Fresholi | Melting Pot Café

Hi All

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

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?  :buttrf:

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.  :mwaha: Oh goody, I can't wait for you to start sharing. Hopefully we have information of value to you.

Hi
Warm welcome here  :buttrf:

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  :buttrf: I'm not sure if you know what you've gotten yourself into here  :mwaha: 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  (:hug:) ( I have a goth daughter,she says she's an emo,but it seems the same as when I was a teenage goth  :mwaha: )

Hello Karen - great to have you onboard  ;D

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  :o  Great to have you here  :buttrf: :buttrf:

Hello & welcome!   :)
Wow sounds like you have had some amazing jobs, how fantastic. 

Hello and welcome!

Welcome, sounds like you might be busy on here!!! Nobody seems to have said that we love pics, so please post them when you make something... we are addicted! Also the more you post, the more boards will open up for you... hope you enjoy it here. 

@Honey - I had your back.  :)

 :mwaha: Now admit it, it's not just pics for me is it? It's everyone's combined addiction... you have have to admit it!

I have no problem admitting it! It's just that in every family, everyone has a role. You're kind of the "picture ambassador", welcoming new members to our customs. We're just happy to follow your lead.

Well I took a pic of the Honey Rose Beauty Balm, but I've been poking about with it & its now not very photogenic - will have to pass on that one! Will make some more (I think with the dark cocoa butter this time) & maybe rose wax.

So instead here are some pics of a kids easter egg bath bombs workshop that I did in Greenwich

Thanks - the workshop looked to be successful.

Hi Karen - Welcome to the forum!

And Here's to following ones passions in life  :buttrf:

Hello Karen, welcome!  What a fab load of experience you have.  :buttrf:

Hello Karen !!!

Nice to see you here !

Cheers
Sabine

Hi Sabine!

Fancy seeing you here ;)

Kx

Ooh my recipe is up - thanks Helen!

Link Please - recipe for what??

http://www.forum.fresholi.co.uk/index.php/topic,8395.0.html

link to the thread - the recipe link is in there.

Now how did I miss that??

Thanks  for direction M, and Thank-You for sharing your balm Karen  :-*

Hello and Welcome Karen.   :buttrf:

Hi Karen, I've just been looking at the recipe you've submitted, it sounds wonderful  :buttrf:

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