When I first smelled something in the works at Zen Zest, I had no idea it was for a new personalized scent line. Changing times have wonderfully caught up with perfumer Michelle Asence-Fontelera, who attributes her fragrance empire’s success to her adventurous spirit.
“Since I was a child, I was already fascinated with perfumes. At seven, I’d secretly play, mix and try on my uncle’s collection of over 300 brands,” she recalls. Named All Occasions to herald its universal nature, its starting point turns out to be a milestone close to Fontelera’s heart—her very own wedding. “I made giveaways for the guests: room and linen fragrances with personalized boxes and labels,” she muses.
It didn’t take long for friends and relatives to be enchanted and place order after order until Fontelera decided it was time to take it seriously two years later. Finally, in October last year, All Occasions was born.
Within reach
The move blends well with the changing times, as gone are the days when customization was a privilege. There’s no denying brands are more and more within our reach. “For personalized fragrance, it’s always the clients’ choice and taste that matters,” says Fontelera. Her team, though, still actively suggests and matches scents to clients: fruity fragrances for young, perky, energetic women; fresh scents for the sporty, no-frills type; sweet or vanilla-based for the very feminine; floral for the sophisticated; and musky for strong-willed men.
Hands on in the business, Fontelera lives by freedom of choice with her own preferences: “It depends on my mood… I sometimes opt for floral fragrance or that fresh just-got-out-of-the-shower scent because it’s not too overpowering.”
While personalization with All Occasions positions Zen Zest as more customer-centric, its heritage remains steeped in Filipino ingenuity, which strongly keeps the scent of more future successes in the air. “We plan to create more scents with beautiful packaging. You’ll also see more of us in bridal fairs,” says Fontelera.
Call All Occassions’ hotline at tel. 0917-8832045 for more inquiries.
