JoAnne Bassett - Life Is a Perfume

When JoAnne Bassett decided to name her Eau de Perfumes “Journey,” we believe she referred to a journey into ourselves, into an uninhibited, courageous, and adventurous self.

With her perfumes we enter the unusual vividness of a Fairy Tale and simultaneously a very sexy rawness. The compositions of her fragrances are very clear and uncompromising.

There are no shades and no shortcomings in the gently or outrageously orgasmic palettes of JoAnne's perfumes.

As you revisit each individual perfume, you're surprised and taken to the place where your self-expression knows no limits. JoAnne Bassett can easily revolutionize you, and she hopes that you are ready for her:

There are no synthetic fragrance oils, nature identical oils, or manmade fragrances of any type in JoAnne Bassett 100% natural eau de toilettes, eau de perfume, and parfum. They contain genuine essential oils and absolutes that have been extracted from the plants or cold pressed from the fruits in an organic grape alcohol base or organic jojoba oil for the parfums.

What was your first memory related to a scent?

JoAnne Bassett: My first memory related to scent was the lily of the valley flowers in the Spring. I really loved them as a small child. The crispness of the lily of the valley (muquet) contrasted with the miniature, purple iris sweetness. I would pair them together in bouquets. The other scents would have been the lilacs, peonies, and wild roses that grew in my yard. Many hours were spent in the yard, in the gardens, and in the woods.

Do you do dedicate a perfume to certain emotions or states of mind?

JoAnne Bassett: I always set an intention when I create Custom Couture Perfumes and sometimes an emotion or state of mind may enter into the picture. My fragrance collections evoke emotions and create a state of mind or enhance a state of mind. Bliss, joy, and peace may be states of mind or feelings that can be attained by wearing one of my 100% natural fragrances. I have not dedicated fragrances to them formally.

Was there a prominent teacher leading you to a mastery?

JoAnne Bassett: No. I took a few aromatherapy blending classes many years ago. I have not taken a formal perfume class. I am a self taught perfumer.

Since the 1970's I have experimented with essential oils and herbs. Creating potpourri and other fragrant oils was a hobby. I became an aromatherapist in 1993 and started Bassett Aromatherapy.

Are there some exercises involved in keeping your level of integrity?

JoAnne Bassett: I am definitely born with it. I am a "nose" and have a very sensitive sense of smell. The art of creating perfume comes very natural for me. I just design and create. I do meditate daily and it brings me to my center and keeps me in my open space of creation.

Can tell me little bit more about the process of working "with the plant energy".

JoAnne Bassett: It involves working with plant spirits, being respectful of the plants and the essences that I work with. I believe everything is energy. The way I have worked with the specific energy is the key to my perfumes very "special energy." People are drawn to wearing them and I feel there is a definite shift of energy when they spray them on.

How would you describe your "French gene"?

JoAnne Bassett: My father's family is an old French line that is traced back to Charlemagne. His royal heritage is from Paris. There is an inherent quality that overtakes everything I do. Some people have deemed my collections classic French perfumery. The attitude I have is do not spare the ingredients or the expense. I operate from an entirely unique style. There is definitely a style that I have that wants to create masterpieces. My Madame Pompadour eau de parfum has 39 botanical ingredients. If I were a big Paris perfume house I would probably charge much more than I do as an artisan perfumer working with 100% natural ingredients. It has to be authentic. It is in my blood. No synthetic chemicals for me. That is why I love creating one of a kind Custom Couture Perfumes. No two are alike and no costs are spared.

How does your Divine Collection satisfy all the senses?

JoAnne Bassett: The Divine Collection - A Sense of the Divine™. There are six Divine Essences that are modern classics. The eau de perfumes are sparkling citrus, warm herbal citrus, sacred incense, spicy oriental, sensual vanilla, and rich leather. This assortment should cover most of the senses. There is something for everyone in my collections. They are unisex.

To what extent do you research the market before launching a new perfume or a collection?

JoAnne Bassett: I really do not research a market. I am my own boss and I decide what I want to create or what feels right at the time. It doesn't matter to me what cotton candy juice is being touted this season. I have created Memories that is a patchouli and coriander throw back to the 1970's and then create a light floral. It is all good. There is something for everyone.

What is wrong with the way perfumes are presented and sold to the public?

JoAnne Bassett: It really is about the flashy package and the marketing. The juice is not expensive at all. The advertising tells us the ingredients rose, jasmine, sandalwood, etc. are in this formula. They do not tell the public that these are synthetic oils made to smell like real rose, jasmine, and sandalwood. These are mostly all chemical concoctions that some people think they are getting real rose oil from rose petals. I am constantly having to educate the public that the commercial perfumes have not contained the real oils for many, many years. Now with the claims of organic and natural some of these are also false.

