a scent story — botanical

Blake McKay is a beautiful and creative artist who does about a million creative things, beautifully. Everything he touches becomes more gorgeous, soulful and usually, edible. He is a gifted chef who has also been a restauranteur, a teacher, a farmer,community garden president and a food stylist.   His book "Bouffe style Blake" is beautiful, insightful and inspiring, and was probably my mom's favourite Christmas gift this year. Here he shares his scent story: "Walking the woods of the west coast this fall, I was comforted by a familiar scent that pervades the air, one that reminds me of moments spent on the islands throughout my life. A particular perfume generated by footfalls on fallen leaves and moss, wet earth,...

A friend of mine, Robin Bancroft-Wilson of AATMA crystals, and I were sitting around one day, discussing our lives and our passions - the way we do. I was sharing with her that one of my favourite parts of speaking with people who are trying and choosing scents, is that inevitably - a scent story comes out.  Some type of sweet memory associated with a particular note, a blend of something, a tugging at the heart, a weakness in the knees - comes tumbling out, almost against better judgement at times. Just a completely untethered telling of this story would unravel.  I told her how much I cherished that! Because it is so sweet,and so... real. This is what makes me...