Interview with

Nicolas Jennings

• Can you speak on your back ground?

After studying and working in England, I traveled extensively in Asia and Africa over a 2 year period. It was during these olfactive voyages that  I discovered first hand the traditional techniques to extract essential oils and  floral waters.  I then had the good fortune to spend a summer on a French biodynamic farm in Provence. There, I wild-harvested high altitude lavender, thyme and rosemary, which will distilled in ancient copper stills over a fire. The oils were of excellent quality even though the techniques were unchanged for centuries. 
I then studied the modern techniques  of perfumery (organic chemistry and traditional techniques in perfume balance and creation (Jean Carles etc) Modern perfumery is obviously dominated by the use of aroma chemicals and I quickly realised that I wanted to bring together my own ethical and personal interest in natural oils back to world of modern perfumery. Thus in 2005 I launched my first 100% natural and organic certified perfumes. 

• Do you have any profound scent memories from growing up?

I was always interested in fragrance and scent as a young boy but not perfumery.  I was keen, to touch and smell as a way of discovery, holding objects close to my nose opened up another world. For example, smelling old books or furniture or freshly cut grass in late spring.

• What were you doing before you became involved with scent and the perfume world?

Lots of different interests as i worked for the British sports federation dealing in journalism and communications but this was not the deep rooted passion for perfumes that had been intimate and private since my early years. 

• Can you remember the moment you decided to commit to becoming a perfumer? How did you know it would be such a big part of your life?

Meeting a professional from the UK perfume industry who gave me encouragement and interesting critical evaluation of my work encouraged me to take the next steps in the professionalism of my passion.

• When you create a scent what are the things that inspires you?

Inspiration can come from anywhere and may not be necessarily scent related, Eg; a energetic mountain walk, or a lazy summer day on a beach. Experimentation and perfume creation, are however, much longer processes of trail and error, peppered with moments of creative flurry and excitement.  

• Can you talk about the brand, what are the themes that you use and how would you like your work to effect the person that wears it?

Sharini perfumes are created using ethically harvested organic essential oils so people who wear the perfumes have usually a learning toward making ethical choices free from petrochemical ingredients so present in today’s perfumes. All the creations are organically certified, but that’s just a logo of confidence. What really matters to me is if they feel that the perfume belongs to them, a part of themselves. Most modern perfumes create an olfactive wall around the person and the wearer disappears behind it. Sharini perfumes are more intimate, a little extra on the person’s own identity, not a replacement. 

• What would your biggest passion in life be at this point? 

Other than my thrill to wake up and go to work then without doubt my wife and our children

• Lastly where do you see the fragrance world headed? 

Two distinct branches - the branded industrial perfume industry and the small niche perfume houses that sit in the shadows free from the huge publicity campaigns. The industrial fragrance industry is cleverly bringing the natural theme back into main stream perfumes albeit rather with natural molecules than genuine essential oils. Lots happening in fragrance chemistry such as vibration theories etc. Also in raw material extraction with co2 extraction and spinning cone distillation. 

• Please share anything you like to say..

The art of perfume creation is certainly it’s most fun and rewarding when free from the classical structures and rules taught in perfume schools. And like any art, one should not be afraid to move away from the rational and trust in the subconsciousness

Warm scented regards

Nicolas Jennings...