Artisans: The Burren Perfumery: ThePost.ie


TCH Archives > Sunday Business Post > 2007/02/11 > Artisans: The Burren Perfumery

Artisans: The Burren Perfumery
Sunday, February 11, 2007 - By Emma Kennedy
There are few things as powerful in evoking a moment or a memory as a smell. Sadie Chowen, owner of the Burren Perfumery in Carron, Co Clare, knows this, as she creates scents for different moods and times of day.

Things were different when the perfumery was set up almost 40 years ago, Chowen says; then women stuck to one signature scent which they felt defined them.

Chowen is the third owner of the business and the first woman to take the helm.

The original owner, Brian Mooney, was inspired by flowers and local landscapes. His philosophy lives on in the perfumery today, as Chowen’s childhood in France has also filled her with a passion for all things floral. She recalls being surrounded by sunflowers and lavender during hot summer days in the South of France.

For Chowen, perfume should be ‘‘unfussy’’ rather than ‘‘cheap, cheerful and overdone’’.

She says there is room for a lot of different scents, because each wearer has different preferences. Her personal favourites are perfumes based on the rich, sensuous scent of vanilla or perfumes with a fresh and zingy herb and citrus aroma.

A translator by profession, Chowen describes herself as "always being a plants person". When she initially became involved with the perfumery eight years ago, she knew instantly that the way of life suited to her, describing it as "a lifestyle business". She bought the perfumery three years later.

Today she is a hands-on owner. Climbing ladders, checking boxes and choosing packaging are all par for the course during her working day. The rest of the time is spent working on design and product development.

Her goal for her business is to maintain a high quality across all the product ranges.

The perfumery works with a number of hotels, providing the products for guest bathrooms. Chowen sees this as an area with strong growth potential over the coming years.

Chowen exports her products to the US and Europe and may soon move into the mail order business.

However, she likes the idea of dealing directly with clients and keeping the personal touch.

Perfume is more than just a cosmetic, she says. ‘‘The perfect perfume is one that takes hold of you emotionally, has a personal connection or hits an emotional trigger.”

burrenperfumery.com

E-mail agenda@sbpost.ie