Can you begin at the very begin, your history and how you found your way into the fragrance industry?
I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. I studied drawing and painting at the Ontario College of Art and Design before moving to London, England. I had been fascinated with London since I was a child and took my first opportunity to move there. As being an artist seldom leads to a reasonable income, I needed to find an alternative way of earning money in London and by chance ended up working in various perfume stores. I quickly became fascinated by the world of perfume and less interested in being an artist.
In 2003 I opened my own perfume shop in London called Scent Systems. I aimed to sell only the most creative fragrances and often described myself as a curator of a scent gallery. At the time there was very little in the way of natural perfumery on the market and what was available often did not smell like how I expected a perfume to smell like. I wondered if I could make a natural perfume that was in keeping with my perfume expectations and started experimenting with natural fragrance ingredients. Ten years passed, I closed Scent Systems, moved to The Netherlands and eventually built up enough courage to launch my first entirely fragrance in 2013 called Moon Bloom.
Had there always been a interest in fragrance or was it something that developed over time?
It is an interest that developed over time.
Is there any scents that last in your memories from your childhood?
I remember the perfume my mother used to wear and when I was allowed to use some of my father’s aftershave, only for very special occasions. However, I would not say that these are any more than typical childhood memories.
Where is the brand based? Has the culture effected the creation of the scents in anyway?
About five years ago I moved to a small Dutch city called Gouda. The city is more famous for cheese than perfume, but I plan to change this. I would not say that Dutch culture has effected the creation of my scents. However, moving out of London has. I have become much more focused on what I want to create and less worried about what other brands are offering.
As for the brand can you describe the themes or methos behind it?
I make entirely natural fragrances. Apart from this the themes are diverse.
What does the creative process of scent making and design mean for Hiram Green?
It is a bit abstract. I often choose an ingredient I want to work with, pair it up with another ingredient. I mix the two ingredients in different ratios and slowly start adding other ingredients that I think will compliment. It’s not much different from cooking.
When or how was the process of creating the brand? Can you describe what the moment was like that set everything in motion?
Scary!
Can you speak on you bottle and other design choices?
It was important to me for the packaging to be distinctive but also look what people expect a perfume to look like. I decided on a traditional bulb pump atomisers. Not many brands use them nowadays and it is an image that everyone associates with perfume.
Where can we find the stocklist for Hiram Green Perfumes?
The easy way is to visit the store locater page of my website for a stockist closest to you. www.hiramgreen.com
Finally where you feel the fragrance industry may be headed.
It seems like there is more choice for the customer now than ever before. I hope natural perfumery continues to grow and flourish.