Intuitive Fragrance Creation with Carrie Keller, Founder & Perfumer

Meet Carrie Keller, the LA-based Perfumer, whose journey into Intuitive Fragrance Formulation and the empowering properties of scents captures the essence of luxurious, sustainable aromatherapy. Discover her unique creative process and path into perfumery, as Carrie unravels the secrets behind her otherworldly scents designed to elevate your well-being, creating a transformative experience for your everyday moments.

How did you discover the power of scent, and what sparked your passion for natural fragrance formulation?

I’ve always had an affinity for nature. As a child in grade school, I remember attempting to make my own perfumes by pressing magnolia flowers in water. Years later, as I entered my teens, I started studying natural healing modalities and the power of herbs, ultimately leading me to pursue an education in aromatherapy.

I wanted to understand the science of natural oils – their cerebral, emotional, and physical effects.
I first created my skincare products years ago with the intention of helping people with their skin concerns, such as psoriasis, acne, and sensitive skin. The chakra sprays came later as I wanted to help people feel a sense of relief after a long day and refresh their energy. My sensitivity increased over time, and I had a hard time wearing scents, which sparked my perfume-making journey.

As a perfumer who approaches fragrance formulation as a highly intuitive process, can you tell us more about how you allow your intuition to lead your creative process?

When creating exclusive scents for other brands, I use my formulation knowledge coupled with my intuitive abilities to capture scent experiences and identities for the specific brand or environment. I have a strong connection to a higher channel that constantly inspires me to create. But it is also a highly intuitive process because it requires the ability to feel and understand the needs and personalities of my customers. I am deeply inspired by the various sensorial elements of perfumery and other arts, such as music, for example, but especially the collaborative, human aspect of exchanging with my clients leads my intuitive process during formulation.

How do your fragrances contribute to your clients' well-being? And how do you select your ingredients palette to respect your commitment to creating empowering scents?

I see my fragrances as little portals of energy that bring comfort, so when creating scents, I try to capture the essence of a place or of an experience. I want the perfumes to smell luxurious and complex while simultaneously evoking positive feelings. On a practical level, they are completely pure, responsibly sourced, and formulated, which is helpful for our bodies, of course, and wonderful for people like me who are sensitive and typically can’t wear perfumes.

I believe people are drawn to the purity of my scents and the way they make them feel.
My commitment to transparency in perfumery is why I work with a limited number of sourcing companies, with whom I can completely track their process; and it's also why I chose to specialize in natural perfumery. I love that people can have a sophisticated scent experience while enjoying the healing benefits of perfumes.

For example, the latest pocket perfume oils, Sacred Temple and Holy Rose, were created to remind people of their inner sanctuary. They offer a feeling of grounding and connection to the heart. I wanted to create something that was small enough to take with you and reapply anytime needed.

How do your clients react to the impact of Life Aromatherapy fragrances on their well-being?

I’m grateful that people are so positively responsive. I think it is a unique scent experience for them, which is why I have a very loyal customer base. They replenish their favorite scents before they’re on their last drop to ensure they are never without it. It warms my heart to know people are connected to our scents and products. I believe people feel a sense of relief and comfort when wearing our scents. I would love for our fragrances to reach more places, so that everyone can experience the effects. We are working on it!

What types of services and products does Life Aromatherapy offer to support your clients on emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual levels?

I’m about empowering others. My scents were created to offer the wearer a luxurious experience while simultaneously providing an elevated energy. I want my products to be supportive, nurturing, while smelling amazing. There is a well of science related to aromatherapy and the effects on our bodies and brains. I try to illuminate the healing effects of essential oils while offering inspiration, insight, and tools to encourage people to be empowered in other areas of their life. On a spiritual level, I am an intuitive channel and personally offer 1:1 sessions for those who want to go a bit deeper and explore areas where they might be limiting themselves. My line and work are a journey, thus the name Life. We are constantly evolving and need different types of support throughout our lives.

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the fragrance industry. How does Life Aromatherapy prioritize sustainability in its practices and offerings?

We are conscious about the ingredients we use in our products. We purposely use oils that are sustainable. Although we use essential oils that are on the high end of the price scale, they are readily available.
We purposely work in small batches. In addition, we choose to use bottles that can be easily recycled and choose not to use boxes. We are conscious about not using plastic materials when shipping as well.

Describe your brand in three words...

Otherworldly, pure, elevated.

What can we expect from Life Aromatherapy in the future?

I see more collaborations in the future for me as a fragrance formulator, as more and more businesses are focusing on natural fragrances. I have a unique ability using my intuitive abilities to tune into and capture the essence or energy that brands wish to create through scent, allowing for a completely exclusive experience.

In addition, I’d love to create hotel and museum scent experiences and expand the line in thoughtfully curated stores.
I am always creating new scents – the next scent I’m working on has to do with stars as I’m fascinated by our universe.