Meet Mary Jo Howell

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mary Jo Howell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mary Jo below.

Hi Mary Jo, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I found my purpose by paying attention to my body. My husband and I used to run a small hotel in a ski resort in Idaho. While it seemed on the surface to be the perfect fit for us, we are both creative, like people, and create fun engaging spaces that people want to be in, it was torture for me. I gained a bunch of weight, I wasn’t sleeping, I was disassociating by playing solitaire, I couldn’t focus on small important things. My body was telling me what my mind and socialization was too afraid to say. This wasn’t right for me. The truth is I am an introvert. I need a lot of time alone to recharge. Running a hotel is a 24 hour a day job. I need to be with the trees and the plants. When we give more credence to the “shoulds” we put on ourselves than listen to what our bodies are telling us, there is a breakdown in the mind body spirit system. What I thought I should do is stay and be stronger, stop whining, focus on the positive, bla blah blah. My body was screaming at me that this was not a good fit. As soon as I started to pay attention to my body, everything shifted. It took a few years of hard choices, hard work on myself, letting go, and moving across the country. Paying attention to when my body mind and spirit were in the flow, working together. I believe that is where one finds their purpose. In that convergence of mind body spirit. when we experience that, we are experiencing our purpose.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
At tenth muse I make bespoke all natural fragrances for individuals and small brands. What sets Tenth Muse apart from other natural perfume companies is that I do not use isolates or aroma chemicals. Natural botanical fragrances are exactly that. We use scented plant material to make our fragrances; Essential oils, absolutes, and handcrafted tinctures. My mantra is anima plantae, anima hominis. The soul of the plant in communion with the soul of man. As this informs every decision that is made regarding a fragrance, there is no room for synthetics, or isolates in my lab.

Something I am looking forward to in 2024 is telling stories through scent. Currently I am working on two series. One exploring duality through mythological figures and scent. The other is an exploration of ‘unfolding your own myth’ with myrrh. I am also working on an oracle deck for incense. It will have 41 different fragrant plant materials. Each will have a description of the plant, a message from the plant, and a prayer suggestion.

The Selkie is a Scottish folktale of a 1/2 seal 1/2 woman being who can live both on land and in the water. Her seal skin is stolen by a farmer and she must remain on land until she can find it. Its a complex story of desire, our wild nature, and living out our true purpose authentically. Ive created a sculpture and a poem to go along with the scent honoring her. Her perfume has blue lotus, seaweed, ambergris. All things a water being would encounter. The other mythological figures in this series are Quetzalcoatl (the feathered serpent) and the minotaur (1/2 bull 1/2 man). All exploring what it means to have a dual nature: our wild selves and our tamed selves. All will have multiple ways to sensorily experience the story.

The Myrrh series is interesting because there are 4 different perfumes, each with their own meaning, but they can also be layered and create an entirely new scent. Rumi is one of my favorite poets and this is based on an excerpt from his poem unfold your own myth:

But don’t be satisfied with stories, how things
have gone with others. Unfold
your own myth, without complicated explanation,

I am working with a ceramic artist and hopefully some Sufi musicians for an event to launch this series at the end of march or April 2024.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Curiosity, curiosity, curiosity! For anyone that is starting on their journey of bringing a passion to life there is nothing more valuable than curiosity. Get curious about what you’re passionate about! Look into it deeply, and from all directions. Understand first why is this even a passion? Where does it come from? Where does it sit in your body? What does it feel like to embody it? what does this passion offer you? What is the history of this particular subject? Learn everything you can, starting with yourself. For me, I am ruled by curiosity above all. Thats why I love making bespoke fragrances because I am so curious about people and their what’s and why’s. I am supremely curious about ancient cultures. How did they experience scent? What did it mean to them? How and why did they use fragrant plants? How do modern cultures experience scent and what does it mean? What magic happens if I were to mix two ingredients together? Does a third expression full of its own mysteries and messages come from it? Curiosity offers limitless possibilities.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking for folks to collaborate with! A clothing designer, a sculpture, a painter, an event planner, an interior designer, a chef, a DJ, anyone who sees the value in an artistic collaboration. There are a myriad of possibilities to include scent into a product, a story, an event. Why not have multiple ways to experience something? Multi sensory experiences are way under served, and have the potential to create a huge impact on a person and a brand. Smells have a stronger link to memory and emotion than any of the other senses. Imagine the possibilities of including scent at an art opening, or a dance party, or an intimate gathering. The scent provided will create a lasting memory for all involved.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Eric D. Howell Michael Haug

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