Cleveland Makers: Yates Perfumes' Fruitchouli Perfume Oil Harkens Back To Warm, Nostalgic Memories

Time can’t be saved in a bottle, but memories come close. Fruitchouli perfume oil ($15 for 5 milliliters) is Yates Perfumes’ antidote for nostalgia. When owner and perfumer Melissa Hale came across a Fruity Pebbles fragrance oil through Wellington Fragrance, she was instantly transported to the “cereal household” of her youth. Delighted by sweet notes and memories, Hale wanted to create a way for others to wear their childhood, too.

“I wanted to mix it with something and give it a little bit of depth,” Hale says. “Why not patchouli? It’s the perfect [blend] between the sweet and the dirt and the earth.” Patchouli — a plant in the mint family — is known for its heavy, dank scent; Fruity Pebbles is its polar opposite. Nevertheless, when Hale blends notes of sandalwood, oak, vanilla and Iso E Super — a soft, woodsy aromatic chemical — into her trademark coconut oil base, they become an aroma that’s rich and reminiscent of childhood.

Fruitchouli is ideal for anyone’s inner kid, as well as the younger generation discerning their scent identity. As a gourmand perfume, it’s a lighthearted approach to fragrance. “It’s not too heavy,” Hale says, who adds it’s a perfect gift for kids or those looking for some playfulness. “It’s not like you’re giving this grown-up sense of a perfume.” yatesperfumes.com

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