San Francisco is hosting a highly-edited selection of some of the West Coast’s most influential perfumers at interior design mecca Zinc Details on Feb. 4, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Known for its freewheeling and experimental nature, the West Coast of the United States is home to some of the most independent, creative and iconoclastic perfumers in the world.
In a tradition-bound industry that has often been more fixated on notions of gender, celebrity and price-pont rather than what goes on the skin, a new generation of perfumers is making work that exists on the borders between art and commerce — and attracting buyers away from the big houses along the way.
Of special interest at the event is the first Bay Area appearance from Maison Anonyme. The Los Angeles-based brand debuted at UCLA’s Hammer Museum in early 2016 with three exceptionally composed fragrances that inhabit the border between Haute Parfumerie and the punk-like DIY ethos of the new generation of independent perfumers. Launching a fragrance from a new line of universal perfumes that can be used on skin, fabric, hair and in your favorite room, perfumer Christopher Gordon will also be presenting the house’s original line.
Also at the event, shoppers will find fragrances from San Francisco’s own Ineke Rühland, whose limited-edition scents and stunning packaging offer armchair travelers and weekend botanists alike an opportunity to indulge in sophisticated, scented research.
From Washington state, perfumer, university professor and orchid grower Ellen Covey will present Olympic Orchids. The award-winning perfumer launched her line after growing orchids for decades and recreating some of them as perfumes. She has gone on to win Art and Olfaction awards for two of her fragrances — Woodcut and Zoologist Bat.
In addition, painter, architect and designer Dannielle Sergent will offer her Cognoscenti line of fragrances in which she paints intuitively with scent, following the colors of each raw material along multiple paths.
From further afield — Barcelona to be precise — El Jardi Secret brings its take on natural Catalan perfumery to the Bay Area, while local perfumers Mikmoi, En Voyage, A Wing & A Prayer, Velvet & Sweet Pea, La Fleur by Livvy and Meshaz Natural Perfumes will all share their artisan, custom, niche and premium perfumes with local aficionados.
The Artisan Fragrance Popup runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Zinc Details, 1633 Fillmore Street, San Francisco. Admission is free but those who sign up on the show's Eventbrite page are automatically registered for an onsite giveaway from TasteTV.