I always smile when people can’t believe there are readers for a blog about perfume. I know I was one of them for a long time. Then in 2006 there was a group of online pioneers who started writing about perfume. I’ve always called them “The Original Five”. These blogs were the entry point for so many of us who love perfume. A week ago we lost one of those women who had the drive to start writing about perfume, and make-up, in a public way; Gaia Fishler of The Non-Blonde.
I ran into Gaia at different New York City functions for a few years. We would exchange words once I began writing for Fragrantica and CaFleureBon. In those early short exchanges she answered my questions graciously. She confirmed my belief that 400-500 smartly chosen words was better than two or three times that.
It wasn’t until a party in 2013 that we became friends. It started with perfume. We started talking about unicorns; those perfumes that are discontinued but are incredible. She was the only reviewer who had written about a brand called Gobin Daude. They were only in production a short time. She was the only person I could have a deep conversation about those with. What was amazing was her depth of knowledge as she compared them back to other perfumes. I kind of felt like a student in a private master class. Which was one of the great things about Gaia; in a room full of people she could make it seem like you were the only conversation that mattered.
We would meet again a few months later and she would hand me a vial. This was the other perfume we talked about that night; Tauer Orris. That I don’t own and only had a precious few drops. She changed that giving me a sample that has lasted me until today. When she gave it to me, I experienced something she freely bestowed on most who crossed her path; a smile. This is not just teeth and upturned lips. Gaia’s smile was a benediction. She was glad to see you; even happier to give you something that gave you pleasure.
Gaia was also the final push out of the safety zone I had created for myself to start Colognoisseur. I had been thinking about it and she asked me why I hadn’t done it. I had a lot of reasons, but it was mainly I thought it would be too hard being on my own. She looked at me intently and said, “Do it.” I’ve always likened taking a big step to standing at the edge of the high dive and convincing yourself to jump. Gaia was standing at the side of the pool telling me to step off the platform. She was there to support me as she put my blog at the top of her blogroll with “New” next to it. For the first year and a half I got most of my new readers from that. You might be one of them.
I can hear Gaia telling me, in my head, “over 500 words wrap it up.” I smell the drop of Orris on my wrist, I can see her smile. Goodbye Gaia.
–Mark Behnke
Thanks for writing this, and so interesting to hear that she was instrumental in you starting your blog. I am familiar with the Gobin Daude, my first unicorn that I never found. It was early in my perfume blog reading experience and she made it sound magical. It was the push down the rabbit hole. I had never considered it, but you're right, Gaia wasn't wordy, but very succinct. I was so shocked to read of her passing, and her husband wrote such a lovely tribute. I'm curious, what are your original 5? That is the time I first started getting into perfumes, and I wonder if your 5 are the same as mine? Thanks again, and I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. I was only a reader but will miss her voice.
The Original Five are:
The Non-Blonde
Now Smell This
Bois de Jasmin
Perfume Posse
Grain de Musc
They all proved there was an audience.
Thank you Mark. I hadn't ever connected the two of you in my mind, but it comes as no surprise. Those of you on the East coast seem a world away to me, and it's only right that good people in the same sphere should be somehow connected. And now that Gaia has moved to the next sphere, it's good to remember and celebrate her life. She's but a world away.
She was amazing and I am just sick to hear that she's gone. She wrote about perfume in such an evocative way–two of my all time faves [Deneuve and Bergamoss] I only found out about via her blog. Whenever I am considering a fragrance I look first to see if she has reviewed it.
Sorry to hear this Mark she was a lovely talented and educated voice in fragrance. As well as loving and thoughtful with her time.
What a beautiful tribute. I never met her, but I too loved her blog and learned so much from it.
It filled my heart with sadness to hear of Gaia's passing (I received a text from my no.1 Niche enabler). Her voice rose above the rest of the choir's like an angelic aria. It may be silent now; but, thanks to her prolific body of work remaining that can still guide educate and fan fragrant flames of passion for a whole new generation. AS long as we keep people in our hearts they are never truly gone. I used to love (and look forward to even) her comments under my Cafleurebon reviews. A compliment from her was like sweet manna falling from the sky to feed my soul. I often think of her when I wear Gaia EDC from Lord's Jester. it's verdant elegance and bright but silky warmth reminded me of her kind and gentle spirit. She may have crossed the bridge but a spirit that powerful never truly fades…
Blessed be Gaia! Merry met, merry part…merry meet again!
JR xox
I just went to Gaia’s web page The Non Blonde to look for her recommendations on eye creams. So sad to hear of her passing. She is lifting people up on whatever plane she is on now. RIP.