Scent of the Oscars Posted on 21 Feb 10:46 , 0 comments

Hollywood’s most celebrated night is full of glamour, prestige and suspense. From the red carpet royalty to the history the awards ceremony celebrates, the Oscars are the event of the year for Hollywood.

Nomaterra Perfume Oils Now Available at Merz Apothecary in Chicago Posted on 18 Dec 16:25 , 0 comments

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merz apothecary, chicago, nomaterra, perfume, perfume oils, fragrance

Nomaterra Now Available at Merz Apothecary in Chicago![/caption] As of this month, Nomaterra is available at Merz Apothecary in Chicago at the following address: 4716 North Lincoln Avenue Chicago, IL 60625 773.989.0900 Founded in 1875, Merz Apothecary has a LONG-standing history within its community. First, as a pharmacy where locals could get both holistic and modern remedies, and then later, after being purchased by pharmacist and current owner, Abdul Qaiyum, expanded into a quality source of all-encompassing holistic products for health, wellness, and beauty. What we love most about Merz is their continued dedication to curating the most quality, holistic products that can be found in the world that enhance people's health and lifestyles inside and out. I first met Anthony Qaiyum, Abdul's son, in August 2013 during a trade show, and then Abdul in January of this year at the NY NOW trade show at the Javits, I was impressed by their knowledge on natural medicine and beauty, but what resonated most with me was that they are a truly family-run business, just like us. All members of their family are involved in the business in some way or another, and they perpetuate that familial vibe and warmth to their customers and the community they serve. We're really excited to be a part of the Merz family, and we encourage those of you who live in the Chicago area to visit one of their two stores, as well as their extensive apothecary website, http://www.smallflower.com/, where you can buy Nomaterra products as well. [caption id="attachment_2863" align="aligncenter" width="1500"]

Merz Apothecary, chicago, perfume, perfume oils, fragrance

Nomaterra joins Merz Apothecary at their 4716 North Lincoln Avenue location in Chicago.[/caption]

DC at Night Posted on 23 Oct 14:40 , 0 comments

A recent trip to DC for the Nomaterra Pop-Up Shop in Capitol Hill lead to a spontaneous late night drive. We visiting some of the Capitol's most grand monuments, which resulted in these "dc in the dark" photos (taken with an iphone nonetheless). In the middle sits our DC Cherry Blossom unisex fragrance, that is ideal for night—notes like musk, vanilla, black pepper, tobacco, and citrus make this an incredibly sexy scent for a night out on the Capitol town. The travel spray comes with a replacement unit, and is priced at $86.00, available to buy on www.nomaterra.com

Ingredient Spotlight: Nanu Gardenia Posted on 4 Oct 16:07 , 0 comments

We ALREADY have winter vacation on our minds, and what better place to escape than Hawaii!? My trip to Hawaii in 1995 inspired our creation of the Nomaterra Oahu Gardenia perfume oil. I still remember very vividly being able to smell the pungently sweet and balsamic aroma of the exotic nanu gardenia, found in gardens and random locations on the island of Oahu. I also received a leis upon arriving at the airport in Oahu, which was made of mostly plumeria (also found in our Oahu fragrance). In Hawaii, the gardenia was often used for corsages or leis, particularly traditionally during weddings. It has a romantic meaning, “You are lovely,” and is also a symbol for secret love. The nanu was prized by ancient Hawaiians for its fruit, which was used to produce fade-resistant dyes for kapa (a traditional cloth made of pounded tree bark). The natural, organic gardenia found in Nomaterra’s Oahu fragrance is extracted through the ancient process of enfleurage, using only organic palm oil and organic alcohol derived from organic sugar cane. This fragile flower exudes a sweet and succulent smell that encapsulates the energy, spirit, and beauty of Hawaii. The rare species of gardenia, Gardenia Manii, also known as “Nanu” in Hawaii, is native to the island of Oahu and can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

Brand New Products from Nomaterra Posted on 25 Sep 14:55 , 0 comments

We've been hard at work all summer on new city-inspired scents, traveling to these great American cities, and finding out what makes them unique. We've done our research too. Did you know that Gardenia Manii, is a type of gardenia that can only be found on the island of Oahu? Gardenia is a succulently rich, jasmine and vanilla-like scent, and it is found as the key ingredient in one of our newest fragrances, Oahu Gardenia. Plumeria, an exotic Hawaiian tropical flower used to create leis can also be found in the Oahu fragrance. In addition, we are excited to also debut Boston Tobacco Leaf, Savannah Magnolia, and Malibu Honeysuckle (our favorite to wear right now in this beautiful autumn weather). Each of these new scents come in 10ml perfume oil roll-ons. What do you think these great cities should smell like? You can try out all our scents in the Nomaterra adventure set. Perhaps they will remind you of your hometown, a place you've been to, or a place you dream of going to. Happy Adventuring!

Fragrance Quotation Thursday Posted on 20 Jun 11:28 , 0 comments

"Ellena is proud to be an illusionist. “Picasso said, ‘Art is a lie that tells the truth,’ ” he told me. “That’s perfume for me. I lie. I create an illusion that is actually stronger than reality. Sketch a tree: it’s completely false, yet everyone understands it.”" -Jean-Claude Ellena from "Annals of Innovation: The Scent of the Nile," The New Yorker, March 2005 Be sure to follow us on Twitter @Nomaterra and on Facebook!

The Art of Perfume Posted on 10 Jun 11:47 , 0 comments

Last week we stumbled upon a fantastic article about perfume making from a 2005 issue of The New Yorker. "Annals of Innovation: The Scent of the Nile" details the creation of an Hermès perfume, Un Jardin sur le Nil (translation: A Garden on the Nile), and provides a fascinating insight into the incredibly complicated world which is perfumery. From debates about how to create a signature across a line of perfumes to listings of the countless iterations which Hermès perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena created and tested before settling on the final formula for the "juice," the article details exactly how difficult it is to do what perfumers do. Finally, the overall piece serves as a reflection on the different ways in which perfume is incorporated into major fashion houses, like Hermès. Hermès and Chanel both have in-house perfumers, allowing them to create a body of work that is cohesive and completely in line with their brands concepts. Many other larger houses and big name perfumes (such as celebrity perfumes) outsource their perfume factions, turning to external companies who employ master perfumers to create their scents. While this second tactic has been known to turn out some very successful fragrances, there is no cohesion, no authenticity or truth behind the perfume which links it to the ultimate message of the brand. By using the model found in niche perfumery, Hermès was able to create a body of perfumes which are distinctly Hermès and which represent all of the elegance, glamour, and class for which their brand is known. Read the whole article here.