Pomander
The pomander is a creation by Ann in collaboration with Ester Geerdens, a ceramicist who lives in a beautiful slum in the center of Antwerp. Her products are pure, handmade and full of nature.
It is a handmade, portable fragrance object, inspired by the various fragrance symbols from our rich European past.
Handmade
The pomander is filled with aromatic (dried) plant parts, harvested in part from Ann's aromatic garden, and/or with a sponge soaked in high-quality organic essential oils. These are primarily purchased in France from herbalist Nathalie Portaz, who witnessed Ann distilling up close in her beautiful herbal studio, L'âme des simples. The scents of her essential oils, such as wild lavender, French tarragon, and lemon balm, are pure, unique, and vital! The subtle natural scents of the pomanders can have soothing, antibacterial, and insect-repellent effects, among other properties.
Portable
You can carry the pomander in your handbag or backpack, to work or on a day trip. Be careful, though, as it's fragile. Of course, you can also give it a place in your home and/or keep one in your linen closet.
Inspired by different fragrance symbols throughout time
The medieval pomander. The word "pomander" originated around this time. It derives from the French word "pomme d'ambre." It was a small, ball-shaped scented jewel made of a perforated precious metal, filled with resins and gums, soft substances such as ambergris, musk, and civet. The scented jewel was usually hung around the waist on a chatelaine (a belt from which other objects, such as a small knife or purse, were also attached) and could mask unpleasant body odors.
The Renaissance pomander retained the same traditional features of the pomander. Besides soft substances, it was filled with a sponge or cotton cloth saturated with liquid fragrances such as essential oils, floral waters, and perfumes. The pomander was "pounced," or pierced, to allow the fragrance to disperse. The pomander became very popular among the upper classes of the time.
The porcelain pomander from the 19th or early 20th century was primarily used to freshen a room or cupboard. This pomander was filled with a sponge soaked in perfume and dried aromatic flowers.
Vegetable
It goes without saying that Ann will avoid using animal-derived aromatic substances like ambergris, musk, and civet, but will happily seek out plant-based alternatives. For example, she uses the amber-scented resin (labdanum) from the shrubs Cistus ladanifer and Cistus creticus, and the musky ambrette seeds of the Abelmoschus moschatus (a species of mallow). It's magical that certain animal scents can be found in plants, isn't it? Who knows, maybe some people smell of an aromatic plant part too?!
Pomanders
