Matakana Botancials - The history of home fragrance

From rituals to room décor, home fragrance is as old as mankind, but what was once treated as treasure is now an everyday household item.
 
The first home fragrance ventures in Ancient Egypt consisted of burning resins and gum for incense. Scents distinguished nobility from peasantry, and aromatic substances were offered to kings and pharohs like gold. Fast forward to modern day and home fragrances have evolved into candles, room sprays, oils and diffusers that have become ‘part of the furniture’.
 
Here in New Zealand, Colyn Devereux the founder of Les Floralies , first revolutionised the New Zealand home fragrance market in 1986 with her handmade potpourri. Created in an old bathtub under the house, the potpourri offered an evironmentally friendly alternative to aerosol room freshners during a time when the world was beginning to enter the ‘green’ phase.
 
From there, the demand for candles for aesthetic and décor purposes began to flourish with candle sales peaking in the 1990’s. Today the luxury candle market is an estimated $2 billion industry in the US.
 
Today Les Floralies has been re-launched and re-branded as Matakana Botanicals by Colyn’s son, Danvers. With 26 years experience in the fragrance market, Danvers has developed a certain ‘kiwi nose’ and now creates fragrances inspired by the local places he enjoys, and which he utilises in a wide collection of products he designs.
 

Photo courtesy of Lily & Louis

Danvers, who now runs the bustling Kiwi-operated business, says

“The increasing demand for varying home décor asethetics was part of the reason we created several different ranges under the Matakana brand.”
 
Great Barrier Island Bee Co, Earths Botanics, Southern Man, Apothecary brands were created under the Matakana umbrella to cater to a range of different tastes and preferences.
 
“Years ago we used to look at what the world fragrance trends were and respond accordingly. While we do keep this in mind we focus more on creating fragrances which are inspired by local places around us and then sharing them with the world,” says Danvers.
 
And as for aroma, outdoor scents are regularly trending as indoor fragrances, bringing nature into any room creating a calm, and special personalised atmosphere.
 
Inspired by New Zealand’s lucious outdoors he created the natural Great Barrier Island Bee Co  “Island Flowers” collection of Kowhai & Vanilla, Pohutkawa and Pawpaw and Hibiscus & Lime. The designs are a reflection of well known island Botanical Artist “ Fanny Osbourne”  with the hero ingredients sourced locally from the island . The range is already popular among home fragrance lovers due to their risk free appeal, long lasting aromas, and again… because they just look so good.