How to Switch to Natural Perfumes

By Jessica Kiely, Founder Sensoriam

Perfume has always felt personal to me. It’s not just a finishing touch—it’s memory, identity, and emotion, all bottled up. The scent we wear becomes our invisible signature, the thing people associate with us. And that’s why the thought of switching perfumes can feel so intimidating. How do you give up something that feels so entwined with who you are?

I want to tell you something: you don’t actually give anything up. You simply get to discover something new. There is a whole world of 100% natural perfumes out there, and they are every bit as beautiful, complex, and luxurious as the mainstream ones you might be used to. Crafted from botanicals, resins, flowers, and woods, they carry a richness that feels alive—and aligned.

Why I Switched (and Why You Might Too)

For me, it came down to health and the planet. Conventional perfumes are often full of synthetic chemicals—hidden under that little word “fragrance”—that research has linked to things like hormone disruption, allergies, and even long-term health risks. And when we spray them, they don’t just sit on our skin. They float into the air, contributing to indoor and outdoor pollution, and wash down into our waterways affecting aquatic life.

Natural perfumes are different. They’re transparent—you know what’s in them. No hidden cocktails, no waiting twenty years to find out whether something is toxic. Just plants, distilled into beauty.

How to Start Your Own Journey

Switching isn’t something you need to do overnight. Think of it as a gentle, curious journey—one that can actually be really fun. Here’s what worked for me (and might work for you too):

1. Notice what you love.
Look at the perfumes you already wear. Do you always gravitate towards vanilla? Citrus? Woods? Those are your anchors. You’ll find natural scents with the same notes that feel familiar but more alive.

2. Explore with guidance.
I always suggest doing a scent quiz (like the one on our website) to narrow down options. It’s such an easy way to discover scents that match your vibe.

3. Play with minis.
Start small. Try discovery sets or 2ml samples. Wear them on your skin at different times of day, even throughout your cycle. Naturals evolve with you—they breathe, they change, they reveal themselves slowly.

4. Relearn longevity.
Here’s the thing: natural perfumes don’t stick for 12+ hours the way synthetics do. Most last 4–6 hours—and that’s a good thing. It means no chemical fixatives. I carry a mini roll-on or spray in my bag for reapplication, and honestly, I’ve come to love that little ritual.

5. Take someone along.
This journey is even more fun with a friend or partner. Smell together, compare impressions, share memories—it becomes a story you both get to tell.

6. Notice the shift.
As you move away from synthetics, your nose will change. Those artificial scents bombard us constantly and dull our senses. Without them, you’ll start to notice the nuance—the subtler, layered beauty of natural perfumes. And that’s when the magic really happens.

More Than Just Perfume

What I love most is that natural perfumes are more than scent. They’re stories. They’re rituals. They’re like aromatherapy in a bottle—able to calm, energise, seduce, or ground you, depending on the botanicals inside.

And here’s my little warning: don’t be fooled by the “clean” perfume marketing out there. Many of them still use synthetics. If it isn’t 100% natural, then you’re still in the experiment. That’s why I created Sensoriam—a place where you can trust that everything is truly, fully natural.

So if you’re ready to explore, know this: you don’t lose yourself when you switch. You simply discover another version of yourself—more natural, more alive, more you.

With Love, From Nature. 

Black Chicken Remedies Deodorant - Pink Axilla

I just trialled and tested an awesome, VEGAN, toxin-free deodorant that actually works!
So if you don’t want to read a long detailed post I thought, I do the rave right at the start.

Black Chicken Remedies AXILLA DEODAORANT PASTE Barrier Booster is the new deodorant of my choice.

It works. It smells delicious. It contains no crap. It’s vegan! It doesn’t irritate my very sensitive skin.
( if you aren’t super sensitive, get the original formula which is supposed to be even harder working!)

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and while I am not usually a fan of all sorts of brands and business jumping on all sorts of cancer wagons ( often companies who sell very toxic or questionable products)
Underarm deodorant is a product that has been linked to breast cancer many times and if you know anything about me then it is that I am passionate about toxin-free beauty products.
Therefore I am proud to support the Black Chicken Remedies Pink Axilla Mission!

Turning a fabulous shade of pink, this October the award-winning and trusted Axilla

Deodorant Paste, in both Original AND Barrier Booster for sensitive skin, will donate $2 to National Breast Cancer Foundation NBCF

for every jar sold.

Given the armpit (Axilla) is in such close proximity to breast tissue, choosing a safe and effective deodorant should be a priority.

To effectively neutralise odour, Axilla Natural Deodorant Paste uses a blend of natural

and organic ingredients and essential oils, with a formula free from Parabens,

Aluminium Salts and other harmful chemicals.

Parabens are a class of preservatives found widely in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products

that have weak estrogen-like properties, and estrogen is a female hormone known to cause

breast cells (both normal and cancerous) to grow and divide.

Aluminium salts act as a sweat inhibitor through clogging up the pores, especially

harmful given sweat is essential for the body to cool down and release toxins like heavy

metals.

Axilla Deodorant Paste is also free from Propylene Glycol, which can cause irritation on

broken or damaged skin and system toxicity, and Triclosans that have been linked to an

abnormal endocrine system, thyroid hormone signalling and weakening of the immune

system.

So why would you risk it?

For those with sensitive skin, the ‘Barrier Booster’ option is Bicarbonate Soda free and

formulated with natural ingredients rich in lipids and fatty acids, essential for healthy cells to

help strengthen sensitive skin.

For those seeking more confidence in combating underarm odour, there is Australia’s first

natural deodorant paste ‘Original’ formula, already used under 800,000 armpits and

counting.

Suitable for all women, men and teens, purchasing Axilla Natural Deodorant Paste is naturally

the smarter option when you want to safely neutralise body odour AND contribute to funding

the NBCF goal of *zero deaths from Breast Cancer by 2030.

Do a Mighty Act of Pinkness, purchase a pink edition jar for yourself or someone you care about whether it’s your mum, sister, bestie, daughter, wife or partner.

You’re not only supporting breast cancer research, but you’re sharing a highly effective and safe natural deodorant with those you care about.

( PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A PAID POST! ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN AND HAVENT BEEN INFLUENCED)

ZUII Organic Review

I just received a lovely selection of Zuii Organic Products from makeup products, to skin & body care.
Zuii is an Australian Organic Makeup and Skincare Brand with very clean and gentle ingredients.

All their products are inspired by flowers and have a luxurious floral scent to them, stemming from their all-natural organic flower extracts, blossoms and oils.

I really enjoyed the Certified Organic Flora Gradual Tan Face Water.
Which just gives a radiant sunkissed glow and leaves my skin very soft and hydrated. It’s enriched with anti-ageing ingredients and might just become a staple in my routine, for whenever my face doesn’t get enough sun. It’s perfect for an evening out the skin especially if you don’t want to wear makeup daily

The Certified Organic Flora Moisturising Body Wash has a lovely green and floral scent and is as the name suggests: Very moisturising.
My sensitive skin was very happy with it.
Bamboo extract is also rich in many essential compounds, like amino acids and flavonoids, which are packed with antioxidants that protect skin from oxidative stress. ... The bamboo extract helps strengthen that barrier and protect and restore your skin's resilience. It’s great for all skin types and can also help to prevent and heal acne.

The Certified Organic Flor Lux Lipstick has just about become my favourite new everyday colour…maybe it arrived just in time to land in my personal makeup bag…which makes me think that I should add a few of these to my pro-kit. I tried their lipsticks a few years back and didn’t really like them that much, they didn’t last and were quite shimmery, but these new ones are the bomb! Absolute pro-quality and very luxurious.

Its a highly-pigmented more matte/satin finish, that lasts and doesn’t budge. I have been wearing the colour “Grace” a very blue-based, purple-ish Rose colour if I had to describe it. It has some vibrancy and is the perfect punch of colour. The taste and scent are quite floral and strong as in all their products but I didn’t mind it.

Certified Organic Flora Eyeshadow Quad Palette

A big thumbs up! I received the shade “Havanah” a metallic palette with shimmery pinks and rosegold tones all of which just make my eyes POP so much. These will go in my pro kit asap, but I also want to keep a palette for myself.

Although, let’s be real…when do I ever wear eyeshadow?

Which brings me to the mascara, I have stopped wearing mascara a few years back, I don’t enjoy the removal at the end of the day and as I usually like to wear rich oils and dewy foundations I end up with panda eyes pretty quickly. Yet, I am always on the hunt for the best natural mascaras for my clients and my pro-kit.

I wore this one yesterday ALL day and it actually didn’t budge. It was natural looking and very black. Most importantly it didn’t irritate my eyes at all. I highly recommend this as a daily mascara to everyone.

PS it's VEGAN, YAY! (not many toxin-free mascaras are vegan, as most of the natural ones contain beeswax!
And most vegan mascaras, are not toxin-free but rather chemical-laden.
So I am super excited about this great vegan mascara.

Last but not least: The Certified Organic Flora Lux Finishing Powder. A super-luxe product that i recommend for sensitive skins and everyone looking for an ultra-fine setting powder. Infused with real rose petals and flower extracts, this powder smells delicious and luxurious and will never produce a cake face. You simply, gently layer it on to set your foundation. A very unique product with beautiful ingredients.

Thank you Zuii Organic for making such wonderful, ethical products. A few will land in my pro-kit and some will be a staple in my personal beauty bag!

Exploring Aboriginal Bodycare - Litya

Many of the fantastic brands and natural products that I have discovered are using native Australian botanicals, and I have experienced how potent and great these plants can be.

Litya is an all Aboriginal Brand, which is Australian owned and made and I was quite excited to give their beautiful natural products a try.

One day Faye had a surprisingly long nap. After all, my most important tasks were done, I headed to the bathroom for a quick pampering session.

That shower felt like a Spa Day, (Mamas you know what I mean, right?)

So they are tucked away for this particular moment of uninterrupted shower time for Mum and make me feel fabulous. My skin approved, too and felt silky and happy.

These products surely work on the senses, and my skin looked radiant and hydrated afterwards.

None of their product is tested on animals. All the ingredients have been sustainably sourced and are mainly organic.

However, NOT all products are vegan.

A few contain Beeswax, Honey or Shell Powder.

They are clean/non-toxic with no synthetic fragrances and contain high-quality ingredients.

Some contain shell powder/mother of pearl extracts. These are a by-product of discarded pearl shells and therefore still sustainable.

So vegans, read the label and choose the fantastic variety of all vegan products they have to offer.

All-Day Wearing & Beautiful : Beyond Matte Foundation!

You might know already that I am a bit of a fan of Jane Iredale products.

For me, as a pro makeup artist, they do give me the textures and performances I require, while being low-tox and cruelty-free.

What you also already know is that I am a lover of dewy skin! BUT:

I can’t use a dewy foundation on everyone, for every occasion, in any climate on any skin type. Sometimes matte is best.

Matte doesn’t need to look all dry, wrinkly, cakey or powdery either. Matte can look just like perfect baby skin.

Velvety, smooth, even and yet radiant in all its matte glory.

Insert: Beyond Matte Foundation.

Did I mention that lasts all day with ease? That the coverage makes it easy to skip concealer and additional layers? It’s so smooth it also totally doesn’t need a primer.

Yep, that’s right. Although I prefer priming with proper skincare anyways, that is a different story.

So if you are oily/combination skin, live in humid conditions or prefer a more flawless matte finish, this one is for you.

Here is a short story of what happened when I wore it:

I had to road test this foundation to be sure that it deserves a place in my pro-kit.

So after I received my bottle, I quickly applied it in the morning before heading to a playgroup with my toddler. When I came out of the room, my husband immediately commented and complimented on how great my skin looked.

I was surprised that he even noticed. Husband was busy getting ready for work, my skin is usually pretty ok, and also he is NOT a fan of makeup in general.

He said my skin looked amazing and I looked so well.

At the playgroup three more people commented saying that I looked very well and asked if I had been having a very relaxing time etc. which couldn’t have been further from the truth.

We haven’t had the bests sleeps that week, and I had a few stressful situations with work/travel/deadlines.

So I have to give individual credit to this foundation.

My skin is slightly dry over Winter and Spring has just started, so of course, any dry areas showed up with this foundation. But they would have with any foundation. It was more a question of looking after my skin better.

In the evening it was still in place, beautifully and it looked so even and radiant.

The two little mini pimples that I had that day were entirely covered, no concealer needed.

I highly recommend this foundation. Also and especially for the time-poor, as it applies very quickly and fuss-free and it lasts. It does it all. Unless of course, you want dewy. It doesn’t do dewy.

Thank you, Jane Iredale, for creating another fabulous and wearable product.
You earned extra vegan brownie points with this one:

1. It’s Vegan
2. It’s pro quality
3. It comes in a large variety of shades including deep skin tones.

I will add this to my kit, and it will serve me well on all this hot Summer destination weddings!