Why Natural Perfume?

Perfume and the world of natural perfumery are thousands of years old, with their 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 have 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 its core, we see perfume as an olfactive and experiential art for the senses, much like music or visual arts. Consider the difference between an acoustic and an electric guitar: the acoustic is raw, natural, and intimate, while the electric expands the range with amplified tones and effects. Both guitars offer unique auditory experiences. Just as different tastes draw people to different genres of music, the same is true in perfumery. Our genre is artisan natural perfumery, with a perfumer’s palette comprised entirely of all-natural botanical ingredients. Each of our perfumes and colognes is designed to tell a story that evolves as you wear it—opulent, multi-layered, and unlike anything else.

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

Our Small-Batch Artisanal Process

Perfume can't truly be experienced if treated as disposable, uninspired fast fashion. We believe perfume is an experiential art, both for the perfume wearer and the perfumer. Our approach is based on a commitment to creating authentic, handcrafted perfumes developed with 100% natural, whole botanicals and naturally derived ingredients that are unique and never boring. At Wit & West, there is no corporate structure or shareholders who tell us what our brand is or should be, no 'scent of the month' gimmicks, and no outsourcing of our perfume creation or fulfillment process (neither human nor AI-assisted). All perfumes are designed, formulated, compounded, bottled, and packaged in small batches completely in-house in our studio in Denver, Colorado. Fragrance by Wit, Design by West.

Our Natural Perfumery Ingredients

Our perfumes are made with 100% natural botanicals and naturally derived ingredients (as defined by ISO 9235 – Natural Aromatic Raw Materials Vocabulary). These include wildcrafted and organic essential oils, CO₂ extracts, absolutes, resins, natural isolates, and in-house tinctures and enfleurage extraits crafted from high-quality raw materials, including flowers from our own garden. We do not use fragrance oils, both for artistic reasons (they are often made from low-quality, inexpensive ingredients and represent someone else’s artistic creation, not ours) and safety reasons (reliable information on their components and allergens is not always available). We also avoid any other ingredients not intended for safe use on skin or in perfumery.

We follow the guidance and standards set by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) for the safe use of fragrance ingredients. In addition to being 100% natural, our perfumes and colognes are vegan and cruelty-free, as well as phthalate and paraben-free.

For more information, including answers to frequently asked questions about ingredient-related topics such as potential allergens, please visit our FAQs page.

Our Focus on Sustainability as a Natural Perfumery

As a small-batch indie artisan natural perfumery and as co-owners of Wit & West Perfumes, West and I are always looking at our business operations and practices, including ways to improve upon them. We are committed to sustainability throughout our process, from ingredient sourcing and small-batch production to packaging and shipping, with a focus on recyclable and minimalist materials. We also give back through annual donations to nonprofit organizations dedicated to environmental causes and protecting our planet.

Our Process, Ingredients & Sourcing: 

By purchasing our raw materials and packaging in small quantities from trusted suppliers, as well as producing our finished perfumes in small batches that are bottled to order when you place your order, we ensure we only produce what will be enjoyed, with as minimal waste as possible. We also work with our suppliers to verify there is origin traceability and information regarding the farming and cultivation process of our raw materials, ensuring ethical and sustainable practices are maintained (including documentation on hand where required). In the case of threatened or vulnerable species/raw materials, we look for alternative sources from other supplier(s) and/or we use similar alternative natural/naturally derived ingredients. All of our perfumes are vegan, cruelty-free (we're proud to be Leaping Bunny certified), phthalate and paraben-free. See our FAQs to learn more.

Shopify Sustainability Fund:

We've partnered with Planet by Shopify, a program that is part of the Shopify Sustainability Fund, to use a portion of all Wit & West profits to offset 100% of carbon emissions for shipped orders. Funds generated through the Shopify Sustainability Fund go toward supporting organizations and innovative companies committed to fighting climate change (learn more about Shopify Sustainability Partners). Interested in learning more about how carbon emissions from Wit & West orders are calculated to ensure each shipment is carbon neutral? Visit the blog feature on Making Your Shipment Carbon Neutral with Shopify Planet.

1% for the Planet:

Wit & West is proud to be a 1% for the Planet business member. As a business member, we donate at least 1% of our total revenue each year to 1% for the Planet and their network of carefully selected nonprofit organizations committed to protecting our planet and the environment in these six areas: climate, food, land, pollution, water, and wildlife (the network of organizations includes those such as the World Wildlife Fund, Rainforest Alliance, Oregon Tilth and many, many more). Learn more about 1% for the Planet and become an individual or business member today.