PepperHarrow’s first fragrance line is made from oils and essences distilled from botanicals grown on the farm and other natural ingredients. (Photo: Aly Carroll)
By Hailey Evans
Scent, memories and emotions are deeply intertwined in our brains. Just imagine the smell of freshly cut grass on a sunny afternoon or your mom’s brownies baking in the oven.
At PepperHarrow, the 20-acre flower farm in Winterset, the breeze picks up scents all the time. But owners Adam and Jenn O’Neal wanted to take that sensation a step further by launching a line of handcrafted fragrances distilled from lavender and other botanicals grown on the property.
The idea struck Adam this summer while he sat in on a botanical perfume class Jen was leading on the farm. It was during this class he created the first iteration of a unisex scent, “NOLA,” which is now part of PepperHarrow’s inaugural perfume line.
Ironically, Adam is sensitive to strong smells. “I think a lot of perfume products smell chemical to me, they’re very synthetic,” he said. As he developed his own line of fragrances, he focused on grounding, calming scents that he personally enjoyed. He found that making them from essences and oils distilled right on the farm produced cleaner scents, free of the synthetic properties that irritated him.
“He’s good at everything,” Jenn said. Previously, the couple had taken several make-your-own perfume classes during trips abroad, where Adam picked up the skill quickly.
Many PepperHarrow visitors who smelled a preview of the blend described it as comforting and welcoming, Jenn said. It reminded Adam so strongly of his childhood in New Orleans that he decided to name it accordingly.
The pair introduced some of their perfume products during this summer’s Downtown Farmers Market. Many bottles were still unnamed and unlabeled, Jenn said, and customers could take test sprays of whichever ones they enjoyed. “They would wear it around the market, like it so much, and come back later wanting to buy it,” she added. As the products caught on, the couple decided to officially launch three blends, which will be available for purchase on the PepperHarrow website starting Saturday:
NOLA: notes of vanilla, bright fruits and eucalyptus.
Charming: notes of citrus, vanilla and earthy wood tones.
Tobacco & Spice: warm vanilla, tobacco and exotic spices.
A ticketed launch party will start at 2 p.m. Saturday at PepperHarrow. Each ticket includes fragrance samples, cupcakes and access to the mimosa bar.
“We wanted a chance to really launch these fragrances to the public and celebrate all the work Adam has done creating them,” Jenn said.
Heads-up, olfactophiles: The farm is hosting a Lavender Festival June 20-21 that will feature distilling demos and opportunities to concoct your own fragrances.
