So glad to be back in Oman. Got all my paperwork to do, and it’s taking some time, wallah. Of course it is! Nothing like trying to build a store in New York, though. I couldn’t even write about it--was too irritating. It took 4 months to get the building permit.
One of New York’s slogans is “NYC loves small business!” Propaganda of nearly Soviet proportions. Anyway, we got it and the new store will be open now......sometime around December 1. Of this year.
Inshaa Allah.
But it’s going to be lovely!!!! That’s one thing I can promise

Elsewhere, it’s time to clean some stuff up, and pay attention to some of this crap floating around the internet. I’ve been hearing some very strange stuff, here and there.

So let me clarify a few things:

Enfleurage is expanding, and we have opened a branch of Enfleurage in Oman. It’s done. It’s legal, finished, and nearly up. We have a distillery in Salalah and sweets and ice cream production. It’s an Enfleurage company, not a joint venture with any Omani, Swedish, American or Australian company. And we are certainly not shutting down our New York operation, obviously!

We are moving the New York store off Bleecker to West 13th Street. That’s right near Integral Yoga and the neighborhood is nice and pretty and frequented by locals and pups. Most businesses seem to be owned by actual human beings. We won’t have the foot traffic of Bleecker but we are really happy and prefer this nice new space so we can do what we do best, focusing on essential oils and natural incense. We won’t be carrying any more items made from anyone else. And we are making a few new things with jasmine and frankincense.

There is no truth to any rumor tying us in with any large company, my God! We continue to be a small enterprise, and we will not be taken over by any multinational anything!!

We are redoing the website. It’s taking a long time, for sure. In the meantime, our old site is still up, as you can see if you browse it. Sure, it’s a little antiquated, but it’s a very old site, from 1996. We were one of the first companies to have one. It was originally called aromata.com. The site is a little sad to get rid of, but we are slowly getting it changed over.
We even have a new logo!

There is no truth in anyones claim that I have verified, certified, approved, okayed, or am otherwise shilling for any company, small or large, dealing in any aromatics, and agarwood, sandalwood and frankincense in particular. I have seen my words on quite a few websites originating in SE Asia claiming I say their agarwood (or sandalwood) is the best, the only pure one, whatever. Not true. I have nothing to do with any of these companies. They’ve stolen my information, without exception. Imagine how surprised I was to see it out there. The only agarwood or oudh I stand by is ours.

There also is no truth to the rumor that our Omani company has anything to do with any company in Australia purporting to be dealing in frankincense or agarwood. We don’t supply them, we don’t support them, we don’t have any ties at all to them. I have been told they even use our name! I think it’s some sort of sad imitation, a cheap copy. I was shown a web-listing, and it appears they know nothing at all about frankincense anyway; they are not affiliated or associated with us at all.

Back in New York we are doing classes now, and yes, we plan to not only expand them, but also to offer them with aromatic travel. This is still in the future though. We have a lot of new things coming down the pike and even though time goes too fast it also goes too slow! Everything takes time, it’s so annoying! I always want to do everything now.

After 16 years in business in New York City, (Trygve Fragrances was established in 1995,) growing and expanding slowly, surviving September 11, 2001 as a downtown company, surviving the world-wide recession (so far,) not to mention the rise of the internet and online shopping, and the emergence of near total corporate culture, both of which combined to kill so many small businesses, we finally know ourselves well enough to pare ourselves down to our essence, so to speak.

16 years and still alive in New York, we have now expanded to the Arabian Gulf. I’m proud and happy, and there is no way in hell it would have happened without the care, concern and and hard work of our core team: Thomas Carson, Stacy Amber, Christina Dille, and Ken Nakamura. These are the people who have made and continue to make Enfleurage into a well known and highly respected company specializing in Aromatics from the Natural World. We have also had many, many loyal and fierce supporters over the years, and I can’t list them now because I have no access to Enfleurages computers. Except of course Jonathan Smith, who is nothing short of heroic.

Here in Oman, much as I would like to, I can’t thank anyone, due to (mostly one person’s) near fanatic obsession with secrecy. So I’ll refrain, lest anyone find out.....what, I’m not sure. But if you’re reading this, and you’re Omani, and you think I’d probably like to thank you, then it’s likely you’re right, and I probably would like to thank you! You know who you are, all skulking and insinuation aside...for help with logistics, officials, financials, would-be-bullies, helping me navigate odd situations, pacifying jealous women, supporting me in uncomfortable exchanges, driving off over-friendly men, helping me through byzantine corridors, to understand cultural translations, in all sleuthing and secrecy, and of course with inside information. I couldn’t have done it without you! It’s been a long slow haul, lots of it uphill, and even after years here I can’t speak straight about it! Well, Inshaa Allah, I don’t want anyone to feel left out. One day I’ll write a full accounting...once more people are retired.......

It’s quite a transition to make, from Bleecker Street aromatic landmark, to a newer, sexier, sleeker, more sensual embodiment. We won’t have to spend so much energy on what goes on randomly outside; we will be all about these exquisite oils and delightful incense, and our energy will be available for this. In addition to this, we have our new Omani distillery, cloaked in secrecy, who’s future plans are only known to a couple of us, but it will be my pleasure to announce later. Happy days!

In New York, we’ll be tucked in among the trees, next to a rare wines shop (oh yes!) and across from an all vegan vitamin shop, with herbalists on staff, next to one of America’s oldest yoga centers. Within a few blocks we have everything we need; you could say it’s the Mauritania of New York. Coffee shops, vegan food, tons of interesting restaurants, organic avenue juice, lilac chocolate, and much more we haven’t even noticed yet. Lots of good looking pups, health-conscious people, and an easier to manage space with plenty of electrical outlets.

I knew the second half of this year would be rough, but we are doing it. Almost there, Al Hamdulilah.