Meet Amy Elizabeth: Independent Perfumer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Elizabeth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Perfume has experienced a major paradigm shift in the last twenty years and it is an extremely vibrant and creative time for perfume right now. The fragrance world used to be shrouded in mystery and there were just a few major houses that mass produced a lot of safe scents that could appeal to a lot of people. Today there are thousands of small, independent perfumers hand-crafting daring and innovative fragrances. Indie perfumers tend to invest more in high quality materials rather than major marketing campaigns. What’s in the bottle is more authentic than celebrity clout. We are seeing consumers who want to know whose nose is behind the fragrances, whether the ingredients are safe or responsibly sourced. Perfumes and perfumers have modernized with the times in ways that are fascinating and refreshing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I focus on natural perfumes which means they are 100% plant-derived. The use of synthetic aroma molecules began in the late 19th century and since then our lives have become inundated with synthetic fragrances. Most people imagine synthetic aromas when they think of a rose. Botanical perfume materials are much more nuanced than their synthetic counterparts and much more beautiful. Some are animalic and sexy, some are mineral driven and some are practically perfumes on their own. I love plants so much. They have a life and a soul to them. With plant based perfume materials there is more connection with the world around us. Just as with wine there is evident terroir depending on where the plants grew and what the growing season was like. Each batch of botanical perfume has subtle differences, its own character. Natural materials also interact with your personal biochemistry in a more symbiotic way than synthetic fragrance molecules which causes a natural fragrance to smell different on each individual who wears it. They feel more personal.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
They should definitely head over to the Denver Botanic Gardens for a stroll and a picnic. I always take visitors to the special exhibits at the Denver Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art. My favorite brunch spot is Onefold and my favorite lunch is at Levon Deli Co. For dinner I’ve been wanting to try Annette, Beckon and Somebody People. No trip to Denver is complete without a visit to Red Rocks so hopefully there would be a good concert. It would be nice to get up in the mountains or head to the Great Sand Dunes National Park for some camping.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe a great deal of gratitude to all the independent perfumers who came before me. Without their groundbreaking efforts and their generous willingness to share their knowledge with others I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. I also have to thank all of the small business owners that I worked for throughout my life who have inspired me and helped me believe it was possible to do what you love and to be your own boss. When I decided to start my own business it felt like I had a clear idea of what I was getting myself into and a strong knowledge of how to shape my day-to-day operations.

Website: www.tamlinlab.com
Instagram: @tamlinlab

Image Credits
Amy Elizabeth