I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Fragrance designer Diane Fisher is a woman obsessed. Obsessed with one singular scent: vanilla. Only she's come up with a variety of ways to make boring old vanilla seem...well, not so vanilla. Diane recently launched a new line of perfumes called Vmagique, all based around this common scent. I interviewed her to find out more about this new project.




How did you get started creating perfumes? Several years ago I started out with my own bath and body company but I quickly realized that my passion and strength was in the creation of unusual scents. I had more and more customers requesting signature scents. Before I knew it I was creating one of a kind perfumes for my clients. It was this very passion that led me to experiment and research with new raw materials including but not limited to plant extracts, absolutes, and distillates. I became fascinated with the the various aromas I could create. I have been on a fragrance journey ever since constantly creating and reworking scent compositions. After years of working on my formulas, the Vmagique line of perfume oils was born.

Tell me a little more about your new line of fragrances. It was this timeless attraction to vanilla that inspired the creation of the Vmagique perfume line. Based on the intoxicating aroma of vanilla, I created 3 distinct vanilla based perfume oils, Kasia, Noelani, and Zahana, all which have a romantic and sensual feel to them. Kasia is a fresh skin type perfume. It meshes with your chemistry to create the perfect individual signature scent you can call your own. Noelani is a flirtatious and soulful tropical fragrance, reminiscent of a free spirited summer afternoon at the beach. Zahana is the sexy cream and spice type scent. It's warm, dark and sexy, making it perfect for a cold winter's night or a sexy rendezvous with a loved one.

Any advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs? Be passionate with what you do. There will probably be many, many bumps in the road but never feel discouraged. I know it is hard not to feel down when things don't go your way (I know this too well!) but let your passion drive you. There will be both good and bad days but you charge ahead to make the best of it. Also, when you are on a shoestring budget, like many indie designers, look for inexpensive and creative ways to get the word out about your business such as focusing on getting blog reviews or even targeted advertising on smaller blogs.

Who are your favorite designers? I have a great appreciation for perfumers like Serge Lutens and Beth Terry.