Overlook 'erotic Parisian woman' fragrances. This L.A. duo manufactures gender-neutral perfumes that evoke emotions.
Welcome to Samar Perfumes: A Lair for Boundary-Breaking Fragrances
Step inside Debbie Lin and Na-Moya Lawrence's Hollywood abode, and you'll be greeted by an intoxicating aroma that's as pleasant as it is unexpected. That's because this pair isn't just your average apartment dwellers; they're the masterminds behind Samar, an artisanal perfume company that's shaking up the industry with its unique and unapologetic creations.
Perched on a foldaway table surrounded by shelves packed with essences of all shapes and sizes, they welcome you into their thriving creative haven. "Fancy a whiff of this?" Debbie asks, her deviant grin beaming as she holds a bottle of verdant green tea essential oil under your nose.
In this series, we're shining the spotlight on independent creatives, from glassblowers to fiber artists, who are crafting unique wonders right here in Los Angeles. And these perfume mavens certainly fit the bill!
Breaking the Mold
You might be surprised to find this award-winning perfumery nestled in a residential neighborhood. But that's exactly what Debbie and Na-Moya are all about - they're subverting industry norms in favor of self-expression, exploration, and a dash of humor.
Na-Moya describes the conventional perfume landscape as a bastion of lofty aspirations and inaccessible, unrelatable imagery: "Wanna smell like a Parisian seductress? Of course, you do! But what if you want to smell like a dirty pond goblin instead? Go for it! And they call that weird?"
From a Pandemic Pastime to a Passion
The duo launched Samar in Seattle back in 2022, determined to transform a pandemic hobby into a thriving venture. "We were dreaming of the places we'd travel to when we could, and reminiscing about the things we missed doing," Debbie explains.
They tried a variety of projects before stumbling upon their calling: perfumery. A spirited endeavor indeed, but not without its challenges - including Na-Moya's original dislike for perfume. That is, until she set out to create a scent Debbie could savor.
Armed with determination and a tenacious DIY spirit, they scoured online forums and subreddits to sift through the bad advice and eventually found some legitimate resources. They ordered experimental oils from providers like Perfumer's Apprentice, Hermitage Oils, and Pell Wall, and their journey as perfumers began.
The Art of Memory
Samar's perfumes are deeply rooted in personal recollections and emotions. Their inaugural scents, Garden Heaux (a vegetal, green perfume) and Happy Trails (a smoky, woodsy concoction inspired by Debbie's love for camping), were imbued with the essence of their memories and emotions they wanted to preserve and share with others.
The name Samar holds dual significance in Arabic: fruits of paradise and evening conversations with friends. A fitting moniker, indeed, for perfumes that evoke feelings of intimacy and shared experiences.
A Collaborative Partnership
In their cozy and intimate working environment, one of them usually takes point, focusing on the perfume development, while the other assumes the role of scent evaluator, ensuring a harmonious and balanced final product.
Don't expect an instant agreement, though. They famously disagreed over the balance of Grove is in the Heart, which would eventually win an Art and Olfaction Award. "It was too woody for Na-Moya but not sweet enough for me. It was like finding that elusive middle ground between a dried orange peel and the juiciness she yearned for," Debbie shares.
Inclusive Pricing and Embracing the Unusual
As a small, self-financed operation, Samar operates without the discounts enjoyed by major brands, which buy essential oils in bulk. To keep their creations accessible, they offer smaller sizes at more affordable prices. "We're fans of sampling, just like our customers," Na-Moya quips.
In line with their inclusive ethos, they've embraced the idea that perfume shouldn't be dictated by gender, ensuring their scents are enjoyed by all. Embrace your inner scent explorer and discover the allure of scents without judgment or preconceived notions.
A Symphony of the Unconventional
One of Samar's most striking creations, Speakeasy, pays homage to 1920s speakeasies and illicit moonshine. "It’s polarizing, but it's one of my favorites," Na-Moya says with a gleam in her eye. Daring and unconventional, Speakeasy offers a complex medley of unusual notes like gin, elderflower, and leather, with a nod to the darkness that permeated those historic underground bars.
From explorations in fermented chocolate husks to the distinctive scent of cacao vinegar, Samar continues to push boundaries and seek out novel ways to challenge the status quo of perfumery.
And that's the beauty of it, isn't it? Finding that perfect blend, whether it's beautiful, as intended, or just plain weird, is all part of the journey.
- Boundary-breaking fragrances are creating ripples in the industry, as Debbie Lin and Na-Moya Lawrence, the masterminds behind Samar Perfumes in Los Angeles, prove with their unconventional and self-expressive creations.
- Nestled in a residential neighborhood, Samar Perfumery defies industry norms, offering scents that range from a verdant green tea essential oil to the polarizing Speakeasy, inspired by 1920s speakeasies and illicit moonshine.
- Crossing paths in Seattle during the pandemic, Debbie and Na-Moya transformed their shared passion into Samar, a perfumery venture that has since captured the hearts of scent enthusiasts across California and beyond.
- Reflecting personal recollections and emotions, Samar's perfumes embody the essence of intimacy and shared experiences, encompassed in the name's Arabic meaning of fruits of paradise and evening conversations with friends.
- In their Hollywood abode, Debbie and Na-Moya approach their work by taking turns focusing on perfume development and scent evaluation, striving for a harmonious and well-balanced final product.
- Committed to accessibility and inclusivity, Samar offers smaller sizes of their creations at more affordable prices, encouraging exploration and discovery without the constraints of traditional gender stereotypes.
- With a tenacious DIY spirit, Debbie and Na-Moya have embraced the unconventional, seeking out novel ways to challenge the status quo of perfumery, such as exploring the scent of fermented chocolate husks and cacao vinegar.
- From business and lifestyle to travel, culture, food and drink, fashion, and beauty, pets, homes, relationships, and cars, Samar's unique and unapologetic fragrances add an irresistible layer of allure to every aspect of life that awaits you in the city of angels - Los Angeles.
