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2nd Artisan Fragrance Salon in San Francisco, March 24th 2013

So this is what I've been doing last Sunday... 2nd Annual San Francisco Artisan Fragrance Salon.  Spent the entire day at Fort Mason's Festival Pavillion with Miss T who helped me (well, mostly she just put up with all the boring perfume talk; and waited patiently for quieter moments when we can play Slamwich together...). It takes a lot of energy for me to settle back from trips, especially with it still being spring break and all. Besides, there is a lot to process, absorb, take in after such trips. They are inspiring yet exhausting... And I've met some wonderfully creative and inspiring perfumers who I want to try a few more times, write about and share with you. There was definitely a lot of exciting, high-quality stuff coming out and worth trying! 

As in previous salons, it was exciting to meet some customers face to face for the first time - and reconnect with those who were in the historical 1st Artisan Fragrance Salon in San Francisco last July. And then there were bloggers and writers, such as the darling Tama Blough from Ca Fleure Bon, who also did a talk about how to write a perfume review; and Virginia Blanco from the bi-lingual blog Te de Violetas. Some customers travelled from the far southern parts of California, and others from as far as North Dakota (!!!) just to smell our creations and shop for perfumes directly from their makers. I hope this will be a destination - if not a pilgrimage - for perfumistas and scent afficinado to travel to once a year. There's a lot that's happening in the indie perfume scene on the West Coast and you can't find in the big trade shows on the West Coast - or Sniffapalooza, for that matter.


And, most importantly - the wonderful fellow perfumers who were also showing their creations that day, some of which were even students of mine, such as Ragna Rostad-Ruffner (Divine Life Perfumes).
Lovely Ragna of Divine Perfumes

Divine Perfumes
Divine Life Perfumes' Super Natural Cologne (above) and the rose collection - Trinity Rose, Rosita and Dharma Rose (below).
Divine Perfumes

Mick Moi who launched his line (he only did a one afternoon workshop with me last June in San Francisco - and now debuted his line at the salon. He was right next to me, and his table was buzzing with friends and paparazzi, so I never was able to take a close shot of him and his colourful perfumes, but here is a funny one: 
MikMoi

Jane Cate - A Wing and a Prayer
And across from me were Jane Cate from A Wing & A Prayer (based in San Francisco)
Sanae Intoxicants 
And also across from me - Sanae (Sanae Intoxicants) from Los Angeles.
Olympic Orchids
Olympic Orchids' Ellen Covey and her husband - they came all the way from Seattle!
I was excited to discover a new osmanthus perfume in her collection - Sonnet XVII.

SmellBent
Brent Lenoisio (SmellBent) from Los Angeles with his helper and his usual tongue-in-your-cheek expression.
Imaginary Authors
Josh Meyer from Imaginary Authors) (hailing from the cutting-edge city of Portland) hard at work selling his novels! 

Artemisia Natural Perfume
Lisa Fong (Artemisia Natural Perfume) setting up her table with flowers and smiles.

Up a couple of stairs on the gallery, were the rest of the perfumers, most of which (except forRoxana Vila and PK Perfumes) I was able to take photos of:

YOSH Olfactory Sense
Yosh was there, back from long travels in Europe, and was using her innovative aura reading and portraits to help customers in the scent-selection process. So much fun!

COGNOSCENTI team
Dannielle and her team at the COGNOSCENTI table - you'll be happy to learn that she now has travel size spray atomizers of all three fragrances. I picked up a No. 19 Warm Carrot and now can enjoy it in more lavishly, along with the beautiful Warm Carrot body butter than Dannielle gave me at the tea party.

COGNOSCENTI
Sherri Sebastian from Sebastian Signs is a line I'm just beginning to explore - so there will be more write ups on that later after I process this trip.

Sebastian Signs team
Purusa Petalum natural perfume gel by Sebastian Signs. I think I found a new osmanthus love!
Purusa Petalum by Sebastian Signs


Maggie Mahboubian of Parfums Lalun
Maggie Mahboubian (Parfums Lalun), who came all the way from Los Angeles (I met her in September at the salon in Santa Monica and her line is exceptional).

Mario T Gomez at EnVoyage PerfumeryMario T Gomez manning Shelley Waddington's table (EnVoyage Perfumes). Notice the wild display of real orchids and plants!
EnVoyage Perfumery

Laurie Stern of Velvet & Sweetpea's PurrfumeryLaurie Stern's whimsical display (elvet & Sweet Pea's Purrfumery), full of details and treasures.

