Interview with Almira Armstrong
Since 2013, we have been loving LUMIRA’s luxurious candles and fragrances. Made in Australia and inspired by the many beautiful and intoxicating destinations from founder, Almira Armstrong’s travels, LUMIRA elevates our everyday life and homes with a sensory spirit of travel and escapism - Think Tuscan Fig, Sicilian Citrus or Cuban Tobacco (to name a few of our favourites).
We sat down with Almira to talk through her travels, her fragrance inspirations and in celebration of our just landed HS21 “Mindful Escape” collection, where she would head to for a “mindful escape."
B&K: Which fragrance represents your favourite destination?
Almira: Tuscan Fig was the very first scent I created for LUMIRA and Tuscany is a destination that’s still so close to my heart. I was fortunate to have had many family holidays in Italy when I was a child – and I haven’t stopped visiting since (until this year, of course). For me, Tuscan Fig captures the incredible beauty of the place, with the sun baking the ancient earth and the juicy ripe figs bursting with their sweet flavour and milky scent.
B&K: What destination has most inspired your collection?
Almira: Italy not only inspired my first scent, it’s a destination that I’ve returned to time and again when crafting new fragrances. Alongside Tuscany, I’ve drawn inspiration from the intoxicating blood orange orchards of Sicily for Sicilian Citrus, and the incredible flower festivals of San Remo in La Primavera. One of our most recent scents – Paradiso del Sole – is inspired by the sparkling beauty of the Amalfi Coast.
B&K: Which scent evokes a special holiday memory?
Almira: A particular boating holiday along the Amalfi Coast will forever stay in my memory and I’m thankful for Paradiso del Sole, because it helps me return there in my mind any time. With this scent, we’ve captured the vibrancy of the azure water sparkling in the sunshine and that glorious holiday feeling of seaspray in the air. When the breeze is right, it’s possible to detect a hint of Positano’s renowned orange orchards, so we’ve included tangy-sweet citrus notes of bergamot and mandarin too.
B&K: Do you have a favourite scent? And, where does it transport you to?
Almira: My current favourite is Soleil du Maroc Parfum, which transports me to the most memorable sunrise over the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Much like the pre-dawn moments in the desert, there’s a freshness to its opening notes, which mellows into a rich and spicy scent. This contrast means I enjoy wearing it all year round. I’ve only visited Morocco once and was struck by its incredible beauty and vibrancy. It’s high on my list of places to return to once we can travel again.
B&K: Where would you “escape” to for a Mindful Escape? And what would be in your packing list?
Almira: For me, a ‘mindful escape’ is somewhere I can be close to nature, ideally a mix of both the coast and the bush. When I’m swimming in the ocean or surrounded by a lush rainforest, I’m able to just be in the moment, which is the absolute essence of mindfulness for me. When packing, I always aim for ease - I don’t want to be thinking about my wardrobe while I’m on holiday, I just want to know that the pieces I pack can work for wherever the day takes me. I love Bird & Knoll’s lightweight cotton and silk pieces as they can be dressed up or down. A long-sleeved maxi dress, like the Magdalene style, is chic and versatile.
Learn more about the LUMIRA collection here...
