Joya’s exotically stylish and all-natural candles are a staple in stylish homes across the globe. With original fragrances like Narcissus Fig Leaf and Ghost Orchid Honeydew and fun collaborations with such fashion brands as Rodarte and Baxter of California, it’s no wonder that Joya has become an industry leader in the world of fine home fragrance and design. Recently, Joya Studio founder Frederick Bouchardy hosted his bi-annual fragrance show featuring the latest and greatest in fragrance design and gave us the inside scoop on new and noteworthy home fragrances just in time for fall – the most candle-friendly season of them all.
What: Elements Showcase, the bi-annual curated fragrance and design show in New York
Who: Element’s 3 founders – Ulrich Lang, Jeff Lawson, Frederick Bouchardy of Joya
Where: The 2012 event was held in New York City earlier this month
New Brands To Watch For:
Legart Forschungs Atelier – Limited editions of advanced skincare with the feel of fine art. Beautiful product using pure alpine spring water housed in outstanding packaging.
Lili Bermuda – Originally founded in 1928, this perfume collection is hard to get a look at (and sniff of) unless you are in Bermuda – or at Elements. The scents are site-specific but also evocative of a favorite vacation.
Best Packaging Design:
Kjaer Weis – Simple, elegant and practical. Designer by a real pro and inspirational creator and friend, Marc Atlan.
Greenest Packaging Design:
Juniper Ridge “This story is incredible. They forage and wildcraft plants while touring the American West. The products are beautiful and work. “Big Sur” natural room spray is a favorite.”
Top 3 All-Natural Brands at the event:
La Bella Figura “Pure plant ingredients, fair-trade certification and gorgeous and effective organic argan kernel oil and barbary fig seed oil “
Portland General Store “All-natural and made in small batches in Portland, Maine. I especially dig the soap and shave jelly.”
Essence of Vali “A chemical-free eau de parfum with a broad, warm citrus-y appeal.”
Most Exciting Product:
POPUP Paris “1 in 50 candles has a diamond buried within the wax, revealed once it has been used.”
Top 3 Trends:
“Number one would be Playfulness. In addition to diamonds hidden in candles, Elements presented cupcake scented perfumes (Alice & Peter), a niche brands that aims to ‘delight your nose and funny bone‘ (Smell Bent) and men’s grooming based on cocktails (Blind Barber).
Two: Woods. From natural beeswax candles are sculpted striking shapes – acorns, chess pieces – with a wood grain texture by Niho Kozuru and with calming wood wicks in candles (The Hype Noses). One exceptional perfume takes us directly to the woods in San Francisco “Bois de Paradis” by Parfums DelRae. Wood notes and themes have a real presence.
Three is Experience. Elements’ brands are passionate about their product and the stories behind them, so the history or narrative become significant. For the first time in the USA, Agonist enhances their story by presenting perfumes alongside handmade Swedish sculptures. Olfactive Studio represents a collaboration between perfumes and contemporary photographers whose work informs each other. And the Elements Showcase itself presented interpretations of the way 3 pure chemical elements – platinum, hydrogen and copper – might smell in an interactive installation in collaboration with Takasago, the Japanese perfume oil house!”
Classic element that never goes out of style: Timeless fragrance. This, the fourth edition of Element Showcase in less than 2 years, saw a return to the classics: Esteban, Jean Patou, Frapin, Houbigant, I Coloniali. These are the original innovators, and it is essential to see the impact they have had on the newer brands.
