Antiques and aromas unite
The village in the valley; Paparoa sits a mere 19 km along SH12 - a rural community of friendly people and historic buildings tucked along the banks of the Paparoa river. Quince Cottage is a new 'old' addition to the Paparoa valley, nestled between the 1868 Paparoa store and Cliff House, on Franklin Road.
Tony Bozzard began Quince Cottage Collectables from his appreciation of heritage, sharing the space with his wife, upcycler Maggie, and natural perfumer Virginia Di Somma. The 1910 villa is a site worthy of inspection on its own accord, but now it is filled with a curated array of eclectic delights for the astute treasure hunter. Clarice Cliff and Crown Lynn pottery, quirky designer cushions, exquisite crystal and unique curios sit side by side with up-cycled clothing, linen and crafts.
Says Tony, “Old homes and antiques are a lifelong passion of mine. I came to New Zealand in 1990 from Surrey, England, and I moved to Paparoa nine years ago," wherein he bought Cliff House, itself now a popular Bed and Breakfast. “I finished restoring my heritage house and filled it with antiques but wanted to keep buying more. When Quince Cottage was relocated and restored, it sat empty. Friends encouraged me to open a shop with Maggie. It was a great way to continue my love for collecting strange antiques and other items.
Natural perfumer and skincare maker, Virginia, from The Olfactory became passionate about natural perfume after learning that many harmful ingredients used in perfumes and skincare today seem to have escaped the scrutiny of governing bodies. Not only are the scents of such harmful ingredients a far cry from the scents of real plant essences, but they disrupt the endocrine system responsible for balancing our hormones. After going to Italy to learn more, Virginia returned home inspired to design a consultative process that would assist the design of personalised scents to embody the wearer and genuinely improve wellbeing.
"All through time, people have known that aromas cause people to experience a wide range of feelings. So what if we could take this deeper meaning of the language of perfume and bottle it into exclusive scents specifically tailored to individuals,” muses Virginia. Working with plant oils that are expertly grown and extracted from all parts of the plant, distilled from the flowers, leaves, peels, barks, resins, seeds or roots; each ingredient holds therapeutic value and a scent unlike another.
Drawing from more than 250 unadulterated essences in her perfumery guarantees an individualised composition every time, with base, heart and top notes specifically chosen by each client. “To wear a scent that is uniquely personal, rather than a hodgepodge of synthetic smells under the title of a celebrity name, is a choice that in itself takes one on a journey of exploring exactly what they wish to radiate out to others,” says Virginia. From a deeper level of adornment for a bride on her big day, to an ideal gift for a grandparent or friend who ‘has everything’, or simply an indulgence for yourself, each perfume is entirely unique and personal to the wearer.
Browse the eclectic collection at Quince Cottage Collectables from Thursday to Sunday 11am–3pm and explore the personalised scents at The Olfactory from Thursday to Saturday 11am-3pm, at 1 Franklin Road, Paparoa.
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