Fragrance that captures the essence of the South Pacific

About Us

Like our country Aotearoa, our perfumes are unbridled, vibrant and unforgettable.  It is that iconic, almost untouchable beauty of Aotearoa that we endeavour to re-create.

Fiercely into sustainability (in a nice way), we use renewable resources and endeavour to be eco-friendly in all our avenues of work. We are totally against products that have been tested on animals. We do use beeswax in our Original and Artisan ranges so please ask us for our Vegan option where we will make your order with floral waxes. 

Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand, and means ‘The Land of the Long White Cloud'. Myth and legend - not to mention history - claim it was Hine-te-aparangi, the wife of the Maori navigator Kupe, who on first sighting Aotearoa called out "He ao! He aotea! He aotearoa!" (A cloud! A white cloud! A long white cloud!). With Hine-te-aparangi in our minds we create perfumes that echo her wonder and joy at seeing our ‘long white cloud’. Her vision became part of our inspiration.

How on earth did this begin?


Back in 1983 while visiting Santorini, that most beautiful of Greek Isles, Kate JasonSmith chanced upon a tiny ceramic pot containing the most exquisite solid perfume. Hoping the perfume would last forever proved futile. But the little ceramic pot Kate kept as a constant reminder of everything about that particular moment in her life.

Some ten years later back in New Zealand, Kate met Francesca who explained she’d run a very successful business in the tourist gift market in Greece … creating solid perfumes in ceramic pots…‘Do you mean like this?" asked Kate finding her treasured ceramic pot.  Indeed, it was Francesca’s perfume!

Kate urged Francesca to create a similar solid perfume product for the Pacific market based on the beauty that is Aotearoa. In 2002 they decided on their unique packaging concept and their first Original Range was born.                                                                                      

           

"The search for perfume, which is a pleasure, but also an affliction of the noblest of our senses, follows no other path but that of obsession. "
- Colette (1873-1954), novelist