I started Iris of the Moon at the lowest point in my life.

I had a failed business, tanked my savings, and left a narcissistic relationship.

All while limping back to my childhood home after what I thought would be an epic adventure in Sedona.

It was my inner child’s worst nightmare because I didn’t just fail. I was in hell. Literally.

Everything I created shattered. I was left with only myself and a bunch of "I-told-you-so's" from my parents.

When I moved back home, I took a break. I spent time with nature, and on a whim, I signed up for a perfume class.

My first business had been scented body scrubs. I didn’t want that idea to completely die, but I didn’t want to copy it either.

The original idea belonged to my ex-business partner, and I wanted to one-up them. So I decided to do scented body oils, the very idea that was constantly shot down by them.

At my first perfume workshop, I made a scent called Atlantis. I created it because I loved the mystery of the lost city.

When the master perfumers smelled it, they loved it. They felt relaxed and refreshed, like they were classy explorers sailing the Atlantic. In that moment, I realized there might be something here.

So I kept going. I kept studying. I kept mixing. I even went to the Grasse Institute of Perfumery to learn about the science and psychology of scent.

And what I learned was fascinating.

Iris of the Moon has two meanings:

1) My mother was originally going to name me Iris, but she decided to put my name up for a vote with her colleagues at the library. They chose "Emily" instead.

27 years later, I decided to use Iris because it felt like I was emerging into a second identity. A new character development arc.

I also liked that in Greek mythology, Iris was a messenger for the gods and the personification of rainbows. And in the language of flowers, irises represent faith, which I needed a lot of.

2) I'm a Cancer, which is ruled by the Moon. In astrology, the moon represents our connection to our emotions, maternal lineage, and intuition.

Together, they represent the power of trusting your inner wisdom to build deeper connections with yourself and others. A name that translates to "a message from your intuition."

And I thought that was cool and very necessary. Especially today, when so many of us have lost touch with our intuition.

My time in Sedona was hard, but I chose to take the good parts and turn a sad story into one of strength.

A true hero's journey, like the ones Greek heroes went on.

Sedona was full of spiritual practitioners, channelers, mediums, and healers. Many found healing and power through mythological deities.

From Hekate to Guanyin, people claimed to channel these powerful spirits.

While I am no medium or spiritual healer, I was fascinated by the power of faith. Faith in something greater than yourself can help you rise from the ashes. And in ancient times, temples also used the power of scent to connect with their gods.

I felt a deep connection to Persephone. One night, it was like she moved through me, and I created her scent. When I shared it with the world, she became my bestseller.

I have so much gratitude for Persephone. It was because of her, and later Hekate, that Iris of the Moon was put on the map.

Today, Iris of the Moon brings back the old myths and legends that once inspired art and temples.⁣
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Each fragrance is an offering. A scent that honors the hero and the god inside you. With Iris of the Moon, you enter a space where every detail is made to give you strength.⁣
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Our oils are handcrafted and serve as guides to the power within. This is your call to stop being only a reader and to become the main character of your story. ⁣
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Choosing Iris of the Moon means choosing yourself. ⁣
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It means walking the hero’s path and shaping a world where your story is told again and again.