I was first drawn to fragrance when I was in college and selling “organic” cosmetics for a small Bay Area firm. When I returned home to Sacramento, I realized that people were drawn to cosmetics partly because they loved how they smelled. What caused that phenomenon? This was the beginning of my personal journey as a perfumer.
I read every book I could find in any language to discover how original perfumes made their aromas. I gathered as many of those raw materials as I could. I started with a lab in a room, then in a garage. My place was so full of aroma that the next-door neighbors said their cats always came home from visiting me smelling like royalty (I eventually adopted both animals!)
In 1982 I created a real perfumery in downtown Sacramento. This is where AIRS was born. Initially I just wanted to find a way to sell fragrances. Everyone was using incense, so this seemed like a natural vehicle. I also added perfume oils to the offerings.
-- Stephen Marcus