A couple of years ago, a dear friend expressed feeling burned out. I listened carefully and said, “Give me some time, and I’ll create a scent I think you’ll love." So, I sat with my oils and composed for her a natural, sweet, and citrusy blend with bright top notes of bergamot, sweet orange, and mandarin.
When I introduced Rêve Orange last year as a limited aromatherapy fragrance, I only shared part of its story. But there’s so much more to it than meets the eye.
You see, its uplifting scent reminded me of joyful times in Haiti—back to past Christmas or New Year’s Eve.
In Haiti, Réveillon is a late-night celebration during the holidays. Family, extended family, friends of extended family, even neighbors often gathered at our home. The air buzzed with kompa, twoubadou, and zouk, layered with lively chatter, jokes, and laughter.
I can still hear the signature laugh of my cousin Sergo—a crescendoing “Rahhhhhhhh!” that echoed through the house; the chaos of cousins giggling on one side of the living room while the adults filled the other with lively conversations.
And then there were the savory-sweet aromas of familiar dishes filling the air, along with the lingering perfumes of many loved ones. The more I thought about those moments, the more I wanted to tweak my aromatherapy scent to capture them. So I returned to my oils. I added more vanilla, more sandalwood and more benzoin to evoke the warmth, love, and sense of belonging that made our Réveillon so special. But even then, something was still missing.
That’s when neroli came to mind—a sweet, multifaceted oil with a relaxing and uplifting scent. Its citrusy brightness, green whisper, and soft floral notes brought the quiet joy and contentment of those gatherings to life.❤
Looking back on Rêve Orange’s creative process, it made me appreciate more the importance of being open and curious about the natural scents I love. So as you encounter aromas you enjoy, listen to them, follow their lead, and see where they take you—because often, the scents we instinctively love can help us uncover a deeper story than meets the eye.
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