Regular readers of perfume blogs, and especially those who have an interest in natural perfumery, have probably run across Scent Hive, the popular blog written by Portland-based Trish Vawter. Scent Hive explores the world of natural scents and body care products, complemented by enticing photography, honest and informative product reviews and the wide-ranging interests and engaging style of its author. Scent Hive has become a success story, consistently ranking high on visitor rankings and other writers' must-read blog rolls. She is also an advocate for empowering women, a natural interest for Trish since she is a professional nurse midwife, and is an enthusiastic supporter of Women for Women International, a non-profit group that helps women in war-ravaged regions of the world rebuild their lives and gain economic independence. Recently Trish took some time out from her busy life (she is married and has two young boys) to answer a few questions about how she got to be where she is today and her commitment to environmentally friendly living.

How did you become interested in perfume in general?

The seed was planted by my mom and also my dad. My mom loved to wear perfume when I was younger and my dad and I would shop together to pick out a fragrance for her every Christmas. She wore all the great ones, Rive Gauche, Miss Dior, Diorissimo, Chanel #19. My grandmother (on my mom's side) loved her Tea Rose something fierce! That's all she wore, and that scent will forever remind me of her. Since I was around perfume at such a young age, I never thought of not wearing perfume. It's always been a part of my life, but my passion for fragrance has grown in intensity over the last 10 years.

What drew you to focus on natural fragrances?

Living in Portland, people tend to strive for eco-friendly living. For me it started with recycling and reducing waste, then I progressed to decreasing the toxins in my household cleaners which then lead to using greener body and beauty products. From there, learning more about the beauty of natural perfumes combined with wanting to avoid potentially harmful chemicals that are in many synthetic perfumes (like phthalates) lead me to natural fragrances.

Do you have a favorite line of natural perfumes, and which perfumers do you admire?

I don't have one favorite line of natural perfumes, but I do recommend Strange Invisible Perfumes as a great starting place for anyone interested in trying natural perfumes.

I admire so many natural perfumers. I have had the chance to meet several of them and they are all such fascinating, kind, and intelligent people. I just met Mandy Aftel who is a tremendous talent and has a wealth of information regarding natural essences. Her book Essence and Alchemy is a must read for anyone interested in perfume. I admire Alexandra Balahoutis of Strange Invisible Perfumes a great deal. Her work is exceptional, intriguing and very beautiful. She really goes the distance to keep her fragrances pure and made from the highest quality botanical ingredients. Roxana Villa is another natural perfumer whose work and dedication inspires me. She creates gorgeous fragrances and has a heart of gold. Roxana spends a lot of time and energy working towards preserving native California plants through her artistry and I admire that a lot. This list is not exhaustive, but I'll end with Ayala Sender who astounds me with her prolific collection of naturals. She is such an exquisite blender of fragrances, weaving the notes so seamlessly and subtly. I love her style. 

What about favorite beauty and body care products, and some recommendations?

For skincare, I love Dr. Hauschka and Kahina Giving Beauty. I use Kahina's argan oil at night most frequently, but also use Dr. Haushcka's Rose Day Cream at night when I want a creamy moisturizer. Argan oil is a terrific moisturizer that softens the skin and keeps break-outs at bay due to its antibacterial properties. Argan oil is also in Kahina's facial cleanser and facial lotion, which I use almost daily. I really like Dr. Hauschka's Quince Day Cream for the day, as well as their cleansing milk and cleansing cream. I've also become a fan of oil cleansers for my face, and Laventine is my favorite.

For body care, Weleda's Creamy Rose Wash is a favorite that I come back to again and again. I use their Calendula Wash for my boys. For a good value, you simply cannot beat Dr. Bronner's liquid soap. I use it as a hand soap, body wash, and for cleaning around the house. You can also refill your bottles at New Seasons so it's super-green!

For those readers who love makeup, my current favorites are 100% Pure, NVEY Eco, Dr. Hauschka, and Alima Pure, a Portland based company).

What made you decide to make the leap to serious blogging, in addition to your full-time profession as a nurse midwife and your family life? You must have a lot of energy!

When I became serious about going all-natural with my skincare and perfume, I learned a lot about ingredients many of us might want to avoid. I also had family and friends frequently ask what products I use and recommend. So I decided to blog simply to share information and spread a little beauty. I usually write on my days off and when the boys are in school. Some weeks I get several posts published, other weeks maybe just one. I try not to have Scent Hive be too consuming as I do want to protect time with my family. 

Where would you suggest that people purchase natural fragrance products in the Portland area if they don't want to shop online?

Surprisingly, there are not many options in Portland for natural perfume shopping. There is a terrific independently owned boutique that carries only all-natural beauty products, Camellia Pure Beauty on Fremont Street in Northeast Portland. The owner carries many of my favorites like Alima and NVEY Eco for makeup, John Masters for hair, and Red Flower for perfume. New Seasons is a great place for testing out Dr. Hauschka and Weleda products. They also carry Hemp Organics which makes one of my favorite (and affordable) lip balms.  

Tell us about your connection to Women For Women International and what others can do to help the cause.

I'm not sure how I found out about Women For Women. But it was over 8 years ago, and I have been donating to them on a monthly basis ever since. They help women go from victim to survivor to active citizen as their website states, by providing financial aid, job training, rights awareness and leadership education. The best way to help the cause is by donating!

The motto of Scent Hive is "Collect your pollen. Fly away inspired.” Trish is certain to be an inspiration to anyone who is interested in perfume, natural body care and greener living!

Image courtesy of Trish Vawter.