Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Life, Laughter, and Friendship







Sorry I have been away for awhile. It has been crazy trying to catch up with everything....with the shop and shows I have been doing. But I am back to say "Hello" and a public thank you to a few people.


Do you know when you have those days that just start off on the wrong note? That was my morning yesterday.

Life: That afternoon, however, a client and friend, Joahna (who is so great about spreading the word about us) came in to pick up her products and told me her sister was about to have her baby. Joahna had brought her sister in to have me do her makeup awhile back so I definitely shared in the excitement and anticipation. As an uncle of two, I remember the first time I saw each of my nephews...the hope and joy you felt was unexplainable. I cannot wait to see the photos.

Laughter: Not too long after, a client who also became a friend, Olivia, came in to pick up her products. We jokingly call her the tornado because she usually runs in and out like one. However, she actually got a parking sticker (from a kind stranger), and we ended up having a blast. Anyone who knows me knows I virtually live and breathe products and can talk about it all day....well, so can she, and it's always great to share with someone who values your passions. Although not a tornado that day, she was a whirlwind through the boutique picking up all the things she liked from the samples she tried, which was also confirmed by many positive reviews....but of course, we only carry the best! All this between talk and laughter.

Friendship: Around the end of the day, my client to friend (yet again) ,Connie, came in. It's always a joy to see her ever-smiling face and to be around her. Such a kind heart! She came in to tell me she's about out of her face lotion, talked some about dating life, and started to play aorund the shop. What I love about Connie is how she is so open to try new things...although I did give her a lecture about how she used hotel soap when she ran out of her cleanser. We got some advanced skin care, and she walked around picking imported natural bath oils and salts, chic makeup palettes and a body sheen product...for herself? No, as gifts! Did I not tell you she has a good heart? So Connie, thank you, thank you , thank you! At the very least, I need to treat you to more Thai food!

I am also reminded of my beauty, Michelline, who surprised me with beautiful flowers after two treatments and custom products. To see and hear from her how her skin completely transformed and has never looked better in all her years was so very touching. I was walking on clouds for the rest of the day. Having skin concerns myself, I can't imagine a better life than to be able to help like this. Thank you for inspiring me even more.

So there you have it, no product focus or beauty advice - just some thank you to people like you who help to make my day. Life, Laughter, and Friendship - these are all things that Inspire true beauty.

Until next time, I hope to see each of you sooner than later.
www.fezstudio.net

Fez Studio
1125 NW 9th Ave
Portland, OR 97209








Saturday, March 29, 2008

5 Stars

Perfumer Extraordinaire, Andy Tauer, got a look into the pre-print copy of the Luca Turin Book "Perfume: The guide" . One of our favorite scents, L'air du désert got 5 (out of 5 ) points and a full 1 page description which is rare in this book. If you are fascinated my the complexities if scents, it is highly recommended that you look at this book when is out ;-)

(as printed in Allure, April 2008, page 42 "Contributors"): Luca Turin wore the L'air du désert marocain at his wedding with Tania Sanchez!

For a Perfume Expert to wear this scent on such an occasion out of all that is available to him out there says a lot about "L'air".

About the Fragrance:

The scent: L'air du désert marocain is a true scent of desire. Inspired by the fragrant world of the Maghreb desert. Powerful, sensual and pure.This perfume for her and him is exciting and long lasting.It is the scenting canvas of a picturesque landscape, fascinating by its changing scents and lights.

The notes: The elegant head note is based on typical spicy scents of the Maghreb; coriander and cumin, joined with petitgrain. The warm heart note surprises with the fragrance of rock rose and a hint of jasmine. The body note is full of warm woods such as cedar wood, vetiver brilliantly joined with a fine amber background. A vision of the Maghreb.

The initial strength of this scent surprises some people, but when it is on your skin, various spice offerings are revealed enhancing your exotic sensuality. Since it lasts a long time, you will be transported to romantic lands where ever you go.

Tauer Perfumes are available at (503) 227-2226.

Fez Studio

1125 NW 9th Ave

Portland, OR 97209


Sunday, March 9, 2008

Night Aura

I ventured out in good-ol' P-town with a good friend last night and of course, one of the things I pay attention to is how people apply their makeup for a night out. I saw a group of beautiful blond women looking a bit washed-out in evening light. Although they had many strengths in their features, they were not enhanced by the color (or lack of) that were used.

