All Clandestine. All the Time. Thanks to All of You.
Because my brand is a shadowy underground fragrance organization bent on world domination through subtly addictive and highly-original fragrance, for anyone just discovering Clandestine Laboratories it may come as a surprise that I’m one person who has been doing this so far as a side gig while also earning a living at a very demanding job. For almost 28 years I’ve been a photographic printer and retoucher of the old-school variety (ie chemical/analog not digital), producing the work of photographers, artists and fashion photographers you’ve heard of if you’re into photography. Very technical work, but also physically demanding. I’ve now resigned in order to do Clandestine Laboratories all the time - and yesterday was my last day as a regular employee. This is only possible because of the incredible support I’ve received from so many people in this community, I am grateful for all of you and am so excited to be doing this now as a full-time occupation.
It’s a dream to have more time and focus to spend on perfumery as well as time to do the work of making this into a stable and well-established business and, I hope, international brand. It’s about time, literally. I’ve had very little ‘free time’ the past three years that hasn’t been taken by the short-term focus on filling samples, packing orders, mailing orders, communicating with customers and mixing and bottling batches of fragrances, just keeping up. But it’s also become about space - If anyone has a #newsecurefacility in or near NYC they’d like to rent, sell or donate to a worthy cause, please lmk.
What am I most excited about? So many things, mostly about time. In the near term I’m looking forward to having time to mix new batches of ORPHEUS and POOL BOY. I’m optimistic to see how the new ORPHEUS works out with one key material transitioning to what I think will be a killer replacement. Then to having the time to figure out how to replace one key material for POOL BOY that’s no longer available and to create a stable formula that I can produce in larger quantities.
I’m also excited to create a new fragrance based on ASSAM, which I really can’t make any more of or I would. Although I’m committed to keeping my fragrances fairly stable, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to revisit this concept because the original was done in 2012, just over two years into my journey into perfumery. Maybe I’ve learned some things since then, maybe I’ve just acquired more and better materials, who knows, but I think the current version of Assam is the equal of the original despite the forced substitution of many materials. I’m optimistic that a reimagined version might even better, all things considered. I could also fail completely or take years trying to get it right.
And then there’s the four fragrances I have planned for next year’s releases…
Before I became a public brand and person I was afraid I’d suddenly blow up and be overwhelmed and devoured by an anonymous public demand for my fragrances. Happily it’s been far more about personal connection and word of mouth and has happened fairly gradually, at least until Pool Boy blew up this summer. By then I was ready for it, except the supply part.
This is my life now. I can’t wait.