Some perfumers build their own brands because they relish the creative freedom that comes with independence. But the vast majority of the world's perfumers—including some of the people who have created the most iconic perfumes in history—work for fragrance companies.
It's not unusual for lovers of perfume to be lovers of other art forms, and perfumers themselves often are influenced by the arts. But Anaïs Biguine took her love of literature to a new level when she created Jardins dÉcrivains, a line of fine perfumes, candles, and body products based entirely on the lives of her favorite authors and their characters.
When people in perfume talk about "rising stars," a name that comes up is Charna Ethier. Through her Providence Perfume Co., Charna has launched a library of natural scents that have won fans around the world and even FiFi nominations. (In the perfume industry, these might as well be the Academy Awards.)
Is there any month that inspires such mixed emotions as August? According to the calendar, it's summer—the glorious peak of summer. But according to the rhythms of life, the march toward autumn and stillness has already begun.