Founder Story
I'm Donna, the founder of Wicked Fumes, and this is the story of how Wicked Fumes came into being.
History Takes Its Time
Wicked Fumes began as a name and a concept back in 2016. But it took seven long years for me to get the guts to kick things into gear.
Initially, I thought the idea was just a flight of fancy, something to distract me when life got dull. But the idea grew so many legs that I had to stop pretending Wicked Fumes was just a daydream, and turn it into a reality.
Foodie Fragrance Obsessed
I've always been obsessed with gourmand fragrances, probably because I'm a mega foodie. I have a sweet tooth that just won't quit.
All sticky fingers point to my mother as being responsible. She was a bona fide dessert queen. Coming home from school meant diving into some out-of-this-world drool-worthy treat she had whipped up while I was gone. She couldn't cook steak or vegetables to save herself, but her meringue? Legendary. Her baked cheesecake? Epic.
I can't tell you how many times I've smelt something scrumptious coming out of our kitchen and thought, I wish I could smell just like that!
I was destined for the world of gourmand fragrance!
Dropping the Drama
Most mainstream perfumes are formulated using alcohol as a solvent, which is brilliant for stabilising fragrance molecules and distributing them effectively in a spray, but also presents some downsides.
First, to me all those delicious gourmand notes seem drowned out by alcohol, smelling too boozy, even after dry down. Or the fragrance is way too sweet and cloying. Second, alcohol in perfume is extremely dehydrating to the skin. Premature aging and skin discolouration are side effects I can live without!
After searching long and hard for years, I found a couple of perfumes I liked and started spritzing them onto my clothes and hair. Cue impending disaster; I got stains on my clothes and my hair turned the texture of straw.
For the record, I am not allergic to perfume, or alcohol (god forbid!) or suffer from fragrance sensitivities. I just want my perfume to smell every bit as good as food does and not give me wrinkles!
To top it all off I had ruined my favourite handbag after smashing a perfume bottle I had been lugging around.
Solid Revelation
What was a gourmand girlie in need of a new wardrobe, accessories, and a hair treatment to do? My day job at the time was Research Ninja (exactly what I called myself), so I put those skills to use in finding a solution.
Turns out alcohol isn't the only solvent used for perfume; oils and waxes have been used for thousands of years to capture fragrance and release it when warmed. They are naturally hydrating, good for the skin (and hair), and hold fragrance molecules stable for long periods.
Of course I knew about solid perfume but the ones I'd sampled were made with essential oils or didn't smell anything like the scents I craved. After consulting with the International Fragrance Association, I got a hold of some ingredients and started experimenting.
A huge revelation awaited! These solid perfumes smelt good enough to eat, had no underlying booziness, no cloying sticky sweetness and no over-projection issues. Just a purer, cleaner scent profile and no leaks.
Solid perfume is also a different wearing experience. You can still apply plenty of solid perfume to your hot spots and others will notice it, but the fragrance is undeniably more intimate. Perfume for you, not everyone else. It's also perfect for blending. There's no messy "scent-soup" or one scent cancelling the other out; different scents maintain their integrity and co-mingle well on the skin.
Colourful Convos
I hope you play with and enjoy these perfumes as much as I do.
What started as a personal passion project has grown into something for anyone who loves the idea of fragrance, food and a bit of wicked fun! My own favourite wickedly irresistible duo is P@rnapple and Cocoloco Nut.
Let me know what you think, I love a colourful conversation!