Recently, I’ve been sampling some fragrances sent to me by the UK celebrity makeup artist turned perfumer, Lucy Baldock-Sacchi. Lucy spent 12 years living in Australia, where she fell in love with the natural resources, healing atmosphere, the people and unpolluted lands. She discovered for herself the emotional, spiritual and physical benefits of the Australian Bush Flowers. Lucy B. is the only perfume company in the world to have infused the natural Australian Flower Essences within their products, sharing with everyone the unique Australian energy & lifestyle.
At the time, there was a gap in the market for the perfect combination of natural, organic ingredients & colour cosmetics. Lucy consulted with the Australian Bush Flower expert, Ian White, and developed specific essences that lift the spirit and enhance confidence. I have always been a fan of the original cult favourite, Pink Frangipani, and keep a roller bottle of the oil in my purse. All of the Lucy B perfumes are soft and gentle, and easy to wear. They are well priced, with all products in the line being under $50. My new favourite is Royal Water Lotus & Vanilla Musk, a gentle airy and watery floral that smells like clean skin and paradise. Really. Tropical Gardenia is another favourite, and Royal Green Fig & Vanilla Woods is too…it’s actually hard to choose as they are all gorgeous.
From her site:
Lucy B. Cosmetics & Fragrances is unlike any other beauty range. We believe that it takes a holistic lifestyle on every level to ultimately transform each person. By including Australian Bush Flower Essences and pure aroma-therapeutic extracts in every product, we have harnessed the power and magic of the Australian botanical apothecary to bring you benefits that go way beyond beauty. The result is a range that helps transform the body, mind and soul.
Of course, after seeing Mad Max: Fury Road, my mind has been obsessing over all things Australian. I won’t spoil it for you, but unless you have been living under a rock, you’ve likely heard that the female characters are strong, inspirational, and badass. When I left the film I was all fired up, partially because my adrenalin levels were off the charts, but also because I was in love with the women I met on Fury Road. I’ve been wearing Lucy B’s perfumes and test driving them, and appreciating her positive messages of strength, health and confidence that the line wants to share while inspiring the wearer. Then I thought – who better to wear these magical feminine Australian scents than the women of Fury Road? I fell in love with them all – in particular, The Five Wives. When we first meet them, they seem so precious and delicate, one wonders how on earth they will survive when taken out of their prison. It becomes immediately clear that these women are not delicate flowers, and that like many prisoners, they were not broken, but emboldened and fortified by their oppression.
Perhaps one day, they help cultivate the scorched world around them, and with the wisdom of The Many Mothers and that bag of The Seed Carrier, grow and share beautiful flowers with healing essences with everyone around them. At first one might think that soft beautiful floral scents are counter-intuitive perfumes for seriously badass women to wear. But I say, these women don’t need a perfume to project their strength. They do that quite well on their own.
From left: The Dag, Toast The Knowing, Cheedo The Fragile, The Splendid Angharad, and Capable
Abbey Lee – The Dag: At first the angelic blonde Dag appears flighty and fragile, but the reality is that she has a heightened sense of awareness as to what is going on around her. She slings around insults fearlessly, while also praying to “anyone who will listen”. She is strong while appearing ethereal. I would scent her in Royal Water Lotus & Vanilla Musk.
Top notes of lotus and watery musk a heart of rose petals within a base of warm amber & precious woods.
Zoë Kravitz – Toast The Knowing: Toast is a bit different from the other wives. Physically, she is shorter and her hair has been hacked into a shag that somehow manages to look pretty amazing. Toast loads the guns and counts the ammo, and would appear to aspire to being a warrior like Furiosa. I see her as someone who grows and thrives, despite the harshness of her world. I would put her in Lucy B Australian Wild Jasmine.
Top notes of Pineapple & White Ginger middle notes of Wild Australian Jasmine, and bottom notes of Water Lily & Magnolia. Australian Wild Jasmine scents the skin creating a wildly sensual yet fresh Australian scent while boosting the mood through the flower essences. Simply put, it’s Australia in a bottle.
Courtney Eaton – Cheedo the Fragile: The youngest of the wives (the actress was 16 during the making of the film!), Cheedo was comfortable in the enclosed world of her prison in The Citadel, and is fearful of the outside world. She endures, however, and emerges from the battle a stronger woman. I would scent her in Lucy B Royal Egyptian Amber & Honeysuckle, with delicate top notes, but warm and enduring base notes.
Top notes of honeysuckle and peach a heart of jasmine flowers with a touch of patchouli within a warm base of amber and cashmere.
Rosie Hungtington-Whiteley – The Splendid Angharad: Splendid is visibly pregnant and is completely unafraid. She is conflicted about the child she is carrying, and is courageous, but can also be reckless. She uses herself as a human shield without hesitation, and is determined to live a free life. She makes me think of the feminine and strong rose, so I would scent her with Lucy B Royal Peony Rose & Mandarin Musk.
Top notes of mandarin & tangerine a heart of pink peony and base of delicate camellia flowers.
Riley Keough – Capable: Early on we learn that Capable is tender and compassionate. She cares for a sick and dying character who was trying to capture her, and is aware that her lunatic captor and the leader of The Citadel world is not immortal. She is empathetic and caring. I see Capable as nurturing, and somehow the green freshness of Lucy B Royal Green Fig & Vanilla Woods would be perfect for her.
Top notes of fresh green fig & pepper with a heart & base notes of green leaf, creamy coconut & sensual vanilla.
Finally, I want to scent Furiosa. I am almost overwhelmed emotionally when I think of her. She was kidnapped as a child, and suffered unspeakable atrocities at the hands of the insane leader of The Citadel. Her one dream and defining goal is to get back to The Green Place of The Many Mothers.
Her pain and vulnerability are buried deep below her badass-ness and the anger and fury that propels her. I want to scent her dream and memory of a green, lush and caring paradise, with the queen of all fragrances, gardenia. Lucy B Tropical Gardenia perhaps embodies The Green Place, and I wish that for Furiosa.
Top notes of gardenia, middle notes of orchid flowers and dewy green with bottom notes of cashmere musk.
Lucy B perfumes are available on her site, in many other online boutiques, and in many retail locations in Canada, the US and around the world. Check the Lucy B store locator to find the right one for you!
