Tous Mag

“The first fragrance I wore was Salvador Dali with its iconic pink lips and nose perfume bottle. This would have been during the early nineties. I loved stepping out with my walkman, clipped to the waistband, wearing a spritz or three of 'Sal’ lingering as I skipped along.”

A scent can say a thousand words. For Maya Njie, her artisan fragrances - made in her London studio - are a homage to her early life in Sweden as well as her West African heritage. Steered by photographs from an old family photo album, from decades before she was born, Maya hopes to embody the spirits of those moments captured in time with her five modern scents.

Nordic Cedar, Vanilj, Tobak, Les Fleurs and Tropica offer their own set of unique qualities and base notes. From Cardamon and spice to pulpy Fig and Magnolia, these Eau de Parfums - packed with power and definition - will be the greatest companion to define your own story and, some day from now, your own sense of nostalgia.

Using a variety of essential oils, aroma compounds and resins - comprising of both natural and synthetic ingredients, all vegan and cruelty free - Maya’s scents are nature and science combined. With care and precision, the blends are mixed in small fresh batches then filtered and bottled individually by hand. Allowing the olfactory sensations to speak loud and clear, the packaging is simplistic with a contemporary allure set to look à la mode on your nightstand.

Keep reading, below, for an interview with independent perfumer Maya Njie.

Tous Mag: You were born in Västerås, Sweden, will this always be home to you?

Maya Njie: Last year there was shift in the balance as I have now officially resided in London longer than I have in Sweden. London is where I live and love and Sweden is home - it would be hard to choose one at this stage. I miss my family and friends, the food, the forests and lakes… And the pick and mix.

Tous Mag: What do you embrace with open arms about living in London?

Maya Njie: I have always loved the unexpected about the city, how areas can really differ from one another both culturally and architecturally. Also, its output within the creative industries in terms of music, art and nightlife. Ordinarily, I think we are really spoilt here for new things to experience.

Tous Mag: Could you share a little sunlight with us: what’s your happiest memory, why?

Maya Njie: One memory that gives me joy is visiting Gambia as a child and playing in the waves of the Atlantic ocean. It’s a reoccurring dream of mine and I always relish the dreams when I am back in the water.

Tous Mag: Your perfumes are heavily steered from nostalgia of memories you’ve once made; how important do you think scent is in capturing vivid memories to keep with you?

Maya Njie: Our memory does this subconsciously, scent can trigger a memory better than any other sense could, for the good and the bad. For me it’s been about recreating a familiar experience and elevating through scent, but also interpreting what I think it could be or would have been in certain instances.

Tous Mag: Was there a pinnacle moment in time that led you to start your Perfume business? Was it a long time in the making?

Maya Njie: I spent a few years exploring and blending for myself without a business in mind. Taking the step to start the business came from a feeling of desperation of not being happy at my job which spurred me on to make a change and take the leap, with a lot of perfume requests to boot!

Tous Mag: I remember my first perfume - which was brought back from NYC as a gift - what was your first perfume and could you tell us a little about what that meant to you or what memories it holds, now?

Maya Njie: The first fragrance I wore was Salvador Dali with its iconic pink lips and nose perfume bottle. This would have been during the early nineties, I loved stepping out with my walkman clipped to the waistband, wearing a spritz or three of 'Sal’ lingering as I skipped along.

The fragrance that had the most impact on me in my late teens would be CK Be, the matte black bottle. I first smelled it in 1996 whilst living in Sweden. We were meeting at a friends flat before going out one summers eve and I fell in love on impact. It was the first perfume I saved up for and finally bought in 1999. I wore it during my first year in London, I still have a bottle in fact, as it’s guaranteed to put a smile on my face.

Tous Mag: What is it about gender neutral perfume that felt right, to you, to create?

Maya Njie: I have no preconceived notion of who you are, what you should be or what you like based on your gender. Fragrance is like colour in many ways, if you like it, wear it and if it divides opinion, well that’s subjective.

Tous Mag: If you could describe each perfume in your discovery set with a song title, for each, what tracks would you choose?

Maya Njie:
Nordic Cedar - An Eye for an Optical Theory by Michael Nyman
Vanilj - My Baby Just Cares for Me by Nina Simone
Tobak - Poison Arrow by Timber Timbre
Les Fleurs - Les Fleurs by Minnie Ripperton
Tropica - Sing our Own Song by UB40

Tous Mag: What keeps you motivated and positive, day-to-day?

Maya Njie: Trying out new design ideas spur on motivation. I also try to keep active, a daily walk or run has helped me remain positive.

Tous Mag: If we asked you to give our readers an important message, generally, what would it be?

Maya Njie: Don’t sweat the small stuff, focus on what really matters and makes you happy, where you are heading and those walking with you.

Define Your Own Story