Welcome to JORUM JOURNAL ISSUE 11
JORUM JOURNAL is a monthly glimpse behind the scenes at Jorum Studio. Find out what’s inspiring us, what’s motivating us, what we’re celebrating – the thoughts and stories behind our fragrances.
NOVEMBER at Jorum Studio saw the launch of PONY BOY Extrait de Parfum, the fifth addition to our Scottish Odyssey fragrance collection. PONY BOY is an alternate story of the kelpie: a shape-and-gender shifting folkloric figure said to inhabit lochs and other bodies of water in Scottish folklore.
As a long-awaited, much-tweaked and slowly-perfected fragrance, we're excited to finally share it with you and thrilled at the reception so far. You can read the story of PONY BOY here.
Here's to even more olfactory adventuring...
A MOMENT WITH: FLOWERS VERMILION
To Glasgow-based floral design studio Flowers Vermilion, flora and foliage should be approached with the same creative mindset as any other artistic medium. We caught up about their story, how art and scent feature in their work, and the process behind the amazing window installations they devised for our Stockbridge store...
In a few words, what’s the story of Flowers Vermilion?
A family run floral design studio with a highly sculptural, playful and bold approach.
Alongside Terri’s background in floristry, you both have a background in the arts – how do you approach flowers and foliage as an artistic medium? What is it about working with flowers that draws you?
We both love colour and shape. The natural world – and flowers in particular – come in so many wondrous colours and amazing forms. We see it as our role to make images that both enhance and give respect to the flowers, their transience and their inherent beauty.
A lot of your work – particularly the windows you recently created for our Stockbridge store – feels particularly unique and sculptural. Are there any particular inspirations you draw from that you think sets your work apart?
We both studied art, and before being full-time florists we worked as sculptors. A lot of our references are art historical; De Stijl, Bauhaus, Dutch still life painting, children's illustrations, Impressionist still lives, installation art. We love landscapes – their textures, forms and colours – and the abstract landscape painter Peter Lanyon is also a firm favourite. We see our works as a sort of miniature landscape.
We loved having you in the Jorum store – how did you approach our window installation?
We wanted to make something not only festive, but also sculptural and eye catching – and most importantly not gimmicky or twee. Our approach was to make ‘baubles’, but not in the traditional sense: more a Calder-esque hanging mobile of mini sculptures.
How does scent feature in your work? Do you ever have clients who request specific scented flowers?
We love flowers that smell great. Some of our favourites are sweet peas, roses and lavender. Some clients request scented flowers – particularly those mentioned!
Which scent, floral or otherwise, brings you immediate joy?
Rain on concrete.
READING LIST
Weasels in the Attic by Hiroko Oyamada
A tender and unflinching novella that explores grief, longing, fertility and masculinity in a wonderfully surreal yet pedestrian way.
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
A must-read, and one we've been meaning to pick up for a long time.
The Wild Isles: An Anthology of the Best of British and Irish Nature Writing ed. Patrick Barkham
Bought from one of our neighbours Golden Hare Books in Stockbridge, a beautifully evocative collection.