I sat down with Kedra Hart the master mind and owner of Opus Oils to learn about her company, what goes into making a signature scent and what her plans are for the upcoming year. 

• How did you get started with Opus Oils? Was this a second career move for you?  I got started with Opus Oils when I was approached by private investors with the idea - which I jumped at! We began product development in 2000, and it went from there... Now we have upwards of 250 products (including bath & body products for each scent)!  I wouldn't exactly call it a "Second Career Move," more of an extension of the path that I had already started on with my first aromatic business "Precious Petals"...

• How did you come up with the name Opus Oils?  Well, eventually it came to us organically - there's the natural association with scent creation and music ("Opus" means a creative work or musical composition), and the fact that we wanted all of our perfumes to be in an oil base...

• What goes into creating a scent?
For me it is very much like doing a painting only instead of using paints, canvas and brushes to tell a story, I use Essential Oils, Absolutes, and Aroma chemicals. The perfumer, like the painter, must capture an idea from the ethers and bring it forth into physical form...

• Tell us about your fabulous store and what products or services you offer?
Our goal was to create a special shopping place that people could get lost in & forget the world outside while they experienced their "smell-sense" in a whole new way... It's a "Parlour" in the true sense of the word & the atmosphere here is a transportation vehicle to another place in time when life was less hurried, and "Parlour Talk" was an art form. We encourage our customers to drop in for a cup of tea and conversation whenever they are in the neighborhood. Our aim is to give people a shopping experience that is luxurious, unique and fun!

In addition to selling all of our Opus Oils products at "The Jitterbug," we offer Custom Scent Design services to businesses and individuals. And, we will be hosting "Scent Parties," Perfume Classes, "Scent Readings," and all kinds of special scented events throughout the year!

• What goals do you have for your company?
Next year, I would like to widen our wholesale distribution and our Custom Scent catalogue. I'm also planning to devote more time to teaching. Eventually, we plan to franchise our Jitterbug Perfume Parlours in key locations across the US, Canada and Europe.
How can someone choose the right scent for themselves?
A good place to start is by figuring out what scent category (ies) they care for - Aldehydic, Aromatic/Green/Herbal, Amber/Oriental, Chypre, Citrus, Floral, Fougere, Fruity, Gourmand, Ozonic/Marine, Woody etc.) Once a person knows this, they can look for scents that fall into those categories...

• What's your favorite Opus Oils scent? What's your favorite non Opus Oils scent?  Well, I go through stages so it's really hard for me to pick just one! Some of my "go to" scents in the Opus Line are Absinthia, Jitterbug, Charm, Mantra, and Spank. My favorite non Opus Scent would probably be Diorella and/or Diorissimo, both are so feminine and timeless... And I LOVE Fracas from Robert Piquet too - it's thick and luscious, a very seductive scent!

• If you had to work on a signature scent for one celebrity who would it be and why?  I long harbored the dream of creating a signature scent for Bettie Page; sadly she passed away recently... I would have to pick Dita von Tease as a runner-up! I just love her style, and the whole Burlesque thing is very close to my heart.

• Are there any special projects you would like to work on?
At some point I would love to work with at risk kids - teaching them how to use perfume creation as a medium of meditation and creative expression that takes them out of their every day environment through scent awareness practices and aromatherapy exercises.

• Which magazines do you read? Which magazine is your favorite?
I'm a long time magazine-a-holic! I read them all (almost). My favorites are Vogue, Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, Yoga Journal, Vanity Fair, and InStyle...

• What motivates you?
Beauty, passion, creative forces beyond my comprehension...

• What's next for you?
In early 2009 we (Opus Oils), are going to be releasing our new Jitterbug Perfume Parlour Teas - which I'm very excited about!! We are creating a tea for each of our Signature Fragrance lines...
These are not just your ordinary teas - they are highly fragrant flavorful creations! Not only are the teas aromatic ,they also fall into the category of "Perfumed Teas" (In tea culture, the term "Perfumed tea" refers to a tea that gets its fragrance and taste from direct infusion with aromatic plant matter.) They are quite lovely, visually as well - exquisite gourmet tea leaves blended with bright beautifully colored flower petals. It's a treat for the senses!