Modern Alchemy in Ancient Ritual
Olentium was born out of a deep desire to create 100% botanical, ethical perfumes by looking to ancient rituals and methods of fragrance creation.
Age-old bathing rituals of the hammam in the eastern Mediterranean and Roman and Greek cleansing rites relied on two key life source liquids: water and oil. Alcohol was reserved for feasting rather than perfuming!
Having trained in both organic cosmetic formulation and natural perfumery, founder Liz Grech decided to marry her two passions – of scent and skincare – in a new venture as home to novel, yet ironically ancient forms of perfume and scented bodycare: Olentium aqua-olio perfumes and eco-luxe home spa skincare.
Well before the first known use of alcohol in perfumery in the 14th century with Hungary Water, perfumes were simple distillates of botanical and floral matter. Perfumes were also in solid form created as unguents through a process of enfleurage of fresh blooms pressed into oils and fats.
The term ‘Eau de Parfum’ that we use for mainstream alcohol fragrances harks back to these early perfumes that were simple floral waters or hydrolats. And there is great pleasure today in using these pure, scented waters as skin toners and freshners.
Olentium’s Aqua-Olio Perfumes
However, Olentium goes further. We have created more sophisticated, water-based perfumes using organic floral waters, pure water and seawater extracts in a formula with beneficial botanical carrier oils. The outcome is a range of vapour-fine emulsion eaux de parfum.
Dispensed by atomiser, they perform like their alcohol counterparts but with various advantages. They do not dry the skin out, are accepted by cultures which eschew alcohol and are the perfect medium to transport truly high-performance, long-lasting natural fragrances. The oils in the emulsion ensure longevity and depth of scent; both these consumer requirements have often not translated into naturals formulated in alcohol-base fragrances.
Our Linea SPA
To celebrate the scented partnership of oil and water, Olentium’s Linea SPA provides the ultimate bathing and body care to nurture skin and well being before applying our perfumes. We have merged water and oil – two liquids which normally part ways – in a harmonious line of benessere scents and skincare.
Our Sea, Our Home
Olentium is based on the Maltese Archipelago on islands at the near centre of the Mediterranean. Once the crossroads of ancient shipping routes, the Maltese Islands have been influenced by Mediterranean cultures thousands of miles east and west.
Over the centuries, Malta has seen the arrival and rule of ancient cultures from the Phoenicians, Carthagenians, Romans and Arabs as well as unique rulers – the Knights Hospitaller Order of St John. The last were pioneers of advanced health, medical and wellness practices and founded in its days Europe’s foremost and largest hospital – their Sacra Infermeria.
We draw inspiration for our formulas and fragrances from the islands’ roots, while the Mediterranean sea surrounding us inspires the wellness we seek to impart in each of our products.
Our Launch
We launch in late autumn 2020 with our Linea SPA body oils. Our Aqua-Olio Perfumes arrive 2021. For more information, feel free to contact us at info@olentium.com.
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