A lot of people with light hair or skin may be timid about putting on extras as there have been rules in magazines that speak such nonsense. First, we have to consider the colors that look best on you which depend on your undertone (whether you are more warm or cool in coloring...please contact me if you have a question about this). This is also balanced out by the undertone of your hair color. Another consideration is that evening light tends to be less harsh than day light and casts shadows differently on your facial curves and contours.

Because of this, when you where your daytime, neutral-toned matte at night, it becomes duller looking from the shadows that are cast. You do not need to completely change your foundation or most of your makeup. A little highlight goes a long way (whether through a slight dab of gloss on the middle of the lips, a little bit of glow on the cheeks with some subtle sheen on the eyelids or browbone) both on the face and body. This will help the soft or dark lighting hug and highlight the contours of your face better...allowing you not to blend into the background.

When you don't have a lot of light to work with, it becomes extra important for you to define your best feature(s), whether it's your lips, eyes or cheeks with an extra pop of color. For lips, it is generally safe to go about two shades deeper than your natural lip shade, but then again, there are no rules. You may find that just a dab of lip-enhancing gloss will do the trick. This especially works well with played-up eyes.

Please make sure to blend, blend, blend...as you do not want the appearance of streaks but a certain aura that is emphasizes your best.

503.227.2226
Fez Studio
1125 NW 9th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Monday, March 3, 2008

RAVE, RAVE, RAVE!


Okay, you would think that after all of the products I have been around in my 11+ years in the industry, it would be hard for me to be truly surprised by much. I was wrong.

I began to use the Euoko line that I had heard about from a friend who styles pop singers in England (although it is a Canadian company).

I truly cannot believe the difference it has made in my skin! I have been using the Marine Vitamin Fluid and Cellular Energy Radiance Cream lately, and let me tell you, I noticed that something was different from the very first moment I put the products on. On the second day, however, I could not believe how my skin glowed, was even in tone, and how smooth it was! I kept touching the skin as if it was new to me and always stop to look at myself in the mirror. I truly couldn't believe the quick results and the comfort I felt with my skin! Yes, the products made me more vain, and I'm loving it! It's about time.

As a sufferer of acne and psoriasis for a long time, I am skeptical of many things so I truly have to believe in something before I will let my clients know about it! Believe me, I BELIEVE!

I have already received several compliments from clients, and the proof is in the pudding, right? I urge you...try these products for yourself. You wouldn't know how you ever lived without them before.

Enough writing, I think the mirror calls. :o) Until next time, stay beautiful, my friends.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Metamorphosis


Well, it's been about a month since I last posted. I've been quite a busy bee with redesigning the shop and the preparation for new product launches this month.

The main reason I decided to redesign the boutique is that I wanted it to better reflect the high-standards of my discriminating clients who really have a clear grasp on luxury and quality.

The change will coincide with the most luxurious, high-quality product launches you will find anywhere! Due to certain circumstances, we are temporarily not able to launch one of the lines we had planned, so we just kept with what we previously decided upon. These include:

sjal skin care
Euoko skin care
Scott Barnes Cosmetics
Abahna natural bath and body care.

These are perfect complements to our existing excellent line-up! We are the first in the Northwest and one of the few select places in the US to carry these elite and exclusive skin care lines. For those in the Fez A-list, you should be getting your March newsletter introducing these lines soon! I can't wait for you to experience them as my goal is to continue to offer you the best at all cost.....with global sensibility beyond the common counter.

Thank you so much for your continued support!

As always, all my very best to you,
Fez


Fez Studio
1125 NW 9th Ave
Suite 108
Portland, OR 97209

Monday, January 28, 2008

The Passion of Mr. Tauer

It is always inspiring to meet someone who is as committed and passionate about his work as our subject for the following interview. Andy Tauer, a Zurich-based self-taught perfumer, has put his soul into some of the most beloved niche scents known by the fragrance explorers of the world. Not familiar with his work? You soon will be, as Fez Studio is honored to be one of the few places in the world to offer Mr. Tauer's unique offerings.

I invite you to take this very engaging fragrance journey with me, graciously guided by Mr. Tauer himself, and once again get excited about fragrant dreams and what it means to be a true original.

