Anyone design custom fragrances?

[NatureLady]

I sort of stumbled into doing this. I designed a fragrance for an author several months ago. She wanted her own fragrance line. She is very happy with it, and it's beginning to sell to her fans. I get quite a few hits through links on her sites and have picked up a few new customers that way. And she has introduced me to other authors.

I am now working on 2 other custom fragrances for other authors. One of them is planning to expand to a full bath n Body line. I am not charging for design services, I'm using it as a networking tool. I own the fragrance, so only I can sell it. If any of them take off, I figure I will reap the benefits.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has any experience with kind of situation. This a new area for me and I'm just feeling my way along.

[SevenSins]

I have a ton of respect for anyone that can successfully design a good fragrance.  I took part in a project with a group of women from another community where we sent around a box of single note oils, and we each tried our hand at blending one fragrance.  It sounds easy, and it was a ton of fun, but boy was it hard! 

There's a certain artistry as well as skill in the craft of fragrance blending and my hat's off to anyone who has the courage to try and the ability to succeed!  I certainly would need a TON of practice before I could even think about letting anyone sniff my creations. 

[Guppy]

SevenSins, you got the Chumley Box?  Wow, that was an amazingly generous thing Beth did to send all those precious oils out.  I'm constantly amazed by those friendly touches etailers give.  When I buy from shops in person I get a conversation and meet new people, buying online gets to have different bonuses.  Come to think of it, frimps are better than anything I've ever gotten in person. 

Nature Lady, I'll add my admiration of what you and other perfumers do.  It must be hard enough to create scents that are something just right for your tastes.  To make scents with wider appeal or please a specific person must be quite a chore, but it sounds like a labor of love for you.  Thank you for what you do!

[GypsyRoseRed]

SevenSins, you got the Chumley Box?  Wow, that was an amazingly generous thing Beth did to send all those precious oils out.  I'm constantly amazed by those friendly touches etailers give. 

Hi! I'm pretty sure Beth didn't send out the Chumley box, and had nothing to do with it at all. I was one of the people who recieved it, and some of the written materials inside made it pretty clear that it's a completely independent project. I'm in complete agreement with SevenSins, though - that box was impressive, and creating even a simple fragrance blend was really tough.

[boadecia]

I've done custom work a couple times and found it to be quite a challenge...  A really fun challenge, mind you!

But I've moved away from it because it is time-intensive, and I developed a bit of performance anxiety about realizing other people's aromatic preferences accurately.  Customers were pleased with what I produced for them, but I was always wondering if I'd gotten it 'right'... 

When I am able to quit the day job I'll go back to this, definitely. 

[Guppy]

Hi! I'm pretty sure Beth didn't send out the Chumley box, and had nothing to do with it at all. I was one of the people who recieved it, and some of the written materials inside made it pretty clear that it's a completely independent project. I'm in complete agreement with SevenSins, though - that box was impressive, and creating even a simple fragrance blend was really tough.

Oh!  That is even cooler.  Thank you for the clarification, GypsyRoseRed.  I had been mixing Chumley up with his employer.   

[chazzsmom99]

I don't, but I know an awesome lady named Alice that does!!!!  Beautiful scents, over 500 now, to scent your soap, shampoo, perfume oils.... Wonderful!

Peggi

[SoapyHollow]

I do a lot of scent design, it's one of my favorite parts of my job.  I'd rather sit around sniffing beakers than going to meetings any day!   

[rickimc]

I am looking for a custom fragrance that is 1/2 rain and 1/2 waterlily in a roll-on bottle.  This is my mom's absolute favorite scent, but the place she used to get it from went out of business in the early 90s and she is now out of what she had.  I would like to be able to find some for her for Christmas.  Does anyone make do this type of blending?

[chazzsmom99]

I am looking for a custom fragrance that is 1/2 rain and 1/2 waterlily in a roll-on bottle.  This is my mom's absolute favorite scent, but the place she used to get it from went out of business in the early 90s and she is now out of what she had.  I would like to be able to find some for her for Christmas.  Does anyone make do this type of blending?

2 ladies come to mind-Alice at The Body Perfumery, and Ilona at CocoaPink.  Give them a try!!

 

[rickimc]

I looked at The Body Perfumery, but she doesn't have one of the fragrances I need.  I'll try CocoaPink - haven't looked at their site yet.

[chazzsmom99]

Alot of the times, if you email them, they'll come up with something.  Just a suggestion!

 

[MistyMoss]

My mother used to and still love and uses Jean Nate, so I thought I would wow her with one of my own fragrances...  I was impressed myself it was really pretty good, but she said it smelled like car air freshener. I think she wanted a boy. P.S. check out that show on HBO called "In Treatment." If you like dialogue and plays, or if you ever went the shrink route, it is the bomb.