La Valse was intended to be the waltz to end all waltzes. La Valse seems to be a rose fragrance to end all rose fragrances. Whitney Swales, ballroom dancer and natural perfumer for Wit & West, describes the story behind La Valse as a dance of grace and elegance transporting you to a different time.
...Wit & West's The Violetear opens with a mystical flittering of bergamot flanked by the other delightful waftings from a stunning garden cared for with loving, grateful hands. It is then mixed with the components of the earth to create a beautiful Fougere that dances on your skin. It is not an overpowering fragrance but has an astonishing, lasting presence...
...Whitney Swales shatters the myth that iris flowers are mute and produce no scent. In The Violetear, the opulence of the reserve iris enfleurage rises in a rainbow of amethyst, mauves, periwinkle, and plum. This gorgeous fragrance expands our knowledge of what is possible in perfumery...
...Honestly, it’s a total shame that majority of people will never discover perfume beyond the department store and Sephora aisles. They will never discover perfume as it should be, as it used to be, before labs and big corporations took over. I’m hoping to change that one post at a time. Wit & West perfumes are full of depth, complexity and interesting note combinations that are totally addictive...
...Clean perfume brands like Henry Rose may be Sephora-famous, but did you know there is an entire world of niche perfume houses turning nature into olfactive art? These hidden gems are well kept secrets within the fragrance community, largely untouched by capitalism (thank goodness) so they can remain true to their roots and produce in small batches to the highest standards.
...But there are many who strive to keep the magic of natural perfumes alive. In Colorado, Whitney Swales of Wit & West Perfumes also works tirelessly to concoct dazzling scents with pure botanical extracts. “Natural ingredients are nuanced, complex, and bring a depth and richness to perfumery that requires patience and flexibility.”
Wit & West Streetcar Magnolia is more Lucinda Williams than House of the Rising Sun, sidestepping associations with Tennessee William’s doomed heroine with a modern, upbeat floral that leans, surprisingly, into herbs and incense.
...Changing our environment through scent can be a powerful tool for health. Wit & West’s Jasmine Pet Noi Eau de Parfum takes us to a garden in full bloom. Pink peppercorn and bitter orange sparkle through thick evening air...
All-natural American brand Wit & West has announced the release of a new fragrance, Violetear. Described as a "fresh and sparkling fougère," Violetear was inspired by the Mexican Violetear hummingbird and features an enfleurage made from irises planted in the perfumer's own garden. (How cool is that?!)
The Violetear is new addition to Wit and West Perfumes line of limited release 100% all-natural scents in an Eau de Parfum concentration. Reserve Collection perfumes include rare ingredients as well as handmade tinctures and enfleurage extraits extracted from flowers from the Wit & West garden.
Time here is moss-grown and damp. Abundant waterfalls create wide moving waves of mist. Fog sits on its silent haunches while treetops of bigleaf maples, Douglas fir, and western hemlock commune in vaporous gestures.
Wit & West is a small-batch artisanal perfumery based in Colorado and solely owned by this husband-and-wife duo. We had the pleasure of talking with Whitney (Wit) about how this project passion of hers, came to fruition.
Finding a vegan, ethical fragrance can be tricky. Popular designer perfumes are often not considered cruelty-free. On top of that, some fragrances on the market also contain non-vegan ingredients, like beeswax. But all is not lost. Plenty of conscious, cruelty-free brands prove it is possible to make deliciously scented, guilt-free fragrances. Here are some of our favorites.
When October begins, my desire for deeper and richer scents soars. However, the fall mood wouldn’t be complete without fragrances that nicely match the dark and playful Halloween spirit. Below is an extensive selection of fragrances for this time of the year – vintage, classic, niche, and indie choices that will satisfy multiple genders, whimsies, and adventures on Halloween.
Wit and West Honeysuckle Halcyon evokes a lazy, long August night on a 20’s Chicago Street where the weather is torpid, but the jazz is cool. Sappy, sensual, full-bodied, Honeysuckle Halcyon is a Clara Bow starlet, equal parts wide-eyed innocence and provocative sensuality.
Wit & West Perfumes has taken the Mile High City’s fragrance market to new heights. Despite the enigmatic nature of the perfume industry, Colorado-native Whitney Swales broke into the fragrance world and brought Wit & West, a natural perfumery, to Denver.
Based in Colorado, Wit & West Perfumes is a small-batch artisanal perfumery that is solely owned and operated by myself and my husband. All of our fragrances are designed, formulated and bottled completely in-house in small batches using only the finest, high-quality 100% natural whole botanicals and naturally derived ingredients.
A lover of scented items, precious raw materials, dancing, and art, Whitney Dru Swales launched Wit & West in January 2021. Whitney is the founder and perfumer of this all-natural fragrance line based in Denver, CO, which she named after herself (Wit) and her husband, Rob Westendorf (West).
Whitney Swales of Wit & West Perfumes. From as early as I can remember I have had a passion for scent and the world of perfume. Growing up, perfume and everything scented including body oils and perfumed body powders, soaps and candles were a staple in my life. My mom wore Chanel No. 5, Youth Dew and Private Collection by Estee Lauder and my dad wore Polo by Ralph Lauren and Lagerfeld by Karl Lagerfeld.
Be sure to check out the intriguing Rosé L.A. eau de parfum by Wit & West Perfumes. “A rousing fruity scent that demands attention. Rose otto adds fresh drama and character while amber and sandalwood smooth out the experience with a honey-like butteriness. Reminiscent of a weekend in West Hollywood spent soaking up the sun in a rooftop pool with a glass of bubbly. A scent that doesn’t take itself too seriously, a fun and sparkly chic scent that can only be described as Rosé L.A.”
