- Anne Nelson Sanford Perfumer:
Anne Nelson Sanford is a remarkable figure in the world of perfumery. Born in Chicago in 1973, she grew up in Miami, where the lush, sub - tropical environment and its intense fragrances ignited her lifelong love for nature, which would later deeply influence her work in perfumery.
Her passion for perfume was sparked in the early 1980s. The bold and intense scents of that era, such as Dior Poison, Giorgio Beverly Hills, and especially Paloma Picasso (her first perfume), left a profound mark on her. Paloma Picasso, with its complex aldehyde composition and a blend of woody and masculine notes, was a turning point. At 11, when she discovered a sample of it among her mother's beauty products, she was immediately captivated by its dark, mysterious, and androgynous qualities. This experience set her on a journey to seek out scents that were more unique, edgy, and defied traditional gender boundaries, and it ultimately planted the seed that led her to a career in perfumery.
Sanford is a self - trained perfumer. In 2001, before moving to New York, she opened an apothecary in Florida that sold only natural and organic skincare and body care products. During this time, her interest in essential oils and natural materials grew. She was constantly on the lookout for natural fragrances to stock, but finding the market limited, she began experimenting with creating her own scents. Her goal was to develop something sophisticated, modern, and a bit "out there." Many of her fragrances are deliberately androgynous, aiming to break boundaries and offer an unexpected and imaginative scent experience for those who appreciate originality, authenticity, nature, luxury, and art.
In 2012, she officially launched her brand Lurk. Lurk has since become a notable presence in the perfume market, offering a range of unique fragrances. The brand uses only pure essential oils, resins, absolutes, and CO2 extracts. These raw materials are carefully vetted for purity, quality, and authenticity, and are sourced from sustainable farms. Where possible, they are certified organic, and Sanford ensures that no oils in low supply or harvested unethically are used. For the base of her perfume oils, she uses USDA - certified organic jojoba grown on a sustainable farm in Arizona, and for eau de toilettes, a 200 - proof USDA organic cane alcohol that is triple - distilled for purity and certified by the US Pharmacopeia (USP). She avoids using denatured alcohol, adulterated oils, fillers, chemicals, chemical fixatives, preservatives, or GMO products.
Sanford's creative inspiration often starts with a single, special oil. She then builds a scent journey or structure around it, particularly drawn to rare, unique, and challenging oils to blend. The process of seeing how different essences interact and blend is what excites her, with all its unexpected twists and turns.
In addition to her work as a perfumer, Sanford has also been involved in branding, marketing, and interior design. Her design inspiration typically stems from a single color, texture, or vibe, around which she constructs her creations. Both the processes of design and perfumery involve layering, a concept she loves.
Anne Nelson Sanford and her brand Lurk have made a significant impact in the world of natural and artisanal perfumery, challenging the status quo and offering consumers high - quality, sustainable, and truly unique fragrance experiences.
