Lurk: Fragrance Without Compromise

The sense of smell is probably the most provocative of all of the senses. It’s also so highly personal, varying so much from one person to the next. I’ve always found it hard to choose a fragrance that felt very “me”. I remember the last time I perused the perfume aisle at Sephora (a while back) and it was an impossible task. As I went down the aisle nothing stood out and everything seemed to remind me of something I had smelled before: “ummm.. this reminds me of my high school best friend” or “this smells like every girl out at a club in 2005″… the list goes on (and obviously I haven’t been out clubbing in a while). But when I came across Lurk, I was immediately drawn in. Each scent is intriguing and while some have a slight sense of familiarity, I can’t quite place it and that makes it all the more intriguing for me. The best part is that Lurk uses NO chemical preservatives, stabilizers or additives. Their fragrance comes from pure botanical essences instead of synthetic fragrance.

Most of Lurk’s fragrances are perfume oils and they just added a couple Eau De Toilettes (spritz-able scents) to their collection. I had the opportunity to get to know Anne Sanford, the creator behind Lurk, a little better and I have to say I think I love her and her fragrances even more after hearing how Lurk was born! She is so creative and inspiring. I have a brief summary of her fragrances below but first, here’s our Q & A:

Being a perfumer seems like one of those dreamy jobs where you’re surrounded by loveliness all day! What path lead you to create Lurk?

I love this question and looking back I feel like I have been walking toward LURK since I was about 10 or 11 years old. I was really into beauty products from a young age, it was more curiosity about what was in them and how they worked and I never missed an opportunity to rifle through my moms cache. I loved the packaging and the perceived efficacy of what they were.

At that time I honestly never liked how any of the fragrances or creams smelled and because of that I really never wanted to put them on my skin, until one day when I opened a sample that she had of Paloma Picasso. The scent was something that I immediately loved. It kind of confused me and drew me in at the same time.. and I couldn’t get enough. It was dark and different, a bit androgynous, intense and all over the place.. From that moment on I loved fragrance and it started a journey for me to seek out that experience over and over and to find scents that were more mysterious and funky so to speak. That love for fragrance & beauty has stayed with me and it ultimately drew me to the beauty industry after college. I knew I wanted to make perfume and create products someday.

I also really love that I was most definitely a tomboy and my mother was/is absolutely lovely in every sense of the word. She is a Junior League, St. John, charm bracelet beauty and I was go karts, skinned knees and climbing trees, but despite our differences she really influenced and fostered an incredibly creative passion & endeavor for me. We are still so different and I approach beauty and fragrance from my own unique vantage point which doesn’t always seem clear to her but that too is really is really beautiful and fun..

What is the creative process for developing new scents? What inspires you?

I get inspired by really unique single note oils and essences and build from there. I like to layer unexpected oils with the “inspiration” note to build on it’s strengths and try to see where the fragrance can go without losing the power of the individual oils and without creating a scent that is too “muddy” or confusing. Creating a fragrance using only essential oils can be challenging but I really love the work and the oils.

I also get inspired by experiences and emotions. I always start out by writing down the scent description (including the oils that I want to experiment with) & once I get the idea from my head onto paper I start mixing and see where the journey takes me. I have been working on new scents for the past year and we are launching 3 of them this coming April.. The process for each of them was a bit different and that in and of itself was fun. The creative process is so amazing, definitely frustrating at times and very satisfying..

I’m sure it’s easier and more cost effective to use ingredients like synthetic fragrance and preservatives. Why was it important for you to use natural ingredients when you created this line?

I think it’s definitely easier but for me its nowhere near as inspiring or challenging. The decision comes from a love for the actual raw materials and botanical essences and from a strong desire to create perfumes that are 100% natural but are also extremely complex and will appeal to everyone, not just individuals that are living an organic lifestyle. I want to cross that boundary with LURK, it’s for everyone not just natural enthusiasts. I want to create beautiful things that are healthy and safe, products that dont ask people to compromise on any level.
I became really passionate about natural beauty in college and over the years that has turned into a lifestyle. I love the challenge of creating things that are pure, functional, efficacious, beautiful and sophisticated. Creating scents with tight parameters that are complex is not always easy but I love what I do and we have carved out a niche for ourselves. LURK has come to stand on it’s own and we are very proud of that.

All of your fragrances are amazing! Do you have a favorite?

Thank you so much!! As far as having a favorite, It changes. I fall in love with them over and over but the one that I always come back to is BS 003 (both oil and Eau de Toilette). Its the one that I created for myself and I love it so much. Its fresh, a bit androgynous but it has weight and can transition through every season.. Its very near to my heart and is a reminder of where I have been and also that anything is possible. Im also currently in love with the 3 new scents that we are launching in April. They are really different from what I have previously created and I can’t wait for them to launch.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?

My answer to that is actually really me 😉 .. In the past when I would pose that question to myself my answer would always gravitate toward Miami or the south of France.. But today the answer is solid: that I would honestly be right where I am.. I love the Hamptons and NYC and the fact that I am lucky enough to be able to live in both places is pretty amazing. I feel settled today in a way that I have never felt before and Im really loving that.. Thank you for asking that question, it’s giving me so much gratitude right now..

Amazing answers, right? So creative and I love how personal these fragrances are to her. Anne was so very kind to give me the opportunity the try all of Lurk’s scents, along with their new Eau De Toilettes. I have my thoughts on them below but keep in mind this is my perception and I am by no means a professional so my terminology may be wrong. 

Perfume Oils

RSW005: Slightly warm with notes of rose and and a little woodsy

PRJV1: Deep and complex, sexy, Jasmine

TBPV1: Clean and fresh with hints of floral scents and a little spice. Very gender neutral. 

BS003: Starts fresh, bright and citrusy and fades into a deeper, complex woodsy scent

As01: Floral but warm and soapy (if thats a term), it reminded me of the honeysuckle bushes by my childhood house

Eau De Toilette

RSW005 and BS003 come in this version. See my notes above for scent but I found the Eau De Toilettes to be a little brighter starting out and faded into the deeper scent. I felt I got the best scent when I layered the perfume oil with the corresponding Eau De Toilette.

Where to buy: Lurkmade.com Cost: Perfume Oils $55/ Eau De Toilette RSW005 $225/ BS003 $185