The Art of Aroma: A Fresh Blend of Art, History, and Nature

While leafing through an old art book in her library, Laura Slatkin, founder of NEST New York, America’s first home fragrance brand, stumbled upon a botanical illustration by 18th-century artist Mary Delaney. Instinctively, she tore the page out, wrapped it around a box, and envisioned it as packaging for a fine fragrance collection. Slatkin later commissioned an artist to paint her favourite flowers and plants, using these artworks to inspire the perfumer with a new fragrance collection.

This anecdote, one of many Slatkin shared during our delightful conversation, encapsulates her approach to creation—one that’s steeped in artistic beauty, craftsmanship, and meticulous sourcing.

When Slatkin launched her first company in 1992, home fragrance was a niche market. “We were real game changers when we opened up the home fragrance field. At that time, home fragrance wasn’t part of anyone’s lifestyle,” she says.

Slatkin wanted to transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary sensory experiences, a goal she pursued over the next three decades. She and her NEST team work earnestly to keep their promise to deliver superior scent experiences by travelling the world and learning from locals who work with aromatic ingredients.

Journeys for the senses

Slatkin carefully selects time-honoured botanicals, each chosen not just for their unique aromatic notes but also for their exceptional purity and heritage.

Take the Seville orange, for example. “Seville is the last place in the world where the oranges are still handpicked. I met with fourth-generation farmers there. Their passion for their craft is palpable. They pick oranges at their peak ripeness, flavour, and fragrance. For four generations, all they’ve ever done is harvest oranges,” Slatkin says.

While in India, she discovered Indian jasmine and the reverence farmers have for the plant. “Jasmine is a sacred flower in India. It’s often used in prayers. Farmers rise early in the morning to pick jasmine in the fields, and they do so with love, dedication, and respect,” Slatkin says.

In Italy, inspiration struck amid the scent of pink garden roses and the taste of a lychee-infused champagne cocktail at a friend’s wedding. Slatkin created the Lychee Rose fragrance in an effort to capture the essence of that magical evening.

Wellness is another pillar of NEST’s philosophy. Slatkin reflects on a transformative spa experience she once shared with her daughter: “As soon as we opened the door to the steam room, we were engulfed by a refreshing burst of eucalyptus fragrance that was truly unforgettable,” she says. This encounter inspired the Wild Mint & Eucalyptus collection, which has been Slatkin’s most successful launch yet.

The allure of the ingredients she chooses goes beyond their fragrance profiles. Each scent creates an atmospheric connection that calms and uplifts. “To me, beauty means finding your style, and your preferred scent and fragrance can be layered to that,” Slatkin says. That’s why each of her products is crafted to evoke memories, set moods, and transport users to moments of pure bliss.