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The Nose Behind MARACA

By Nicole Saunders

The Nose Behind MARACA
We chat with Chris Lim - the founder and nose behind MARACA.

Tell us about the inspiration behind MARACA.

Fragrance has surrounded me throughout my life. To me, fragrance is an everyday luxury that enhances emotions, evokes memories and can transform any environment to feel luxurious. No matter what time of day, the right choice of fragrance can create a relaxing and fragrant atmosphere that will instantly add a little luxury to your day. This is what inspired me to created MARACA – it is a culmination of my lifelong dream to create a luxurious home fragrance and body care brand as an everyday indulgence.

We hear you have a vast fragrance collection. Can you tell us a little bit about your collection? What are three of your all-time favourite fragrances?

I fell in love with the mysterious powers of fragrance at an early age. My aunt – who worked in the beauty industry – had an amazing collection of fragrance miniatures, which I used to spend hours playing with whenever I had the chance. This soon led to an early career when I was employed behind the fragrance counter of a luxury store at the age of 17, which coincided with the beginning of my now vast fragrance collection that runs into hundreds of sparkling, beautiful scented bottles. My all–time favourites are:

Ginger Essence by Origins – I often use this fragrance in summer to create the perfect balance between warm and cool, energy and calm. It smells just like a day spa – very natural and refreshing with spicy and citrusy notes.

Sauvage by Christian Dior – This is my newest baby in my Dior collection! I have been using Dior fragrances such as Fahrenheit, Dior Homme, Higher Energy and the original Eau Sauvage for years, but this new fragrance just blows me away! It’s wild, masculine and very distinctive fragrance makes it the perfect choice to use in the evening for a casual night out.

Boss Bottled by Hugo Boss – Hugo Boss is the first fragrance brand I worked with back in 1998 and still one of my favourite brands. This fragrance is fresh and woody with a hint of warm spicy notes. I find it very masculine, sexy and elegant! Need I say more, this fragrance is still a top seller around the world!

 

You’re the nose behind each of MARACA’s fragrances. Tell us a little bit about what goes into creating each one.  

The inspiration behind each MARACA fragrance is based on my experiences with fashion, trends, culture and countries that I have traveled to. Each fragrance is bespoke and is created to release a story of inspiration that is designed to take the receiver on a fragrant journey. For example: Shanghai Night – the most memorable smell that reminded me of my experiences in China and their culture was the unique smell of burning incense in the temples – so this fragrance is oriental spicy, warm and woody with a blend of rose, jasmine and ylang-ylang leaving a beautifully invigorating scent perfect for the evening. Sunset Dreams takes me straight back to my holiday in Brazil every time! A sweet and delightfully playful fragrance deliciously scented with a fruity cocktail composed of juicy blood orange and alphonso mango, to create an exotic twist of tropical freshness.

 

Out of all the scents you’ve created, do you have a personal favourite?

My newest fragrance – ROSERAIE – it is my tribute to my love of the classic rose and was named in honour of the French word for ‘rose garden’. This was inspired by a visit to the Garden Of Bagatelle in Paris, France. This breathtaking garden is famous for its rose garden and annual international rose competition which has been running since 1907. I absolutely adore this new scent as its beauty is awash with a fresh and youthful blend of rich florals and delicious fruits that capture the very essence of a summer rose garden.

With the festive season just around the corner, can you give us some tips on how to pick the perfect home fragrance or candle as a gift for someone special?

Selecting the perfect fragrance for someone special requires a little bit of research. Look out for things that they love – perfumes, fresh flowers or even types of food and then find the connecting fragrance notes – floral, fruity, sweet or spicy. If you are really unsure, select a home fragrance or candle that is not too overpowering and a fragrance that is universally enjoyed like fresh citrus or light fruity fragrances.

Because fragrance can be such a personal choice I launched the MARACA Mini Candle Trio Collection which consists of three different scents – floral, fruity and oriental spicy – for hassle-free gifting.

MARACA is available at selected pharmacies, speciality stores nationwide and online at www.maracanewzealand.com

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