A small store within the Uptown Shopping Center helps customers create their personal signature scent.
Shannon Franklin is a perfume alchemist who provides customized fragrances as a option to “assist our customers to precise their uniqueness whereas indulging in a little bit of luxurious,” she mentioned.
She opened Atomic Alchemy at 226 Williams Blvd. in December.
The Richland store provides customized fragrance mixing, in addition to a signature line of pre-mixed and bottled eau de toilettes, lotions and diffuser oils she formulates herself.
Franklin’s providers start with a one-on-one interview.
“Even one thing so simple as saying they need a summer season perfume, which tells me they’re in search of one thing fruity, candy and shiny,” generally is a first step in zeroing in on the scents which will comprise the ultimate product, she mentioned.
Once Franklin has an concept of most well-liked smells, she begins choosing from roughly 250 totally different perfume oils, aroma chemical substances and important oils, inserting them on blotter strips for the shopper to scent.
“I’ve undoubtedly seen a whole lot of curiosity in earthier scents (in Tri-Cities),” she mentioned.
When the shopper identifies a scent that resonates, “we maintain onto that strip and begin to construct the perfume.”
The purpose is to gather strips that may translate into base, mid and prime notes.
Once sufficient strips come collectively, the duty is to mix the right mixture that hits on all three to supply a long-lasting perfume that makes an impression.
“Then we work in ratios with droppers and tiny beakers. I exploit my very own instinct on what I believe can be a very good mixture,” she mentioned.
“One of the advantages of fragrance mixing is there isn’t any proper or fallacious mix. If a buyer loves what we make collectively, then it’s a win.”
Once the right system is discovered, Franklin dilutes it in perfumer’s alcohol and bottles it on the spot.
“I do have the choice to make use of candy almond oil for people who find themselves delicate to alcohol,” she mentioned.
Ali McCartney, proprietor of The Lavender Rooster in Eltopia, is a fan.
“My private expertise was unbelievable, and Shannon created a dream scent of my very own that I proudly put on,” she mentioned.
“This is a as soon as in a lifetime expertise that solely her retailer supplies. You will stroll out of Atomic Alchemy with not simply fantastic product, however with an additional pep in your step for the remainder of the day,” she mentioned.
The course of to design a 2-ounce customized fragrance takes about an hour and prices the identical as many standard fragrances at shops – $100.
Customers can get refills by bringing their empty bottles. The price to refill your perfume runs $65.
Franklin additionally hosts mixing events for teams beginning at $300.
Those all for a customized mixing session can name or e-book on-line.
Clean oils
The distinction between Franklin’s formulations and mass-produced fragrances is the latter doubtless received’t disclose what’s in their proprietary formulation.
Franklin sources her perfume oils from Vancouver, Washington-based Wholesale Botanics, that are Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) licensed, in addition to phthalate- paraben- and sulfate-free.
“So, the cleanest oils you may get, although that doesn’t imply you may not nonetheless have a sensitivity,” Franklin mentioned. She’s proud none of her merchandise carry the California Proposition 65 assertion, which alerts customers about substances recognized to trigger most cancers, beginning defects or different reproductive hurt.
Though customers could find safety in tried-and-true off-the-shelf fragrances, Franklin stands by her blends.
“I spend loads of time with every shopper to make sure they love their mix. I received’t ship them house with a scent they don’t love. It offers the customers a whole lot of management over the product,” she mentioned.
Bloodhound by beginning
A self-described bloodhound, Franklin started her journey into perfume a number of years in the past whereas residing in Seattle and later Los Angeles, the place she dabbled in customized fragrances in workshops and thru non-public mixing classes like these she now provides.
“My first curiosity was in creating and being a maker … There was this retailer in Seattle that I simply liked the place every thing was native and consigned and really artsy and I assumed, ‘Gosh, I simply actually wish to do one thing like this sometime,’ ” she mentioned.
Two years in the past, Franklin made the transfer to Tri-Cities together with her now 2 1/2-year-old daughter to flee the excessive price of residing as a single mum or dad. Her dad and mom already lived within the space; her mom Lana Franklin co-owns Encore Realty.
“I used to be working remotely right here, however I wasn’t in a position to maintain the job as a result of I couldn’t find youngster care. So, I made a decision I wanted to do one thing and that this was the time,” she mentioned.
Using financial savings and credit score, Franklin made the investments in her perfume oils and different upfront prices to launch the enterprise.
Her mother supplied up unused workplace area at Encore as an incubator. Cubicle partitions got here down and stylish show racks went up.
Focus on native
In addition to fragrance mixing, Atomic Alchemy is a present store targeted on Tri-City-made items and others produced by Pacific Northwest firms.
“I identical to to see the character of the native spirit and one thing that’s essential to me is having an inclusive area. I wish to have individuals from all walks really feel comfy right here … I simply love selling individuals’s creativity,” Franklin mentioned.
Rather than tackle the overhead threat of shopping for merchandise wholesale, she largely operates on consignment, working with firms who supply the choice to return gadgets that don’t promote inside 60 days.
“I’m all the time in search of new distributors, as I rotate merchandise on a regular basis,” Franklin mentioned, including she has begun periodically internet hosting pop-up occasions for added distributors.
“Her merchandise are hilarious, candy, loving, and enjoyable. If you wish to find the right reward for somebody, together with your self, that is your retailer,” McCartney mentioned.
Future plans
Franklin has been experimenting with creating her personal natural tea blends, which can be found within the store.
She mentioned the second section of Atomic Alchemy is to broaden her area and choices to accommodate a one-stop store apothecary for herbs, lye, beeswax, soy wax, perfume oils and different DIY substances.
In the near-term, on the fragrance mixing facet, she is seeking to start providing choices for add-on perfume sizes and lotions.
She is also making ready her signature scent merchandise to current for wholesale to reward retailers and luxurious resort and resort purveyors round Washington.
Atomic Alchemy: 226 Williams Blvd., Uptown Shopping Center, Richland; 509-519-3724; atomicalchemyllc.com; Facebook, Instagram. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.
https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/2022/05/atomic-alchemy/
