What is the Perfume Project?

This blog is a constantly evolving forum for thoughts on perfume, perfume-making, plants (especially orchids and flora of the Pacific Northwest) and life in general. It started out chronicling the adventures of Olympic Orchids Perfumes, established in July 2010, and has expanded in other directions. A big part of the blog is thinking about the ongoing process of learning and experimentation that leads to new perfumes, the exploration of perfumery materials, the theory and practice of perfume making, the challenges of marketing perfumes and other fragrance products, and random observations on philosophy and society. Spam comments will be marked as such and deleted; any comments that go beyond the boundaries of civil discourse will also be deleted. I am grateful to all of you, the readers, who contribute to the blog by commenting and making this a truly interactive perfume project.

Friday, July 12, 2013

BLACKBIRD’S LAUNCH


This is an exciting week. Tomorrow is the big party to celebrate Olympic Orchids third anniversary and the launch of the perfume I made for the Blackbird store. It’s a big day in a lot of ways because it marks several important transitions. For me, it marks the transition from the first, experimental, years of establishing my business to the realization that it’s here to stay. Something has been created out of nothing, and now there’s the task of polishing and perfecting every aspect of the operation and allowing the natural growth process to take place. 

For Blackbird, it’s the last event before they move out of their Ballard clothing and perfume stores and into a mostly online retail and wholesale format. It’s possible that the brick-and-mortar Apothecary will be reinvented in a new way, in a new place, but that’s for the future to decide.

For the Northwest Indie Perfumers Circuit, it’s also the last event in the Blackbird space. I hope the circuit will continue in another venue but, again, that’s for the future to decide.

Every end is a new beginning, so I hope that all of the new beginnings, whatever they are, will be successful.

My first-ever screen-printed bottles came from the printer day before yesterday, and a batch of them are filled and ready to sell. They look great! It’s really different just being able to grab a bottle from the box and not have to spend time putting a sticky label on it, trying to get it centered. The labels aren’t the final version, but they’re good enough to make me believe that printing on the bottle is the way to go.  All of the merchandise and props have been delivered to Blackbird, and I just went shopping for snacks. We’re good to go!

I would like to invite every reader in the Seattle area to come to the party tomorrow evening. Once again, it’s from 6:00 PM until it finishes, at 5404 22nd Ave NW, in Ballard. There will be food, drink, good company and some nice door prizes!

9 comments:

  1. Congratulations, richly deserved! I wish I could be at the party, so do post some photos afterwards!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marla, I will be sure to take photos and post them afterwards! I'll probably put a few here and the rest in an album on Facebook. Today's the big day and the weather's perfect as usual in July - dry and sunny. Blackbird is doing most of the decorating, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with!

      Delete
  2. WOW!! Those Blackbird bottles look FAB U LOUS!! Excellent work Ellen, I hope it all goes like clockwork and that everything grows at a rate you enjoy.
    CONGRATULATIONS on all your success, it's only the beginning.
    Portia xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Portia, the bottles are fab u lous! Don't forget that you and other bloggers are a big part of our success, so it's shared!

      Delete
  3. Looking forward to it! See you there...

    ReplyDelete
  4. I know this question is a little late, but was wondering if you're bringing any of the Devilscent project perfumes tonight?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the Devil Scents will be there tonight!

      Delete
  5. THAT WAS FUN, ELLEN, and the street fair was a trip! Your Blackbird is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete