Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Syd Buffman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Syd, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I like this question because I believe that our creativity is something we can cultivate a relationship with and nurture. I’m a perfumer and my primary medium of expression is scent, but I am also a visual artist and designer. For me, inspiration flows freely from cultivating a sense of curiosity and play with the world around me. By being present and interested, sparks of inspiration can come from anywhere at any time. When I’m creating a perfume and it starts to feel like I’m trying to force something to work, I know I need to stop and listen to what the materials are telling me and then make adjustments.
My intuition and creativity are heavily intertwined. I have a few sketchbooks that I draw, journal and write poetry in as a way to work out an idea or receive inspiration. I am most frequently inspired by music, feelings, the shapes and textures of words, food ingredient pairings, colors, plants and trees, systems of nature, the cosmos, friendships and life experiences.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the founder and perfumer at a fragrance house called SYD Botanica. I have been making perfume for about six years, but officially launched my first collection of fragrances in October of 2022. Before I was a perfumer I was a student of clinical herbalism and alchemy, and those experiences have an influence on the way I think and formulate. There are currently seven perfumes available in the collection and I’m working on some new offerings that I’m really excited about. I am also teaching perfumery classes this year, starting with events at the Gorky in Silverlake.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
What a great question! I would say listen to your heart, practice gratitude, and be patient with yourself.
I didn’t really know for sure what I wanted to do for a career up until my mid 30’s (I’m turning 40 in April). I worked as a graphic designer for many years, but I knew I wanted to create a job for myself that was much more artistic and involved working with plants and people in some way. When I enrolled in herb school I was following my heart. I felt excited and electrified by what I was learning. It changed me in such positive ways and I knew I was finally on the right path. I didn’t know where the path would lead but I was learning to listen to my heart.
There’s no way I’d be the artist I am right now without the love and support of mentors, colleagues, friends and family. I’m so incredibly grateful for them all. I feel it’s so important to practice gratitude for the people in your life you truly care for. Let them know exactly how you feel.
My advice to anyone interested in pursuing perfumery would be to have patience—give yourself time to learn! Perfumery can be a beautifully slow craft, worth savoring. Get to know your materials one by one like a friend. Spend time with scents and write about them, keep a journal. Pay attention to the memories and feelings that arise.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes, I’m really open to this. Some of my favorite projects have been collaborative or commissioned. One of the most loved fragrances in my line is a perfume called Angelface. It was made to coincide with the release of a song called “Angelface” by musical artist Maraschino. A glittery pop song as a perfume, but also inspired by her as an artist. I’m currently working on a collaboration with the Golden Dome School. A perfume inspired by the scent of a meteorite crashing into the earth! I’ll be releasing more perfumes from the Prism of Sands collection this year at an art gallery group show in the summer. I’d love to collaborate with anyone who wants to make interesting art together.
I’m also looking for retail partners in the USA and elsewhere in the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: Sydbotanica.com
- Instagram: @sydbotanica
- Other: Tiktok: @sydbotanica
Image Credits
Angel Aura Zander Fieschko
