Ajne Natural Fragrances

I used to wear Chanel No. 5, but somewhere along the line I became averse to the overpowering synthetic smells that you find in most commercial perfumes (not to mention body products, candles and shampoos.) And many people with allergies or a family history of cancer stay away from synthetic fragrances for their health.

So I was intrigued to find out about Ajne, a line of natural fragrances blended by perfumer Jane Hendler in Carmel, California. Ajne fragrances are 100% synthetic-free -- the perfect choice for someone who wants complex natural scents made with high quality essential oils like Bulgarian roses.

Ajne fragrances are available in a number of spas, including The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena, CA., Pebble Beach Resort, and the Four Seasons in New York City, Los Angeles, Maui, and Manele Bay on Lanai. A spa is a great setting because you are relaxed and have time to really experience the scents. You can also get Ajne fragrances at Bergdorf-Goodman in New York City, the flagship Ajne shop in Carmel, CA. and on-line at Ajne.

The scents are designed to work with the body's chakras, or energy systems. To find out what scents are best suited for you and which chakras need support, Ajne starts with a test that comes in a short or long form. The short form asks questions like "what styles of fragrance do you prefer?" (woody, citrus, floral, etc.) and "What colors are most attractive to you right now?" A longer test gets a little more personal: "Do you struggle with self-doubt and feelings of inferiority?"

Based on my answers, Jane Hendler identified that I like woody, spicy scents and that I need support in my base chakra. She mailed me several samples in one ml. bottles to see which ones I liked best. (You can replicate this process on the Ajne website. There's no test, but you can make a choice of three samples for $25, based on the kinds of fragrances you like and detailed descriptions. It's a great travel size, and you receive a $25 credit towards a full-size purchase.)

I flirted with Passion, which combines Bulgarian and Turkish roses with blood orange and magnolia flowers, but fell in love with Om, a blend of sandalwood, heart cedar and forest lichen that both women and men wear. Nouvel Amour was beautiful but faded quickly, and I ruled out Calme (too much vanilla) and the gardenia-like Printemps.

Because I was torn between two scents Jane suggested a demi-blend, which is a slightly personalized scent. She sent two different blends of both Om and Passion, but I liked both better as stand-alone fragrances. Jane understood. "I worked on these fragrances for a long time and feel they're perfect as they are."

She explained it would be easier to do demi-blending in person at a spa or retail location because you can give instant feedback. "If someone wants a slightly customized scent, we can add a little more depth or sparkle."

Prices for Ajne fragrances start at $75 an ounce and average $150. (One ounce of Om is $110, and one-half ounce of Passion is $180.) The price depends on the cost of the essential oils used in the blend.

A demi-blend, created on the spot by one of Jane's certified blenders, starts at $250 per ounce and goes up to $500 for a unique custom blend. The process takes about an hour. A unique signature scent created just for you by Jane starts at $750 and can take several months. Jane has created custom fragrances for Reese Witherspoon, Hilary Swank, Pierce Brosnan and Felicity Huffman.

I highly recommend Ajne fragrances. They're complex, sophisticated and subtle, and especially wonderful if you don't want to wear synthetics. They're not inexpensive, but they're not out of line with the mass-produced synthetic fragrances available at department stores. You can also purchase Ajne skin care, body care and home fragrances.