According to Harvard researchers, the brain stores scent and emotion as one memory. That’s why a sniff of limoncello can transport you to a past vacation on the Amalfi Coast, or fresh-cut grass might carry you back to childhood summers. Few people understand the evocative power of smell better than Isabelle Ramsay-Brackstone, proprietor of the acclaimed Lili Bermuda perfumery in St. George’s, Bermuda.
From her headquarters in the beautifully preserved colonial village, Ramsay-Brackstone captures the essence of Bermuda. Perhaps it’s the island’s profusion of summer oleander, first planted in 1790. Or the aquatic notes of white musk, bergamot, and vetiver root that color a moonlight catamaran sail through Hamilton Harbour. After trekking the island for inspiration, she develops each scent by hand, mixing and bottling each bouquet using essential oils and time-honored techniques. You can sample them yourself at Lili Bermuda and, if you’re similarly inspired, take a ninety-minute class to craft your own island memory in a bottle to bring home for yourself or as a holiday gift for a friend.
