LEARN MORE & WHY NATURAL PERFUME

Why Natural Perfume?

Perfume and the world of perfumery is thousands of years old, with its origin being rooted in the burning of incense. The first use of perfume can be traced back to Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Cyprus, where the first perfumes were blended with aromatics and rare raw materials such as resins, oils, and fragrant herbs. Perfume usage and the art and craft of perfume-making has evolved over 5,000 years, with the decline of natural perfumes beginning in the 20th century as synthetics entered the market. Synthetics allowed both the perfumer and perfume-wearer increased accessibility to the world of perfume through the use of less expensive ingredients. As a result, since the early 1920s, synthetics have dominated the perfume world, with most mainstream perfumes being comprised of very few (if any) natural ingredients.

While synthetic ingredients have a purpose and place in mainstream, indie, and niche perfumery, we choose not to use them for artistic reasons. Our focus on botanical perfumery is rooted in creating olfactory interpretations of essences that evoke emotion, connect us to the natural world, and tie memories to the moments in our lives.

At Wit & West Perfumes, we believe perfume is an olfactive and experiential art for the senses, much like music or visual arts. Like the difference between an acoustic and an electric guitar, the acoustic is raw, natural, and intimate, while the electric offers a range of amplified tones and effects; both instruments offer unique auditory experiences in their own right. Different tastes draw people to different genres, and the same is true in perfumery. Our genre is artisan natural perfumery, with a perfumer’s palette composed entirely of all-natural botanical ingredients. Different styles of perfumery each provide their own unique experience, and for us, that experience is found in thoughtfully handcrafted natural perfumes and colognes that are created in small batches and are opulent, multi-layered, and never boring.

To learn more about natural perfume, check out our blog post: What is Natural Perfume?

Learn more about the Wit & West Perfumes philosophy here: Our Philosophy