Frances Schoemack’s Abel a Worthy Investment

Vegan perfume lovers must not only avoid fragrances made with extracts of milk, honey, leather and beeswax, but also secretions from animals used to mark their territories, which are often used as fixatives to make a scent last longer. The Independent chooses its 11 favourite perfumes, including Green Cedar by Abel, a company founded by New Zealander Frances Schoemack.

“Perfumes don’t come more eco-friendly than Abel’s all-natural range, though at nearly £100 for a 50ml bottle, you’ll need deep pockets to afford it,” Jess Denham writes for the newspaper.

“New, smoky scent Green Cedar is created from a mix of two sustainable, wild-harvested cedars from the Texan forests and Moroccan mountains, sweetened by a touch of magnolia. It’s a unisex fragrance that comes in a chic, minimalist glass bottle and is so long-lasting that we could still sniff it after a hot shower,” Denham writes.

“The reason behind the hefty price tag is Schoemack, in response to her own frustrating struggle to find a natural perfume, uses only the finest quality ingredients from the most ethical suppliers.

“[Abel] uses a plant-derived musk taken from the seeds of hibiscus flowers which, though superior in terms of fragrance, health and eco impact, costs five to ten times more than synthetics. It’s a worthy investment, as perfumes last months and only a couple of sprays of this eau de parfum give off an intense aroma. Plus, for every bottle sold, the company donates a meal to a financially disadvantaged child through charity Mary’s Meals, so as splurges go, this one can be conscience-free. Green Cedar launches later in May.”

Original article by Jess Denham, The Independent, May 3, 2018.