This week, I had the pleasure of visiting our store—our home base, mixing hub, and brainstorming centre—for the first time. Even though our Westport location is just 15 minutes from my parents' house (and the beloved cottage where I grew up), I’ve been living up north for most of the year and have been dying to visit in person.
In addition to restocking essentials (for myself and my whole family), I finally got to do something I’ve been waiting to try since my first day at LAKE+MAIN—test out the Kanopé natural perfumes we carry.
I’ve written about natural fragrance before. I’ve researched the ingredients, studied the benefits, and sung the praises of botanical perfumery from afar. But last Wednesday was the first time I experienced it for myself—and now, I get the hype.
Why Choose Natural Perfume?
Most conventional perfumes are built in labs, not gardens. They rely on synthetic aroma chemicals, preservatives, and endocrine-disrupting additives like phthalates to extend their shelf life and throw scent. But these ingredients can be irritating for sensitive skin, harsh on the lungs, and harmful to the environment.
Natural perfumes, on the other hand, are alive. They interact with your skin’s chemistry to create something unique—something yours. They’re gentler, biodegradable, and full of nuance. Plus, when made thoughtfully (as Kanopé’s are), they’re crafted in small batches with high-quality botanicals and no synthetics in sight.
The Living Nature of Natural Scents
One thing I’ve always wondered about natural perfume is its staying power. Would it disappear in an hour? Would it fade to nothing?
I can now confidently say: no. I almost passed out inhaling every scent we carry (pure bliss), but ended up choosing Svalbard. Kanopé’s poetic description calls it a "polar sweetness," but to me it smelled like hanging fresh laundry on a summer morning—clean, crisp, and softly floral.
I drove home with the windows down, arm hanging out, and was stunned to find the scent still lingering well into the next day. And not just lingering—transforming. It smelled warmer, deeper, and more like me the longer I wore it.
Natural perfume doesn’t hit you all at once. It moves with you. Evolves. It’s intimate, not overpowering. It smells like memory and mood and moment all wrapped up into one.
Meet Kanopé: Earthy, Elegant, and Ethereal
Kanopé Fragrances captures the soul of natural perfume. Made in Canada, each scent is 100% natural, vegan, and cruelty-free—crafted with organic grain alcohol and plant-based ingredients.
Their perfumes are hand-blended, layered, and beautifully complex. Whether it’s the citrusy warmth of Pas A Pas, the grounding freshness of Atao, or the polar serenity of Svalbard, each bottle feels like a love letter to a place, a time, or a version of yourself you’ve been missing.
Fall In Love With Your Scent Story
If you’re ready to find a fragrance that doesn’t cover you up but brings you closer to yourself, explore the Kanopé collection. Let your body choose. Let nature speak. Let your scent evolve.
Because perfume should never just sit on the skin—it should live there.
