Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of meeting The 7 Virtues CEO Barb Stegemann. Inspired by her vision and heart, awestruck by her fierceness and determination, this is a woman I admire!
Barb was inspired by her best friend who was severely wounded in Afghanistan while serving in the Canadian Forces. Determined to continue his mission to bring hope and prosperity to the people of Afghanistan, Barb jumped in and researched. The product she decided to create to continue the mission started by her soldier friend? Perfume.
You see, the illegal poppy crop in Afghanistan is responsible for 90% of the world’s heroin drug trade. I was shocked at that number! What if companies could give the same farmers who are paid to harvest illegal poppies a competitive rate for them to source organic oils for perfume instead? What would that do to help the farmer, the community…the country? You can read more about the philosophy of The 7 Virtues here.
In February 2011 Barb Stegemann brought her cause and her company to the Dragons on one of my favorite shows – CBC’s The Dragon’s Den (it taped in May/10). Americans – this show is what The Shark Tank on ABC is based on and hard-hitting Kevin O’Leary was a Dragon before he became a Shark (to me, he’s terrifyingly both!) Check out this YouTube clip of her appearance and how she won over two of the Dragons that day.
Now, The 7 Virtues Fragrance Line is available at all 91 Bay stores across Canada! You can also purchase The 7 Virtues fragrance directly on The 7 Virtues website.
The 7 Virtues Afghanistan Orange Blossom is made from organic orange blossom oil sourced through Gulestan in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. It is a light, joyous fragrance layered with freesia and jasmine.
The 7 Virtues Noble Rose of Afghanistan is made from the organic rose oil of Afghanistan. It is a spicy blend layered with carnation, peppercorn and clove. History Television taped an episode on our fragrance for an upcoming show called Name This
Our Eaux de Parfum contain organic essential oils and fragrance oils, blended with alcohol denat, parfum (fragrance), aqua, (water). Natural essential oils are blended with fragrance oils (synthetics) as many fragrance notes are simply not available in a natural form, such as Lilly of the Valley and Freesia, which are added to maintain beautifully balanced, and long-lasting compositions.
Having the opportunity to sample both fragrances with Barb, I picked The 7 Virtues Noble Rose of Afghanistan as my favorite. When I got back to my vehicle after my meeting with Barb, I immediately opened the box and sprayed it on – I couldn’t resist! Since then it’s been my summer fragrance and I still love it. I’m sure part of that love comes from knowing that the oils sourced for this fragrance came from a place and from someone that could have done something else but instead focused on peace and prosperity.
Barb isn’t done just yet – she also has a funny, thought-provoking and inspiring book titled The 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen and is going to be sharing a new fragrance sourced from the vetiver oil of Haiti later this year.
Check out Barb Stegemann and The 7 Virtues and remember The 7 Virtues fragrance line when shopping for the holidays later this year too. This is clearly a case where giving a gift to someone you love is giving so much more to someone else on the other side of the world too.
Love the perfumes, specially the Noble Rose of Afgnanistan !!!