I was approached early this year to design a signature scent for a new luxury hotel being built in downtown Portland. The hotel is the Nines-part of the Luxury collection of hotels, a Starwood property, and perhaps soon to be the only 5 star hotel in Portland. It is a LEED certified green building-the first of it’s size in the country. It is in the historic Meier & Frank building and the top nine floors above Macy’s. This hotel is different in that they are working with local artisans and craftspeople to put this hotel on the locavore map. The Urban Farmer-a restaurant in the hotel sources all their food within 150 miles of the property. They even make their own alcohol. They were seeking a local company to work with for scent and I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to create it for them. As the Nines is a green property, complete with organic wool carpets, it made sense to create a fragrance that was completely natural and made from essential oils. The result is Clearly-a fragrance that greets you like a big hug, is friendly, grounding, and quite balancing, giving the feeling that all is as it should be and that you are at home. Stop by the hotel when you are in town and check out all the local art and beautiful rooms. Have a cocktail on the rooftop lounge and while you are headed there, take note of the scent gently pervading your nostrils.