It’s French for “a game of chess.” This is a metaphor for the complex moves that go into creating a fragrance. Each ingredient falls into place because of its relationship to the ingredients that surround it. The art of fine natural perfumery is a victorious feat of great strategy, married to the mystery and wonder of the elements.

Natural fragrances are comprised of aromatic ingredients, such as Essential Oils and resins, that are obtained from plants and trees. Natural fragrances cannot, by law, contain any synthetically reconstituted Essential Oils, or chemically modified natural, raw materials. As well, “natural” means that the use of petrochemical solvents in the distillation process is not permitted.

Synthetic fragrances contain chemicals that are not of a natural origin. Many synthetic fragrances also contain natural products, such as Essential Oils, but they typically coincide with a long list of chemicals that, due to intellectual property laws, are not required to be disclosed. These can include known cytotoxic, neurotoxic, and hormone-disrupting ingredients, such as parabens, petrochemicals, and phthalates.

The ingredients in our fragrances are the gold standard when it comes to purity and sustainability. Our pricing reflects the integrity of our sourcing. Certain Essential Oils cost more than others, especially when it comes to procuring them from farms and distillers that use superior ethical practices.

Unlike many perfumes that are made with SD 40 — otherwise known as ethanol, i.e., fermented corn — we use Organic Sugarcane Alcohol. We do this because Sugarcane Alcohol has a much lighter environmental footprint than corn-based alcohols. For example, an acre of sugarcane produces double the amount of alcohol than corn does, which means less land, water, and energy are used to grow it. Since our Sugarcane Alcohol is also certified organic, it is grown and distilled without chemicals and pollutants that might adversely affect both the earth and your body.

We do not accept returns. Our 2 mL spray bottles come in all seven of our fragrances, and we recommend that, unless you’ve already fallen in love with a scent, you purchase a 2 mL first and discover whether it resonates with your body’s chemistry. If you have a question, reach out to concierge@unjeudechecs.com.