WORDS Kelly Ghali IMAGES Hazel Mathias and courtesy of Wild Olive Artisans

Wild Olive African Artisans Apothecary and Artistic Perfumery House in Cape Town is a destination for shopping natural perfumery, bath, body and homeware products.

For the past two decades this local manufacturer has forged its own style of cosmetic, fragrance and product design. The products are made to order or as limited editions in collaboration with artists, and are ever-evolving lines of body washes, lotions, butters, candles, perfumes and many more.

Wild Olive African Artisan Apothecary is located at 29 Pepper Street, Cape Town.

Wild Olive Artisans’ philosophy is to offer you cosmetic products that would assist in preserving your health and beauty for as long as possible. Everything is formulated and made under one roof by skilful artisans, with a second generation already joining the business.

Wild Olive Artisans owns its R&D, manufacturing and retail platforms, and has made it its mission to put Africa on the map of natural beauty and perfumery, seeking to represent the cultural values of the continent in an authentic way.

“We spent the past decade learning how we could make a difference in our local market, but also internationally,” says business manager Monica Onigas. “We scrutinise our methodology, formulating style and business processes continuously. We pay close attention to the feedback we receive from our customers. While keeping an eye on issues of environmental and social responsibility, we try to juggle market trends, seeking to be as relevant and as efficient as we can be and in line with global demands.”

THE STORY OF TERRA FLORA PARFUM

Kelly Ghali, the muse who inspired perfumer Marioara de la Tara, shares with us her experience of making this perfume.

Muse Kelly Ghali and perfumer Marioara de la Tara.

“Stop the car!” I said to my husband. We had taken a short-cut across Bree Street and found ourselves outside Wild Olive Apothecary and Artistic Perfumery House on Pepper Street in Cape Town.

Stepping inside the converted 19th-century building that houses the shop and the cosmetic and perfume laboratory, I was instantly enchanted by the space and its scent. The chance encounter with Marioara sparked the beginning of a friendship, which, a year later, resulted in me inspiring the creation of a new perfume, Terra Flora, which was launched in October 2018.

Terra Flora Parfum has a dominant base note of sandalwood, enhanced by oakmoss and softened by orange flower and iris root absolutes. The mid notes are neroli and jasmine. In the top notes, mandarin dominates, with accents of petitgrain, bergamot, lime and rosewood. R95 (3 ml); R2 200 (30 ml)

The idea for Terra Flora came from my frustration at not being able to find a perfume that was unusual, easy to wear and synthetics-free. I had become accustomed to using aromatherapy oils, and found mainstream perfumes overwhelming, often leaving me with a headache and sour-smelling skin.

Being offered the opportunity to create my own perfume was a dream come true. Marioara worked on my brief, using oils renowned for their grounding and calming qualities. Our goal was to create a sophisticated, elegant yet modern unisex perfume suitable for any occasion or season using only the highest-quality natural materials.

We commissioned artist Penelope Cooras to create artwork inspired by my life story and used elements of it for the packaging and bottle design. Terra Flora really is unlike any other perfume you will have experienced.

For more information, visit wildolive.eu.

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We have featured the bohemian creations of Juditha Sakinofsky in VISI before. Now, we’ve taken a fancy to her special take on the much-maligned soap-on-a-rope.

With more than 30 years’ experience in art direction, retail and media under her belt, inveterate traveller Juditha Sakinofsky was inspired by traditional soap makers in Syria to recreate her soap-on-a-rope concept.

Years ago, she moved from the local glossy magazine environment to Toronto and New York, where she honed her creative skills styling for magazines and television before moving into the gifting sector, where she began specialising in artisanal gifts made using materials sourced from as far afield as Turkey, Central Asia and North and West Africa. Tribal textiles are one of her great passions. Colourful, riotous prints adorn many of the textiles she uses to create the tote bags and smaller cosmetic bags in her range.

Now back in Cape Town, Juditha works with a small team from premises in Sea Point, creating gifts for local and international markets. Her latest offering looks as wearable as it is functional. Cubes of soap made exclusively for Juditha by Wild Olive African Artisans are gently coaxed into shape using the sharp edges of credit cards and bone-handled butter knives before being threaded onto cord or leather thongs.

“It’s a heady, therapeutic process of creation,” says Juditha. “The soaps can be slung around your neck and used in the shower, but they are just as good kept in their hand-made textile bags and hung in your wardrobe, where they will emit their fragrance for up to two years.”

They go for R495 a string at Africa Nova at the Cape Quarter and The Yard in the Silo District in Cape Town, and Ark Afrika in Franschhoek. For more information, visit juditha.co.za.

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The New York-based ready-to-wear and accessories brand EDUN has collaborated with local apothecary and perfumery house Wild Olive African Artisans to open its first retail pop-up shop on the African continent. 

Until 16 March 2018, a special selection of EDUN ready-to-wear merchandise and handbags will be available alongside Wild Olive’s own organic products at the pop-up located at 29 Pepper Street, Cape Town. The brands previously collaborated on fragranced porcelain candles.

EDUN’s ethically and sustainably focused mission means it is committed to sourcing production and encouraging trade in Africa by building long-term, sustainable growth opportunities with artisans, manufacturers and community-based initiatives. The high-end brand’s design is led by an internal creative collective that mixes a modern designer vision with the richness and positivity of the fast-growing African continent.

Under the leadership of Creative Head and Chief Executive Officer Marioara de la Tara, Wild Olive collaborates with partners with a common goal: to gain recognition for authentic African design and handcrafted products and have “Made in Africa” resonate with reliability and exceptional quality.

EDUN’s Fall 2017 photoseries was shot by local photographer Kristin-Lee Moolman in Nairobi, Kenya, entitled “Karibu” which means “welcome” in Swahili.

In the documentary, also entitled Karibu, by Adriaan Louw, EDUN shows consumers how and why it works with artisans and factories in Kenya. Adriaan spent five days with the EDUN team in Kenya, accompanying them on visits to factories and artisans and documenting their creative process as they shot the fall collection.

“It became clear how genuinely committed EDUN is to building real, lasting partnerships with local artists and craftspeople and to reviving Africa’s textile industry,” Adriaan explained in an interview with The Cut. “I wanted the film to focus on these relationships and show how central they are to what EDUN creates each season. So I used interviews to guide and drive the film’s narrative of respect for Africa and the intimate connection between the EDUN team and people who they work with.”

Watch the video below and follow Wild Olive Artisans on Instagram for news on other exciting collabs. 

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