Q&A: BROOKE LEAN

We spoke to our friend, the amazing Brooke Lean: photographer, perfumier, founder of her own fragrance house The Virtue & collaborator on Zambesi fragrance 1979 Parfum!

 

What is your earliest memory?
I can remember the smell and the texture of my sheepskin in my cot. So I must be under 3 I guess?

How did 'The Virtue' come to life?
Instinctively I knew I needed to combine scent with my imagery, for me the two are inseparable.  Like photographs, scent punctuates our lives with memories. 
I wanted to find a way to connect people authentically through the products we design, you can find everything you need on the internet, but you have to experience scent. This led us to create a physical store, a place to be.
Scent is at the intersection of everything I love, it's an art form, a science, a sensual indulgence, a holy ritual even. What we create is a conduit for connection  - a universal language.

What do you love most about your craft?
I love that it's in a constant state of motion, trying to create a feeling around something fleeting, scent like light is elusive, it keeps me chasing.

 

Tell us about your hand-pouring process here in Aotearoa.
The Virtue is housed in one of the oldest buildings in our region. It was a lawyer's office, our pouring room is the original safe, it's cool, dry and has no direct sunlight, the perfect place for perfume. We pour all our perfumes by hand, like any manual labour when done with good intentions can be meditative, I love switching off and immersing myself in the process.

A glimpse into the hand-pouring process, video courtesy The Virtue

What did it mean to you to collaborate on '1979 Parfum' with Zambesi?
Working with Liz and the team at Zambesi is a privilege I'm so grateful for. Zambesi is one of New Zealand's most enduring and respected brands, so aligning The Virtue with that on a creative level has been such a gift.

 

Where do clothes fit into your life? What does style mean to you?
What fabric feels like on the skin and how it fits my body drives what I choose to wear  - Style to me is the ability to edit.



What is your favourite scent?
Smoke from burning frankincense resin.


Tell us something about New Plymouth you think we should know.
New Plymouth is a hidden gem, you have to decide to come here. It's not "on the way."  It's a natural playground, I’m at home in the ocean so our coastline is what steals my heart. - It's rugged, wind-swept, isolated and beautiful, like nowhere else on the planet.

Favourite song lyric?
Where is my mind - The Pixies.

What do you dream of?
In the waking hours, I dream of creating the ultimate luxury - TIME.

SHOP ZAMBESI 1979 PARFUM
and for a limited time receive a complimentary set of THE VIRTUE incense sticks with your purchase!