Conversations with Molly Ray

Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Ray

Hi Molly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Molly Ray, Fragrance Stylist:

I have always been very connected to fragrance. My favorite memories of childhood are scents like a pie baking in the oven or wet coffee grounds in a paper filter sitting in the sink. Basic, everyday things like that. I moved around a lot as a child, and I think that these consistent fragrances I could count on made me feel safe.
I started sneaking sprays of my grandmother’s perfume at a young age, and when I was wearing her scent, I felt transformed. Like I had journeyed into another persona, a sophisticated character. Wearing perfume is a type of fantasy escape for me, and I still feel that way whether I am spritzing myself or creating an experience for a client. I close my eyes and inhale and step away for a few moments. The power of fragrance deeply moves me, and I aim to share that through my designs.

My journey as a Fragrance Stylist began with my training in France. I attended programs in Paris and Grasse (in southern France). My courses taught me the history, science, and discipline of perfumery, and over the years, I added my own style and artistry.

For the past ten years, I have had the pleasure of designing signature fragrances for brands and businesses, museums, hotels, and even sports teams! Since moving to Los Angeles in 2022, I have been working primarily with private clients and offering my own in-house couture line of fragrances.
When it comes to my private client designs, I enjoy the art of ‘slow perfumery’—taking the time to get a design just right.

I have met and worked with fabulous clients in LA. The city offers endless inspiration, from the bountiful lushness of its natural surroundings to the rich history of fashion, art, and cinema. LA is an artists’ town, and I’m proud to be part of it and to absorb its inspiration for my designs.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I started my business in 2016, so I was a few years into building it when the pandemic hit. Like many small business owners, I lost most of my outlets for selling and sharing my products and services for almost two years. During that time, I refreshed the look of my brand and considered my future plans and dreams for my company. Ultimately, that led to me refining my couture collection and leaning into my work as a custom fragrance designer and Fragrance Stylist.
I provide a niche service. The concept of branding or distinguishing yourself through a custom fragrance is innovative and unique, yet still relatively new in the US. It’s fun and exciting to provide such a specialty service, which results in a unique sensory experience.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work with clients from larger organizations to individuals looking to create a unique fragrance that captures them. While I am based and work mostly with clients in Los Angeles, I also have clients who travel to LA to do design workshops with me. I also work with clients remotely and make ‘house calls’ to meet with my private clients who prefer to design within their own space.
For my in-house couture perfume collection and many of my custom designs, I use predominantly natural, vegan, and cruelty-free ingredients. Because we design together, I can also offer my clients the ability to tailor the ratios of natural ingredients to their preferences.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
There is a growing trend for custom perfumery experiences. My clients want to stand apart from others and not wear something on their skin just because it’s marketed to them. They are also becoming more aware that a fragrance wears differently on their skin than someone else’s, and they are more savvy and aware of natural ingredients and sustainability attributes of their fragrances.

Pricing:

• Prices for fragrances in the Couture Collection (available online) begin at $79
• Prices for Custom Services begin at $2,500

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mollyrayparfums.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollyrayparfums/

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