1. For those who are not familiar with you and your work, what is your background and how did your passion for fragrance begin?
Well, first I should admit that I have never seen a perfumery school from inside and that I am proud on this fact. I came to perfumery by chance, although my background as chemist with a PhD in molecular biology for sure helped me to find my way through some formula and to handle chemicals. Once I discovered that I can make perfumes myself, I started reading one book after the other about it, but Mandy Aftel’s “Essence and Alchemy” was the most influential. Amazingly enough: Although being a chemist, I started making fragrances initially only with naturals and learned to combine them with single synthetics later. Composing perfumes is much more difficult than one would think and I have learned a lot from Vero, Vero Kern, a perfumer herself who just launched her line last year. She has studied the art of making perfumes in Paris and has become a true friend with the years. I think the two of us are a perfect match, as our styles are different, but yet, we are working in the same traditional, artisanal fashion without compromising when it comes to our perfumes.

2. In such a short time, your perfumes have become a niche favorite around the world. What do you attribute to your success and sets you apart in such an overabundant fragrance market?
When looking back these three years since Tauer perfumes exist as commercial available line I cannot but smile. I smile because in a sense it is an absurd story. I made my first “commercial” fragrance for a friend, Pascal, who has a shop in Zurich where he sells books and Moroccan handicrafts. I was unemployed, rather comfortably writing job applications as we have a generous social welfare system here in Switzerland, and creating fragrances. Thus, Pascal asked me to create a fragrance for his shop, based on some Moroccan natural oils and absolutes. I worked for a long time on this scent that I centred around Moroccan rose and jasmine absolutes and the Cedar wood oil from the High Atlas. I baptized it “Le Maroc pour elle” and I made some 20 bottles for Pascal’s shop, and we fixed a price that was not really reflecting the exclusiveness of the fragrant raw materials.

Well, and then the bottles were in Pascal’s shop and we did not sell a lot. Thus, not selling the first one, we figured out we need a second one, and while working on the next one, I started a blog and discovered another blog. It was the journal of Luca Turin, the perfume critic. After reading his eloquent and wonderful critical articles, I was one day brave enough to send him my Le Maroc pour elle, and… he wrote about it! First on his blog and then in a magazine. And suddenly, we started to sell and got questions from other bloggers and without really planning it I and Pascal were faced with a global market place, where there seems to be some place left for niche in a niche in a niche perfumers.

Thus, in order to answer finally your question: I think part of what sets me and my scents apart is the fact that I am truly niche, that I do not compromise when it comes to scents, that I do not invest in marketing, and that I am simply driven by the joy of doing what I do.

3. What's have you noticed as some shared traits that Tauer Perfumes devotees may have in common?
Yes, there is a common trait: They are lovely human beings. I have met many last year when visiting the US and I felt very connected.
And then, I guess, they share this joy of exploring new scented ground, they care about where something comes from, they search for authenticity and they like being taken by the hand and let them seduce.

4. One of the things that attracted me to your line was the fact that you are PERSONALLY involved with each fragrance from start to finish. You even hand pour the scents into the bottles yourself. You are literally a single person company and this speaks volumes about your love and passion for your craft. If I can put in my two cents, it definitely shows in the results. Despite your success in the past few years, why have you chosen to remain small?
Simple answer: I am not good in book-keeping. Thus, I keep my accountings small.
Now a serious answer: There is a critical size limit when things start to change.. Once you are above this limit, you disconnect yourself from your business. I am always worried that I disconnect myself from the scents and ultimately hamper myself from coming up with new ideas. One example: I still mix my stock solutions myself, meaning I pour my millilitres of rose absolute and other materials into large aluminium cans. Doing so is like taking a bath in scents, and I find this involvement, this very intense and close contact, important for my work, for my creativity. Another factor: There are some fragrances like the Le Maroc pour elle that I can not produce in large amounts, simply because the raw materials are too difficult to get in good quality. Maybe another answer to your question might be that I have also chosen to grow slowly. It is not only about size, but also about speed. I want to make one step after the other, and while doing so I learn my lessons. I know too many who wanted to grow too speedy and get rich too fast….
And ultimately: I rather enjoy making more, different, exciting, thrilling, controversial and new fragrances, than thinking about ways to increase sales. You see…I am very much driving the selfish motives ;-)

5. You are also very selective about where your perfumes are carried and distributed. We are definitely proud to be one of the few places to offer them. What are some deciding factors that may lead you to work with some people over others?
I wish that my partners and me share an enthusiasm for what I do, for my scents and for perfumes in general. And I listen very much to my gut whether the time and place is right. And I look out for business partners that have –like me- patience and do not want to make a quick buck and then run away.

