness knows, who doesn't need a little extra joy or wisdom in their life?



Are Alkemia perfumes all natural?

Not all natural essences are safe for the skin, are ethical, or are processed cleanly so we balance the natural with safe (paraben, phthlalate free) synthetics. I have to be picky about our ingredients because I am chemically sensitive and can only use elements that don't trigger me. It's important to note that natural does not always mean safe or sustainable. In 2006-07, a study of 120 citrus oils produced in Italy found a variety of chemical residues, organophosphorus, organochlorine pesticides, phosphorated plasticizers, and chloroparaffins.



What types of ingredients do you use?

In addition to traditional perfumer's notes, we use a variety of unusual perfumery ingredients and techniques. We are constantly experimenting and we source our ingredients from all over the world and from some of the same laboratories that the very best high-end perfumers use. When we use local botanicals, I prefer to harvest these myself as part of maintaining a special relationship between plants, the land, and myself as a caretaker of these.



Who wears Alkemia Perfumes?

Anyone who can't relate to the mass conformity that large commercial perfumers seem to think we should have. Being human is about being wonderfully, unabashedly different - gutsy, fierce, strong, seductive, compelling, quirky, brainy, gorgeous, and inspiring a slightly numinous awe no matter if we're wearing drywall dust or fine French silk. We have customers in 52 different countries, and yes, we do have some very recognizable names in our client database (some are under contract to promote mainstream perfumes and others would rather it not be known that they wear our little $18 a bottle perfumes because it seems, well, a little less glam to their fans than say, wearing something that goes for $300 a bottle). The very best advertising is word of mouth and we love it when people spread the word about us.



Is this a full-time job?

Alkemia is my aventure amoureuse (love affair) on the side, but she's starting to want more commitment in the relationship. At times, I must ask your patience with being slow to return a convo. <3