Heritage
A house, in its own words
Suzy Larsen launched her first perfume venture in 2007 after years of studying nutrition and aromatherapy. The original name, Naked Leaf Perfumes, reflected her early experiments with tea leaf extracts and other plant‑based materials. By 2008 the line released its first commercial fragrance, a simple citrus‑green blend that attracted a modest following among online scent communities. In 2010 the house expanded rapidly, issuing a series of eight scents that explored coastal, floral and woody themes; Raincoast and Basque debuted that year and remain reference points for the brand's early aesthetic. Love Bird arrived in 2012, inspired by a bird‑watching trip along the Pacific coast and quickly became a signature scent. A strategic rebrand in 2013 renamed the company Suzy Larsen Perfumes, aligning the label with the founder's personal name and reinforcing the narrative of a single creative voice. Over the next several years the brand deepened its ties to local suppliers, sourcing carrier oils and botanical extracts from farms in the Okanagan Valley. In 2015 Suzy began showcasing her work at regional artisan markets, where she demonstrated the hand‑blending process to customers. A 2020 shift toward fully recyclable glass bottles and biodegradable labels marked a concrete step in the house's sustainability agenda. Throughout its evolution the brand has remained small‑scale, with production limited to a few hundred bottles per release, allowing Larsen to maintain direct oversight of each batch. Suzy Larsen approaches perfumery as an extension of holistic wellbeing. Her background in nutritional consulting informs a belief that scent can influence mood, memory and even physiological balance. The house prioritizes natural extracts, opting for cold‑pressed essential oils, absolutes and tinctures whenever possible. Larsen avoids heavy reliance on synthetic aromachemicals, reserving them for cases where a natural counterpart cannot achieve the desired effect. Each fragrance is conceived around a personal story or place, translating an emotional imprint into a scent architecture. The brand’s tagline—natural perfumes to inspire the senses and create an emotional impact—captures this intent without resorting to vague superlatives. Transparency guides the creative process; ingredient lists appear on the bottle and on the website, allowing consumers to understand the composition. Sustainability also shapes the philosophy: sourcing practices favor fair‑trade partners and low‑impact harvesting, while packaging choices aim to reduce waste. In interviews, Larsen emphasizes that perfume should be a mindful ritual rather than a fleeting trend, encouraging wearers to pause and engage with the aroma as a moment of self‑care.