Hi All

Am new to Fresholi. I thought I was just buying some ingredients & discovered a whole community 

I have been in the fragrance & cosmetic industry most of my life both in retail and product development up until 6 years ago when I left it to start up a clothing shop. I have decided to come back and follow my passion which is sharing my knowledge of perfumery and skincare particularly of the natural kind.  I don't really intend to make product to sell - just for myself, and am focussing on running artisan perfumery workshops for now until I sell my current business anyway.

I trained as a make-up artist & then in cosmetic science in the early 90's and worked as a fragrance evaluator for International Flavours & Fragrances for 5 years where I worked on loads of different product types including Jo Malone fragrances (no they're not all natural). I then trained as an aromatherapist and went to work with Romy Fraser in product development at Neal's Yard Remedies, where I created the fragrances for quite a few of their products and put together their Baseline range of products and make your own workshops.  I then discovered my love of teaching & took on the role of company trainer to all their retail staff. I left in 2005 when Romy sold NYR to the Kindersleys. I will be doing a few workshops at her farm in dorset this summer as well as some bits in London.

Anyhow thats me! Didn't mean to waffle on for so long but would be happy to share any knowledge I have with you all & look forward to being part of the community.
Kx

Wow Karen that sounds impressive!!  I use to work in Floral Street, Covent Garden and many times popped into Neal's Yard (lovely products).  Nice to meet you and welcome.

Hi Karen! Wow, those are some amazing brands, what a fabulous career. Sure you've a wealth of knowledge you can share, but hope you get something from us too. Welcome aboard.

Did you see Jo Malone on the TV last night, what did you think? 

Hi and welcome, Karen. A little word to the wise. When you feel that little pin prick to the side of your head, that will be me and my direct IV line trying gain access to your brain.  Oh goody, I can't wait for you to start sharing. Hopefully we have information of value to you.

Hi
Warm welcome here 

Hello Karen, welcome.

You realise you've laid yourself open to a whole barrage of questions!!

Hi Karen and welcome

 

Re Jo Malone - no I missed it - was it any good?

Thanks for the warm welcome all - I am happy to share what I know & learn from you guys too.  I have been a bit out of the loop for a few years whilst running my shop www.time-bomb.co.uk if anyone has any goth kids!    & sometimes I forget how much stuff I have in my brain that may be usefull to others. Feel free to ask away (anything except soap - I have no experience of that at all except that its a perfumers nightmare).  

Have just made a yummy (but a bit heavy) Rose Beauty Balm that was very heavily inspired   by the NYR one - still finding my way around here but will submit it when I work out how.

Just bought the floral waxes to incorporate into a solid perfume (along with the dark cocoa butter - chocoholics dream!) so will let you know how I get on with those.

Kx

Hi Karen,

Welcome - this is a lovely forum, you'll be right at home here.

And i look forward to pics 

Polly

Hi, Karen - Welcome  I'm not sure if you know what you've gotten yourself into here  but I think you've made quite a few new friends!
The people here are lovely, very supportive and generous of spirit. I think you'll like it here.

It seems you haven't met Honey, yet. Please post pics for her.

Hi Karen, welcome

Hi Karen and a big warm welcome  ( I have a goth daughter,she says she's an emo,but it seems the same as when I was a teenage goth  )

Hello Karen - great to have you onboard 

Hi Karen.

I really don't think you know what you are letting yourself in for! It will be great to know how you get on with the floral waxes, because I am just going to have a play at making myself a solid perfume using the rose wax.

Hi Karen!!!

A very warm welcome to the forum.  Cor blimey... that is a whole lot of experience and knowledge you have there    Great to have you here