Here in Saint Louis, the word “confluence” is used for many reasons. Of course, the easiest connection is the meeting of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, which was the reason why Pierre Laclede Liguest and Madame Therese Chouteau chose it as the location for their trading hamlet. But it goes even beyond that. Additionally, due to its origins as a trading hamlet, many nationalities and backgrounds had to come together to trade, work and merge their cultures to work together. Our city flag represents this, with both rivers represented, along with the colors of the French and Spanish flags, to...

So this is hard to write. Really hard. And I write for a living. But in this case, that’s part of the problem.   I started in 2015 making shaving products while realizing that I had a natural affinity for creating the scents that would go in them. As I grew and worked to develop my talent as a perfumer, I also realized that cosmetic formulation would end up becoming my Achilles’ heel. I wasn’t motivated to develop new bases and I could see that in the shaving world stagnation can be dangerous.   And while I may have experienced...

As much as I love perfume of all types, especially the experimental or wholly unique compositions from the wealth of modern independent perfumers, there are certain time-tested classics that I’ll always reach for. Whether it’s Eau Sauvage by Dior, Terre de Hermès or Vetiver by Guerlain, there’s a perfect balance in these between fresh notes and a vetiver underbelly that make it sing in harmony. With this type of classic structure in mind, I set out to find that perfect balance in my own signature style. The result was a fresh prairie scent inspired by the roots of my little...

This is the first Scent Notes column that I get to write for something that I’ve composed to be released by another brand. Over the past year, I’ve gotten to know and eventually become friends with Dave Kern, who has undertaken a really exciting project called AMERICAN PERFUMER®, based in Louisville, Kentucky. It seeks to highlight the best of American independent perfumers, and so I am uniquely honored to not only be featured on the shelves next to some of the pioneers of the American independent fragrance, but also to be selected to create a fragrance for AMERICAN PERFUMER.   ...

Hey all, while my overly Midwestern modesty resists doing this kind of thing, the awards that I won in 2019 were so gratifying that I wanted to share, especially because it would not have happened without your support.  First of all, CaFleureBon's editors named their best of 2019 lists. Weinstrasse appeared on the list for Michelyn Camen and Lauryn Beer. Additionally, our Side Project Series release, Biblio, popped onto Gail Gross' best-of list.                  In the annual awards from Mark Behnke, Weinstrasse was named the best perfume of the year, which is really...