By Felicia C. Sullivan
Can a perfume’s scent simply be reduced to a spritz on a paper strip? Can we savor a luxe perfume and still be eco-conscious and philanthropic? Can a fragrance be perceived as a work of art? Recently, I sat down with self-taught botanical perfumer, and founder of Strange Invisible Perfumes, Alexandra Balahoutis, a vanguard of sorts, who zealously answered all of my queries.
Balahoutis’s quest began in 2000 with a desire to translate the invisible montages of her mind into relevant romance language of the senses. Strange Invisible Perfumes was named for a line from Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra: “From the barge, a strange invisible perfume hits the sense of the adjacent wharfs.” Courting the senses and illuminating the imagination, the house is evangelical in its vision to offer consumers uncompromising luxury and excellent craftsmanship through its twenty-five perfumes, ten eaux de parfum, and a collection of body washes and lotions available in four scents – all made with sustainability and environmental accountability in mind. From aggressively pursuing ingredients that are fair trade, wild crafted, biodynamically cultivated, and organic, to using a base of 100% organic grape alcohol, to eco-friendly packaging, the company’s commitment to respecting the earth from which their business is derived is evident. Also, eight percent of the proceeds from sales of their best-selling Magazine Street are donated to Common Ground Collective, a non-profit organization working for the environmental restoration and sustainable rebuilding of New Orleans. Presently, the company also brings awareness to saving honeybees through their support of the documentary, “The Vanishing of the Bees,” which examines the dangers of Colony Collapse Disorder, and how an eradicating bee population will potentially have significant environmental implications.
Balahoutis believes that “Like art or fashion, perfume involves aesthetic visions of the near future.” On the heels of fashion week, come March 2009, SIP introduces three new florals for spring: Aquarian Roses, Epic Gardenia, and Urban Lily.