Virginia Di Somma

From Maori Italian roots came a song sense of family, appreciation of music, art and design and a compelling urge to discover an aesthetic interpretation through which to creatively express life. 

The art of natural perfumery is an alchemical journey that takes lifetime to fully understand. That said, I’m inspired to compose perfumes that strike a chord, connecting our customers back to themselves through nature. 

The endless combinations within the vast palette of ingredients in the perfume organ is staggering. Playing keys on a piano can bring us to our knees, or propel us up from our chairs to the dance floor. Perfume can transport us to a time or place to relive memories buried below the surface of our subconscious mind. 

Composing scents that evoke calm, balance and euphoric states of mind, is hugely satisfying. I look forward to spending the rest of my life developing beautiful scents that people enjoy!

Aroha Silenzio

The smell of black coffee taels me to early mornings in bed with my partner. The smell of vetiver reminds me of walking through damp forest tracks in Northland winters. The smell of jasmine takes me to a childhood Christmas present opening - what would become a prized possession, my first soap making kit. Scent has the power to transport us through space and time. The power to encapsulate a moment and let us relive it again and again. When a client sits in our bespoke chair I want to work with them to create the perfect scent for their future memories. A scent they feel describes them and the way they see the world. A scent that makes them feel confident, approachable and utterly individual. 

The exquisite raw ingredients we work with are a testament to Mother Nature’s complexity. Each of the essential oils have their own personality, some warm and charming, others cold and brittle, most beyond the power of language to describe. The quest to further my understanding of these oils has kept me fully engaged and stimulated for the past three years. Matching these oils together so they complement and balance one another - as well as letting the star of the composition shine - is the art of creating timeless and beautiful perfumes. It is an art I am honoured to practise and to be able to share with our clients.

I love hosting dinner parties, whether it be at our house in Auckland or at our cabin in the forest further north. Cooking fresh food and creating mouth-watering flavours to be shared with loved ones brings me so much joy. I find this same joy creating and sharing our limited edition perfumes. Blending beautiful, powerful ingredients, knowing they are going to be worn and shared intimately over candlelight, or perhaps with rooms of people filled with champagne and laughter. The thought of it delights me.