California Perfumers Are Switching from Scents to Sanitizers to Fill a Void

Like toilet paper, you may have found it difficult to get your hands on alcohol-based sanitizers in this era of COVID-19. Some local fragrance creators are hand-blending natural, aromatherapeutic solutions with some of their signature scents for consumers.

According to the Los Angeles Times, one of those is Thousand Oaks-based perfumer Sarah Horowitz. She introduced a Stay Safe Sanitizing Spray ($10 for a 1-oz. bottle or a free 0.34-oz. bottle with every online order over $75, sarahhorowitz.com). The spray consists of an 80% concentrate of organic alcohol mixed with essential oils known for their antibacterial properties: clove, lemongrass, lavender maillette and patchouli.

“I think everyone is in that place of ‘What can we do to help?’” Horowitz said. “I have a fire-safe locker with 400 pounds of alcohol here in Westlake Village, since we also have a filling house for small-run perfumes that produces 15,000 to 20,000 bottles a month. The first thing I did was to make the sanitizing spray for my staff.”

Learn about other perfumers adapting to the new reality here.