By Gaynor Alder
“The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty it will remain with you all the days of your life.” – Frank Lloyd Wright
I must confess – I am biased when it comes to vintage glamour, especially to that pertaining of the 1920s and ‘30s. Not just for its timeless elegance, but for its unadulterated celebration of decadence.
It was a time when artists flocked to Paris for freedom of expression, when women cut their hair short and raised their hemlines in rebellion against their corseted Victorian mothers and when high society hosted wild soirees and masquerade balls.
Needless to say, I snapped up the invitation for the Onya team from Emma Leah (Director and Perfumer) and Rob Luxford (Designer), for a soiree at their perfumery Fleurage, last Wednesday evening.
As soon as we entered the salon, we were swept off our feet by our welcoming hosts; champagne, jazz and an über-stylish and modern space that has been lovingly filled with the sophistication of the art deco movement.
We were soon intoxicated by what Emma and Rob have created in this beautiful space. The first thing that strikes you about them, partners both in life and business, is their whole hearted dedication to perfume and a commitment to capturing the quality craftsmanship of the ‘20s – a time they consider to be the height of excellence in the industry.
They are as intriguing as their extensive perfume range, their “joie de vivre” is infectious and their knowledge unsurpassable. But what really stamps an impression on you is their integrity for the customer experience.
Not the kind you get in large department stores where young girls invade your space by waving wads of cardboard in your face sprayed with the latest celebrity fragrance, in a desperate bid to make their sales targets.
Fleurage is a perfumery like no other and the customer experience is real. It’s a consultative one on one approach that takes you on a beautiful and utterly enthralling journey to discover your personal scent.
Fleurage is the world’s largest independent perfumer of botanical perfumes. Emma believes that the most seductive scents come from nature, and she loves using traditional methods with this medium, because botanicals not only harmonise with your body and emit a fragrance that is individual to you, but they evoke a “whole body response” that synthetics cannot.
Their guiding philosophy is that “behind every Fleurage enterprise is the creation of a beautiful life. We specialise in sensory delight. The most precious essentials for wearing, bath and boudoir. To awaken, intensify and amplify personal allure.”
Their perfumes are packaged in art deco inspired bottles that will make you swoon with old Hollywood glamour. There are currently 45 scents on display in the salon and the collection is continually growing. Their range also extends to spritzers, silk creams, velvet lotions, skin milks, body slicks, bath liqueurs, bath bubblies, soaps and candles.
These scents are not for wallflowers, but for the devotees of parfum. They are strong and this is the way Emma believes perfume should be. Emma is also strong on scent etiquette and educated us on the correct places to wear scent, and ladies, it’s not on your wrists or neck.
Emma approaches scent in the same way she does the rest of her life – with romance. “Perfume should be the first thing we put on when we start our day, not the last,” she says. Emma also thinks that women should still dress up at 5pm just to have a martini. But I couldn’t do that I hear you say, that would be silly and what would the occasion be? To which Emma’s response would be, “well, make an occasion.” After all, this fabulous woman wears red lipstick and heels everyday – definitely a woman after my own heart.
Their perfume range is divided into Au Naturale (Floria, Spice Trade & Elements), Mystere (Sprites), Ravishing (Pink and Red) and Specialte (Signature & Bohemian Chic). From playful and blossoming, to confident and dangerous, there is a scent to suit everyone’s individuality.
They also offer a bespoke service, so that you can create a scent all of your own. Emma is currently creating a scent for a wedding – one for the bride, one for the groom and one that commemorates them as a couple.
Rob in particular is passionate about the notion of scent being linked to nostalgia, but more than this, he is captivated by the idea of using scents to create new memories and mark the memorable moments of our unfolding lives.
Fleurage also offers perfume lessons every Saturday, where participants can benefit from Emma’s extensive studies, and methods previously unavailable outside of Grasse in France are revealed.
The kind of experience Fleurage offers can so often be pretentious, but Rob and Emma have created an environment that is not only stylish, but also relaxed and inviting. You will immediately feel at ease, as though you are at a glamorous dinner party with a table of your closest friends.
Fleurage is the ideal place to find a unique, individual and heartfelt gift for Christmas, or to spoil yourself with something truly special.
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Thursday By appointment only
Fridays Open To The Public 12 – 8pm
Saturdays Perfumery Workshops
Sundays Open To The Public 12 – 3pm
Website
You can also explore the endless world of Fleurage on their website, and purchase directly with delivery to anywhere in the world.
