NORTHWEST PERFUMERS AT TIGERLILY

I got back from San Francisco last Sunday, just in time for our friends’ wedding, and have been playing catch-up ever since. This weekend is a little better, given that I have taken care of most of my backlog of shipping and the worst of my backlog of university administrative tasks, but there’s still a long way to go to feel back to normal again. 

The event at Tigerlily in San Francisco was great fun, a wonderful chance to meet customers, including some who have become good friends, and see what Antonia Kohl has done with her shop. The history of Tigerlily, as I understand it, is that it started out in a tiny corner of the Love and Luxe jewelry shop down the street from where it is now, then quickly expanded to occupy half of a shop in its current location at 973 Valencia Street. Given the number and enthusiasm of Tigerlily’s customers, it looks like it won’t be long before it outgrows that situation, too. If you’re in the San Francisco area I highly recommend that you spend an afternoon shopping on Valencia Street and sniffing perfume at Tigerlily,  followed by dinner at LoLo across the street, an excellent California-Mexican place that uses local ingredients, but has reasonable prices.

All but one of the Northwest perfumers featured in the NW Fragrance criterion discovery set were there, holding a small trunk show. I was amazed at the size of the  turnout and the enthusiasm of Antonia’s customer base. She is definitely doing something right. To enhance the evening’s festivities, she served cocktails based on each of the fragrances in the set. During the event there was constant traffic, so I was too busy to take any photos, but here are a few taken before the evening’s activities started. 

Here is Antonia herself. What a great smile!

Here is the Sweet Tea display by Jen Siems. She is in the background, behind the flowers. 

Here is the Pirouette Essentials display by Karyn Gold-Reineke. 

Here's the Sweet Anthem display by Meredith Smith with a picture of her back. 

Herre's Nikki Sherritt setting up her Rebel and Mercury display. 

[All photos are mine, taken with my trusty phone] 

NIKKI SHERRITT/REBEL & MERCURY AT BLACKBIRD

For readers in the Seattle area, this is a reminder that the next event in the Northwest Indie Perfumers Circuit will take place at Blackbird Apothecary in Ballard this Saturday, January 12, from 6-9 PM, and will feature scented candles by botanical perfumer Nikki Sherritt of Rebel & Mercury, including her Blackbird-inspired candle with notes of smoke, vanilla and tobacco. Several of her perfumes will also be there for sniffing and purchase at special prices.

The event coincides with the Ballard Art Walk, so you can come early and make the rounds, ending up at Blackbird where there will be some sort of munchies along with cocktails and/or wine thanks to Wine World and Spirits, who are sponsoring the series. It’s the perfect opportunity to strike back at the winter blues by spending some time in a warm, friendly, fragrant, candle-lit, atmosphere mingling with other perfume-lovers. What could be a better way to spend a rainy, dark, January evening? 

[Blackbird is located at 5404 22nd Ave NW, Seattle, WA  98107. The logo for the indie perfumers circuit was designed by Eliam Puente.] 

A VALENTINE'S TEA PARTY

For those readers who are local or visiting the Seattle area, Sweet Anthem Handmade Perfumes will be hosting a Valentine’s tea party on February 11, from 12-4 PM. It will feature flowers, perfume, and sweets (chocolate!) by local designers. You can do your Valentine’s shopping for yourself and/or someone else while you enjoy fine teas and gifts with purchase throughout the afternoon.

The event will provide an opportunity to meet four local designers: Nikki Sherritt, candlemaker and perfumer from Gabriel’s Aunt and Rebel & Mercury; Anne Dowell, gardener and truffle maker from Garden Bon Bons; Lydia Love, chocolatier from Chakralate; and Meredith Smith, perfumer from Sweet Anthem Handmade Perfumes.
The shop also offers a number of other perfume lines (including Olympic Orchids) and scented works by local and national independent designers.

Sweet Anthem is located at 6021-B California Ave SW in the heart of West Seattle’s Morgan Junction, across from West Seattle Wine Cellars and Meander’s Kitchen. The photo shows the entrance to the shop during the recent snowstorm.