In the entire perfume industry, what percentage of perfumers is natural? Is there a movement or a trend that will grow and eventually revolutionize the industry?

JoAnne Bassett: It is a very small percentage. The other problem with everyone using the term natural. We need to define natural. Does it mean using nature identical oils, and isolates? There are bottles on the store shelves that make my nose run and give me an immediate headache. That does not happen with my fragrances. That clues me in to the fact that there is a chemical in the mixture. How can they really call them natural?

The trend seems to be toward using less chemicals and more natural essential oils in our scented products. According to the National Academy of Sciences; over 90% of chemicals used in fragrance today are synthetic and out of the 4,000+ chemicals used for fragrance, per the FDA, 95% of these chemicals are derived from petroleum. That is an alarming fact. I can't imagine what this is doing to our bodies. More cancer? More lung conditions?

Can you outline the difference in technologies used in commercial perfumes and in your collection?

JoAnne Bassett: I hand blend, hand filter, macerate by hand, do all of the bottling and labeling by hand. Everything is made by me from formulating to the finished product. The commercial perfumes are filled with machines and created in a laboratory and have an odor profile. Synthetic perfumes exist to lower the price point of the fragrance.

How long do you typically work on a perfume?

JoAnne Bassett: It varies. I may create something and let it sit for 6 months and then go back to it. I do not often tweak my fragrances. I let them develop and see how they are evolving and then I decide their fate.

When you create a perfume, do you look more in the future or in the past?

JoAnne Bassett: Everything I do is unique to that design. I have the Royal Collection that is in homage to the French Royal families and figures of the past. Some of my inspirations come to me from my travels around the world, the places I have been, or from books I have read. I do not look to the future to create a fragrance. I prefer to live in the moment. What I am motivated or inspired to create...that is what I do.

What specific journeys gave you memorable experiences?

JoAnne Bassett: Many trips to France to Grasse and Nice to conferences and going to India to the jasmine and tuberose fields, the lotus ponds, and the spice and tea plantations. These trips were especially good for resourcing perfumery materials. Traveling to Asia opened my mind to another way of life. Going deeper in meditation and doing things with intention helped my perfume process. I have been to more than 43 countries. Getting in touch with nature and the people and learning of their culture has broadened my pallette so to speak. I am an artist and those inspirations are what help me in new designs.

Can you please describe the role of California for your professional life as perfumer?

JoAnne Bassett: Living in California has supported my belief system of creating and wearing only 100% natural fragrances. We are people who raise gardens and eat fresh produce year around. We love organic and fresh picked from the land to the farmer's market. This has been the case for many, many years. We strive to eat healthy, live healthy and my natural fragrances go along with that mind set and lifestyle.

Californians read the labels at the store. They do not want the synthetic chemicals, pthlates, color dyes, harmful preservatives, parabens, DPG, etc. in their fragrances and body care they put on their skin. That is why some of my body care products are vegan and organic. Californians support and love natural and artisan made. I am a green company supporting the farmers and the distillers and the small family operations. The climate allows me to grow roses, gardenias, geraniums, and other flowers and herbs on my patio or in my yard year around. I tincture and macerate my roses, gardenias, and fresh citrus flowers such as sweet orange, grapefruit, lemon, and more. I do not know where else I would rather live for the climate and the growing season of my plant materials.

Do you still learn? Do you still get surprised by a combination of scents?

JoAnne Bassett: Every day I use new materials and see new combinations. Life is a perfume. We never stop learning. I love to take my fragrances and just spray one at random and then spray another on top of that. It is like trying a new herb in cooking. There are endless possibilities and it is so much fun.

With spring comes unfortunately the season of allergies. Can you recommend a quick aromatherapy remedy for our readers?

JoAnne Bassett: Allergies are an individual thing. One person is allergic to ragweed and others may be allergic to grass. There is not one oil that works for everyone. Runny noses and watery eyes are common but we can also experience blocked nasal passages. I love to keep my nasal passages open with eucalyptus globulus essential oil. I use an electric diffuser in my house.

Can you tell us about your workshops in aromatherapy?

JoAnne Bassett: I teach an "Aromatic Journeys " class where we explore essential oils and absolutes and their properties. I also teach a "workshop "Create Your Own Empowering Essence™ - You Are So Worth It!"

These classes and workshops are taught in the San Diego, CA area and other Southern California venues. I offer classes at hotels, spas, and for private gathering and parties.

To me you feel like Marlon Brando on his best. You just are yourself 100 percent. 

JoAnne Bassett: That is really who I am...what you see is what you get.

Images: JoAnne Bassett, emmyboop, Rennett Stowe, AJanssen