Champaga is for the ‘heads’. Altadena has always been a haven for artists and eccentrics, people doing their own thing, who think creatively.  It opens green and alive, tomato leaf, vine, something almost sweet. Then it drops into the earth. Loamy mushroom, skin, warmth from tonka bean. Low-frequency wood grounding it out. It smells human. A little strange, a little sensual. It sits close and shifts over time. Not a crowd-pleaser. Not meant to be.

Nocturne pays homage to the intoxicating night blooms of Altadena. The ones that open after dark and somehow still hang in the air by morning. Sweet, a little heady, impossible to ignore.  It starts bright, citrus, a little green, then softens quickly into milky white florals. Ylang ylang, jasmine, tuberose. Creamy, indolic, very alive. It’s lush, sensual, and confident.

Altadenans all know about Santa Rosa Avenue, otherwise known as Christmas Tree Lane (CTL) where tall deodara pines perfume the town with a sweet milky aroma. This scent is my way of honoring that iconic town landmark. After the Eaton Fire, so much of the town changed. But CTL remains untouched. Evergreen, softened with milk and warm wood, with a little spice and heliotrope underneath.

Minoru is a street in Altadena, quiet, tucked into the foothills. It’s also a Japanese word that can mean “to bear fruit” or “to come into season.” Juniper and fir invigorate like morning air. Cedar and myrrh settle close to the skin. There’s a little warmth from nutmeg, human, and nature in collaboration.

Baie Baie is an intoxicating hit of pink peppercorn, garden, and grapefruit. Altadena is riddled with California pepper trees. Their aroma hangs in the air, soft, a little spicy, slightly sweet. Ginger adds playful sensuality without being over the top, and resinous balsams round out the base.