- Shelley Waddington Perfumer:
Company:EnVoyage Perfumes
Web:envoyageperfumes.com
Shelley Waddington is a remarkable figure in the world of perfumery. She is the founder of En Voyage Perfumes, an indie perfume house hailing from Northern California.
Shelley's creative journey is deeply influenced by her diverse background. Growing up in the charming village of Carmel - by - the - sea, an artist colony and one of the most beautiful spots in the US, she was surrounded by inspiration. She is a woman of many talents, with skills in drawing, crafting, and playing various musical instruments like the clarinet, flute, saxophones, piano, accordion, and guitar. She even taught music and music theory for a decade. Additionally, her interest in ethnobotany, the study of the relationship between people and the plants they use over centuries, has found its way into her perfume creations.
In 2001, while staying in Mougins, Shelley visited Grasse and on an impulse, expressed her desire to study perfume at Galimard. This encounter was a significant milestone as it helped her solidify her understanding of perfume architecture, families, basic principles, and introduced her to alcohol, synthetics, and fixation, laying a strong foundation for her career.
Shelley's perfume collections are nothing short of extraordinary. The Carmel - by - the - sea collection, for instance, was her first venture, where she used four fragrances to vividly describe her native town. The Odyssey collection, on the other hand, consists of three fragrances inspired by travels and different cultures. Her scents often push the boundaries, with some being based on unique concepts like Fibonacci's golden spiral or esoteric ideas related to magic, astrology, and the Kabbalah.
She has also created perfumes for the Zoologist Parfumes brand. Her Hummingbird perfume, for example, is a delightful and lively composition that captures the essence of the tiny bird flitting from flower to flower, sipping nectar. It features beautiful floral notes like 丁香，含羞草，金银花，and 牡丹，along with a sweet honey undertone. Another notable creation is Civet, which was a finalist in the Art and Olfaction Awards. Despite the animalic inspiration, it takes an unexpected olfactory direction.
Shelley Waddington's work has been widely recognized and lauded globally. Her award - winning collections, crafted in her studio, are a testament to her deep knowledge of perfume chemistry and composition. By drawing inspiration from art, literature, and the world around her, she continues to create perfumed stories that resonate with fragrance enthusiasts worldwide.
