Like our country Aotearoa, our perfumes are unbridled, vibrant and unforgettable.  It is that iconic, almost untouchable beauty of Aotearoa that we endeavour to re-create.

Fiercely into sustainability (in a nice way), we use renewable resources and are eco-friendly in all our avenues of work. We are strongly against products that have been tested on animals and we use no animal products. 

Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand, and means ‘The Land of the Long White Cloud'. Myth and legend - not to mention history - claim it was Hine-te-aparangi, the wife of the Maori navigator Kupe, who on first sighting Aotearoa called out "He ao! He aotea! He aotearoa!" (A cloud! A white cloud! A long white cloud!). With Hine-te-aparangi in our minds we create perfumes that echo her wonder and joy at seeing our ‘long white cloud’. Her vision became part of our inspiration.

How on earth did this begin?

Back in 1983 while visiting Santorini, that most beautiful of Greek Isles, Kate JasonSmith chanced upon a tiny ceramic pot containing the most exquisite solid perfume. Hoping the perfume would last forever proved futile. But the little ceramic pot Kate kept as a constant reminder of everything about that particular moment in her life.

Some ten years later back in New Zealand, Kate met Francesca who explained she’d run a very successful business in the tourist gift market in Greece … creating solid perfumes in ceramic pots…‘Do you mean like this?" asked Kate finding her treasured ceramic pot.  Indeed, it was Francesca’s perfume!

Kate urged Francesca to create a similar solid perfume product for the Pacific market based on the beauty that is Aotearoa. In 2002 they decided on their unique packaging concept and their first Original Range was born.

Personal Profiles

Francesca Brice was the designer and creator of the company "Flowers of Greece" that introduced cream perfumes to the Greek tourist souvenir market in 1979. "Flowers of Greece" rapidly became a very successful business and operated until Francesca left Greece in 1993. In her native New Zealand Francesca started up "The Mermaid Guesthouse for Women" in Wellington to cater to the growing women travellers market, which has now been operating for over 15 years.

Kate JasonSmith has spent most of her working life in theatre & film, as an actor, designer and producer. She was the originator and producer of the highly successful Hens' Teeth Women's Comedy Company who entertained NZ audiences for over 12 years. Kate received an NZFTV Best Drama award in 1993 for directing the film "Xmas for Lou." She was foremost in NZ in developing a method of teaching screen acting, and taught at the NZ Drama School Toi Whakaari and at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre.