Natasha Côté-Mouzannar

"Scents of Wood is a brand full of soul. As a perfumer, it’s a beautiful journey through the woods, crafting each fragrance with a unique message and personality. Fabrice’s approach to distribution and exclusivity is game changer."

"I am a Québécoise and I grew up in Toronto. I was lucky: I grew up in a whirlwind of cultures. Trinidad, Pakistan, India, Italy – the whole world came to visit. We would play music. I was interested in people and I still am. I had a simple, happy childhood, something I am truly grateful for. I speak French and went to a bilingual school, and we spoke French at home. I believe I’m the only Canadian perfumer."

In just a few words, delivered in a concise yet relaxed manner, Natasha evokes her roots, her identity and what drives her – that confidence she’s always had that joy is something to be cultivated. Natasha has a direct way of speaking and her voice is warm and strong, like her laugh. Natasha has honed her inspirations and palette over time, learning from the people she meets.

Life brings her influences: "In broader terms, everything that’s a part of living life is nourishment for me – people, conversations, traveling, cooking and, most of all, children. Watching them, observing the way they invent and think and discover the world opens up a whole world to us; their positive outlook is, literally, my breath of life."

Natasha pauses, and then surprises us, saying, "But in the end, even more than children, it’s old people that inspire me. I like old people. I talk to them all the time. I was close to my grandmother when I was growing up; she passed on her wisdom and sense of ethics to me. She cooked a lot; she was a cheerful, smiley person, truly incredible. Old people and the stories they can tell help you grow up. And all those stories forge mysterious connections, make you change your pace, open up new perspectives. Times change. I love to ask them questions, ask them for advice because they’ve experienced so many things; they have perspective whereas we tend to lose sight of things that matter. Our relationship with the earth and with food get altered by our broken connections. We need to be nourished by other people and stay connected."

"When I create a perfume, I create moments. I look for the perfect accord, the flow in my puzzle, the unity of the parts; I try to create cohesion and coherence, where all of the elements are in their place, even if they stand out.” And let them stand out! Nothing flat, for contours rule!