Five Questions with Frances Shoemack

1. What does “gathering well” mean to you?  

Your favourite people together in one place, where the emphasis is being present. I love to cook and host, so the food and environment are super important to me, but only when it comes to enjoyment. I don't want to be stressed out getting the house clean or the perfect dishes assembled.

2.What are details you always consider when hosting that others might ignore? 

I think it's easy to focus on the obvious, but things like lighting, music, scent, and the flow of the room can be as important as anything. There's a Dutch word "Gezelligheid" that loosely translates to coziness and vibe, I think it's this energy that is most important to how we enjoy time together. 

3. What's one dish that always impresses guests but is secretly easy to prepare? Can you share the recipe with us? 

I love Mediterranean-style shared plates that just all come together based on what's in season, and what looked and smelled best at the markets. So long as you have a good extra virgin olive oil, plenty of lemons and a variety of herbs, it's extremely easy to pull together an abundant, flavourful meal. Homemade dips and dressings always help. I love making a simple hummus topped with slow cooked mushrooms and thyme - delicious and so simple to make. 

4. You’ve said you’re more of a “scent geek” rather than a “perfume geek.” What is the strongest scent memory you have? 

Haha yes that sounds like something I'd say! Scent to me is so much more than perfume - it's all around us - good and bad, emotive and evocative. Some of my favourite childhood memories are from my mother's garden. She has the most incredible garden, a potager full of vegetables and herbs, and a gorgeous range of David Austin roses which smell utterly divine. 

5. What are you passionate about, beyond perfume making? 

I love travel and adventure and exposing myself and my family to new experiences, new ways of thinking, seeing the world. This past year moving back to Amsterdam with the family has been all consuming in an amazing way. Travel and these experiences often find their way into our creative process and fragrances.