Bruno Fazzolari
And in contrast - Bruno Fazzolari's minimalist booth, which debuted at this salon. I promise I will write more about his scents later - he gave me his sample kit, so it's actually feasible to promise such a thing. 

Jennifer of Smells & BellsNext to Bruno - the dreamy Jennifer Craine from Smells & Bells. These photos don't do justice to how adorable her packaging looks in person. Unfortunately, I hadn't had much of a chance to smell her creations during the event.
Smells & Bells
Jennifer also makes soaps and body products - and they are all natural and beautifully packaged. 
Smells & Bells 
And last but not least: the glowing and beautiful Ineke  and her abecadary collection and Floral Curiousities collection she created for Anthropologie.
Ineke

Little girl in a bit convention centre...
Little girl in a big and not yet full Fort Mason's Festival Pavillion, just before the show.
Ayala Moriel Parfums team
And here's my team again - me in the middle, with Tamya and Dave, who kept me company (and made sure I eat something).

And as if the travel, the work and all the other efforts weren't worth it on their own - I just got the word out that I won no less than 5 awards at the salon: 2 golds and 3 silvers!
The golds were awarded for "Best Ingredient Combinations" (along with
Bruno Fazzolari,  Roxana Illuminated Perfume, Artemisia Natural Perfume and Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes); and for Top Artisan Perfumer (alongside INEKE, Velvet & Sweet Pea's Purrfumery, Roxana Illuminated Perfume and COGNOSCENTI).
The silvers were given to me for Best in Salon (next to Bruno Fazzolari), Best Aroma (next to Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes, Imaginary Authors, MIKMOI, Velvet & Sweet Pea's Purrfumery and Parfums Lalun); and Top All-around Product Line (again with Bruno Fazzolari). 

Fab Fair Today!

Today is my Fab Fair appearance - I will be there with all my perfumes, plus the new large size sugar scrubs, and a limited supply of the new scented chocolate bars - one of each.

For every purchase of a full bottle (roll on or flacon) of the chocolate trio - Espionage, Guilt or Roses et Chocolat, you will receive a complementary chocolate bar.
Likewise, if you buy a bottle of Charisma, you will receive a bag of the Charisma truffles that I freshly rolled last night.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Upcoming Holiday Markets & Events

Mark Your Calendars:

Saturday & Sunday, November 28 & 29, 12:00-6:00pm

Portobello West Fashion + Art Market

The Rocky Mountaineer Station (Cottrel @ Terminal Ave.)

Saturday & Sunday Nov. 28-29 12:00-6:00pm

Monday, November 30th

Under the Tree Holiday Market @ BCIT

November 30, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
SE2, Great Hall, Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby
Info: UConnect Resource Centre, 604-451-7087

Tuesday, December 1st, 5:30-8:30pm

Candlemaking Workshop with Nikki Sherritt

Join our guest instructor Nikki Sheritt, an artisan candle maker of Seattle-based Gabriel's Aunt, for an afternoon of candle-making. Tuesday, Dec. 1st, 5:30-8:30pm

Tuesday, December 8th, 6:00-8:00pm

Chocolate Truffles Workshop

Learn how to make scented chocolate truffles with fine chocolate base and precious floral essences. Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5:30-8:30pm


Saturday & Sunday, December 12 & 13, 12:00-6:00pm

Portobello West Holiday Market

The Rocky Mountaineer Station (Cottrel @ Terminal Ave.)

Saturday & Sunday Dec. 12 & 13 12:00-6:00pm

Thursday, December 17, 6:30pm-11:00pm

THE PURPLE DRESS LAUNCH PARTY

Join us to light the 7th candle of Hanukkah and revealing The Purple Dress perfume.

When:
December 17th 2009
6:30-11:00pm; revealing the scent at 7:30

Where:
#314-1230 Haro Street, Buzz #295,Vancouver, BC

*Guests are encouraged to wear *something* purple!

* RSVP: Email: ayala@ayalamoriel.com Phone: (778) 863-0806 or on Facebook

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, December 18th-20th

The Beaumont Studios Christmas Sale

Last Stop to Shop Before The Holidays - 3 day designer & artist sale at the Beaumont Studios.

Friday, December 18th 7:00pm-12:00 midnight

Saturday & Sunday, December 19-20 11:00am-7:00pm

The Beaumont
316 West 5th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1J5
604-733-3783

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