Glad you asked.  "Matriarch" is a title given to a woman who is highly influential.  Simply being the oldest as many mistakenly believe, does not make one a Matriarch.  A true Matriarch has a special confidence in her value, so she moves through the world with dignified authority and without apology.  Be it in the business arena, within her family or out in the world, she is a leader.  She takes care of herself and as a result, she is available as a resource to others. 

The Matriarch's most notable attribute is her ability to heal both herself and those that she loves through medicine, art, courage, beauty or even sacrifice.   A few Matriarch icons you will recognize from history are Mother Mary, Mother Teresa, Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Princess Diana, Helen Keller, Harriet Tubman, Florence Nightingale, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Jackie O. Modern day examples include Madonna, Oprah and Melinda Gates. Don't be discouraged, you don't need to be famous to be a Matriarch.  It is a universal energy available to us all.

Until around 100 years ago (and in almost every culture) all women were looked to as healers. They instinctively used herbs, oils and concoctions to heal one another.  It worked marvelously, and their art evolved into the science of pharmacology.  Current statistics show the highest rate of healing from disease is found among patients who seek NATURAL healing as their FIRST method of treatment. We at Matriarch believe that this is very important evidence, and we have made it our purpose to connect our clients to that healing energy.

Matriarch products are been specifically designed to restore our connection with the ultimate Matriarch, Mother Earth.  When given the opportunity, she never fails to sustain us.  We hope our perfume inspires you to claim your power and be the Matriarch that you are, every day.

Only one in one thousand people will have an adverse reaction to essential oils. One in eight people have adverse reactions to synthetics. 

Essential oils are highly concentrated, living raw materials extracted from the leaves, bark, wood, stems, rinds, flowers, seeds, buds, roots, resins or petals of plants. In reality, essential oils are not oils at all, they are volatile extracts rich in energy. Each drop contains thousands of different molecular compounds.  This variation in the molecule helps to create health and well being for the body.  There was a time when these essences and the plants they are derived from were humanity's only form of medicine, and today they still provide the active ingredients for many modern drugs. Each and every oil is unique and to this day their molecular complexity both baffles and fascinates chemists. 

 Synthetics are chemicals which contain one molecular compound.  Their notes are consistent, linear and longlasting.  Their use has created high profits for the perfume industry and allows for novel fragrances that do not exist in nature, such as "cotton candy".  Many synthetic fragrances and additives are dangerous, not always alone but often in combination with other ingredients.  There are no regulations imposed on the fragrance industry which serves to protect the secret recipes of perfumers. Sadly for the customer, that means that you never know which perfumes are dangerous and which ones are safe.

Essential notes are complex and can vary by region or organic conditions. (Think of a grape harvest and the wine produced: and how it is a bit different each year). In medicine, essential oils are increasingly used in pain management, anxiety/depression and to stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease. How does it work? One way is the influence of the molecules on the brain and limbic system. The other is the direct pharmacological effects of the compounds in the essential oils.  Here are a few documented benefits of the oils we use:                                            

Plants not only play a vital role in the balance of our planet, they have also been linked to the well-being of humanity since the beginning of time.  Each essential oil serves a different healing role for the body and mind, and when oils are mixed together they produce new synergistic effects. As we watch essential oils work, we notice that they have the ability to penetrate cell membranes to interact with the cells of the human body in a way that man-made medicines cannot. Essential oils and blood share several common properties which makes them readily absorbable by the tissues while preserving the homeostasis of the body. 

We would like to invite you to do some research on your own about why the benefits aromatherapy are not common knowledge (especially in the US).  It is important to note that natural ingredients cannot be patented.  The corporations that profit from your consumption of their products depend on developing patented goods which they can monopolize.  This positions them to charge whatever they want to charge as payment, and explains why they can afford to pay millions for celebrity endorsements of their mass produced products.

Matriarch perfume is available only directly from The House of Matriarch in Woodinville, WA.  Direct to you means no mark-up, and this allows to keep our fine fragrances priced comparable to luxury synthetics. Samples can be ordered on our SHOP page. Our candles and incense are available at Soul Food in Redmond.  

We enjoy working closely with our clients for a personal touch.  We are certain you will appreciate the difference. Please contact us for your appointment today.

It is well known in the perfume industry that fragrances are marked up by thousands of percentage points.  Most of the time customers pay hundreds for only two or three dollars worth of actual perfume.   Almost always, more is spent on the bottle and package than the perfume itself.

Yes and no. The formula will alway be exactly the same, however since we are dealing with natural ingredients, there will be slight variations in the molecules created by the growing season (back to the wine comparison). This is a good thing, since variety is healthy and the slight variations will go unnoticed by most.

Yes. Treat it like chocolate. Not to hot, not too cold.  All perfumes should be kept away from excessive heat or cold, and to avoid evaporation, the cap must be tightly closed. Also, do not expose your perfume bottles for any length of time to sunlight, as light speeds the degradation process which can alter the scent.  Our labeling helps to shield the precious contents somewhat, but proper storage is up to you. 

Keeping your perfumes in a closet or dresser will prolong their life. For a variety of reasons, never keep them on the bathroom counter.  Remember, Matriarch perfumes are ALIVE.  With proper storage they will last indefinitely.

All of our bottles are refillable for your convienence and savings.  In our busy world, we often need to spray on the go, and using a mist sprayer will extend the life of your perfume, keeping out air and bacteria.

Top notes provide the first scent impression of a pefume once it has been applied to the skin. They are usually lighter, more volatile aromas that evaporate readily. Their scent usually lingers for between 5 and 30 minutes.

Middle notes, sometimes referred to as “heart notes”, make up the body of the blend. They may be evident from the start, but will usually take 10-30 minutes to fully develop on the skin. They are the notes that classify the fragrance family (floral, oriental, chypre, fougre, etc).

Base Notes are those with the greatest molecular weight. They last the longest, and are also important as fixatives, that is, they help slow down the evaporation rates of the lighter notes, giving the fragrance holding power. Common base notes include oakmoss, patchouli, woods, musk and vanilla. 

A fragrance which does not have traditional top, middle and base notes is usually described as “linear”. Most synthetics fall into this category.

Alcohol is indispensable to perfumery. Alcohol helps to bind the oils in the perfume together into one cohesive blend, and keeps them from separating.  Alcohol also makes the perfume emanate from your skin.  Without alcohol, you would be the only person who knew you were wearing any perfume at all. We import the finest quality 'Perfumers Alcohol' from France to make our perfumes.  Some people mistakenly believe that you can make fine perfume from vodka or Everclear.  That may work for a fun craft project, but falls short for fine fragrance creation.