6. I know you use the best of pure raw materials without ready made building blocks. I imagine this would be quite time intensive. To date, which scent has taken you the longest to perfect?
Hmmmm (thinks and thinks)….this is hard to say because I do not always develop a fragrance linearly, in the sense that I start today working on its formula and then make one iteration after the other in a row until it is finished. I rather work on it up to a point where I do not come forward, let the whole soup sit, work on other themes and maybe come back later. Maybe. Sometimes I give up for a year or two, until suddenly I feel like having a good idea, then I rush to my bottles and mix enthusiastically, quite often just to see that the idea does not work.

Well, maybe the longest development was the Lonestar Memories. As I have worked on a leather theme since I create perfumes. But now that we are talking about it…I think I have to work on another leather!


7. This question may be a difficult one since you are involved in each the creation of each scent from the picture it draws in your mind to the finished product...but, if you had to chose, which is your current favorite scent.
I change my favourites daily ;-)
Today it is the Incense extrême that I have just launched.

8. What is the idea behind your bottle images and design
When it comes to bottles, I tend to be rather pragmatic. Tauer Perfumes does not stand for fancy and expensive bottles. I want my bottles to be affordable, simple and come in reasonable size. The design of the flyer going with the bottle and the design on the bottle itself is a little bit more critical to me. It is a very thin line. On one hand I want to express thoughts on a scent using a picture, and then I do not want to impose my pictures on others who might have totally different visions. Lucky me I have my blog: There, folks warn me from moving too far when it comes to visuals.

9. What is next that we may look forward to from the Tauer perfumes?
Well, I have Ford pick-up full of ideas in my head. Besides that, there is a scent built around Vetiver, a rather green and flowery take on it, that sits on my bench and waits patiently for the next step. It is finished, and I just need to make my mind up what to do next. Then there is a quite avant-garde fragrance, built on the idea of a mechanic after work, with hyacinths in his hand, a bunch of flowers for his beloved one. A lush flower scent with a leathery base including a hint of motor oil. This scent is travelling the world right now. Your readers may find out more visiting my website and look for the "bottle on a journey". And then there is the chypre....but there I am still suffering.


10. Where can our clients find more information about you and your line?
I recommend visiting my blog from time to time. I have started this very personal online journal almost 3 years ago and I talk about new developments, about my life and building a business on perfumery, and from time to time I ask my visitors to comment on new ideas, or I give away samples of fragrances under developments. I welcome your readers to contact me by e-mail, too.

This blog is one of the best ideas I came across when starting this business. It keeps me connected to a community of perfume lovers, it is a way of exchanging ideas, and sometimes folks bring me down to earth when I am in danger of flying off to far.

11. Finally, your recommendation to perfume lovers in search of the perfect perfume?
Never ever give up, and while searching enjoy the ones that come somewhat close to the ideal.

For more information on Andy Tauer and Tauer perfumes, please visit

or contact us at: (503) 227-2226

Fez Studio
1125 NW 9th Ave
Portland, OR
97209

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Happy Holidays!


It has certainly been a busy December for us at FEZ Studio. With events every week this month, it has been wonderful as we were able to give back to the community and several charities through the business...something I have always wanted to do.

It also allowed us the opportunity to meet even more genuinely good-hearted people and inspired us to do this on a more permanent scale. We will be partnering with a very special organization after the start of the new year. The joys of sharing and giving definitely doesn't have to end with the Holidays.

We sincerely thank you for all of your friendship and support this past year. You can be sure that next year will be filled with beautiful new surprises and useful beauty advice...so please check back often.

We wish you and those you hold dear a most Joyous Holiday and a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year!


Fez Studio
1125 NW 9th Ave
Suite 108
Portland, OR 97209

503.227.2226