Fragrance 101- The mysterious and elegant botanical world of Roxana Illuminated Perfumes

 
                     "Q" Liquid perfume by Roxana Villa

 I first became acquainted with Roxana Villa last year when I fell madly in love with her   Illuminated Journal,  incredibly beautiful botanical perfumes and her delightfully elfin soul. What I didn't realize then was that behind the laughter that floats through the air like the tinkling of the loveliest bell, beat the leonine heart of a fierce environmental artist and activist who was willing to devote her very life and craft to protecting the plants who provide her with such gorgeous tinctures and aromatics. Indeed Roxana's perfumes are of such  an extraordinary quality that you know  with one heavenly sniff that the lady is indeed an alchemist of the rarest sort. 

 
                           Roxana Villa

The perfumes that Roxana Villa creates are  unusual in the world of fine fragrances because they are completely plant based and created without the use of any synthetic substances whatsoever. Although the term "Natural Perfumer' is becoming much more common in the marketplace today, a perfume created by Roxana Villa is completely set apart from that pack because she is a Botanical perfumer, in other words, she uses absolutely no synthetics or animal products whatsoever with the exception of beeswax and  some lovingly handcrafted tinctures from the sea. In her studio in Southern California she creates beautiful liquid and solid fragrances that have the longevity of any of the finest perfumes found in the mainstream marketplace although nothing is ever harmed to create them. The difference between a botanical perfumer and a natural perfumer lies within the ingredients that are used. A natural perfumer will often use an animal ingredients such as civet or a musk (which can still be found in other countries) to create their perfumes. Although  those ingredients are interesting from an historical point of view, this presents a quandary for anyone wanting to wear a fragrance that is cruelty free. A botanical perfumer will not use these products and from my experience a beautifully crafted botanical perfume is   as long lasting and gorgeous as anything traditionally available. To wear a perfume created by Roxana Villa is to wear a fragrance that you can feel wonderful about on so many levels, because she has put her money where her mouth is, donating her time and a portion of her profits to protecting so many of the  strange and wonderful plant species that she loves.  Currently, she gives some of the profit from her  wonderful perfume "Q"  to the  California Oaks Foundation www.californiaoaks.org/   which is  dedicated to teaching about, protecting and preserving the beautiful California Coastal Oaks that she loves.  "Q" , has many wonderful ingredients, but the essence of its magic can truly be found in the tincture of oak leaves and acorns that Roxana lovingly gathers and makes herself. 

 
   Solid perfume are presented in  beautiful handmade pouches!

 Roxana's perfumes are of the highest quality and  a gift for anyone who has been disappointed by the lack of a natural alternative to the mass marketed perfumes available in any Sephora or Ulta near you. Most people buy a perfume without ever realizing the enormous amount of synthetic ingredients that go into the production of a mass marketed fragrance and then wonder why they are suddenly afflicted with environmental sensitivities or allergies. Many don't realize this, but the skin is the largest organ on our bodies and absorbs with lightening speed anything that you rub into it. Consequently, it's every bit as important to pay attention to the ingredients that you use for the care of your body as with the food that you eat. Also, from a sensual point of view, it's really interesting to observe how you emotionally react to a fragrance.  Our senses don't identify synthetic aromas in the same way that we do a fine botanical. A  botanical fragrance possesses an  aromatherapeutic potential that is obvious the moment that you put it on. As soon as I started wearing Roxana's perfumes I realized that I love to wear them because they possess the authentic and luxurious quality of  a historical fragrance created long ago, yet are thoroughly modern in their current interpretations. Her solid perfumes are like a precious unguent are instantly absorbed into the skin, leaving only their fragrance and a smooth silky touch.  Wearing any of them imparts an aura of glamour that I haven't seen in a fragrance for a very long time. These are real perfumes and they live in a dimension all their own!

Not only are Roxana's fragrances beautiful to wear, but when a parcel from her arrives, it is immediately apparent that as much thought and care went into the packaging as into the perfume itself. I have even been known to wait for a day or two to open a package from her until I am in just the right state of mind! Everything that she touches is precious from her boxes to the labels and the sealing wax that she uses to close the beautiful envelopes that she provides along with her product information. Her large size bottles are classic Baccarat style flacons that are chosen specifically to present the inherent color and beauty that each fragrance possesses. Roxana's luscious solid perfumes ( the large size ) come enrobed in a beautiful pouch that has been created by her mother, who at one time was the artist responsible for the creation of actress Ali Mcgraw's crocheted caps!  Each perfume is clothed in a different color pouch chosen especially for the fragrance. With Roxana Villa, everything that she does is bathed in her extraordinary creativity.   I've tried many of her perfumes and they are all gorgeous, but "Q" has become mine.  Go to her website and  choose for yourself. One of her lovely perfumes will become your signature and you will have left the earth a healthier and greener place as a result of your very wise choice. Roxana was an artist before she became a perfumer so with anything that she touches, life becomes art and scent becomes passion. Her world is a beautiful one filled with lots of magic and full throttle self expression and to play in it for even a moment will captivate you and thoroughly change your experience of fine fragrance forever.