Field Notes

The Leland Francis Layering Guide

Spring Edition Light returns before warmth does. March carries contrast. Cool air. Longer afternoons. Shadows that soften sooner. Fragrance should move the same way. Structured, yet lifted. Grounde...

The Moment Before the Bloom

“In fragrance we often focus on the flower itself, but the full picture includes the stem. That green, slightly vegetal character is part of the wonder of nature.” — Dominique Bouley

What Does Cut Stems Smell Like? Inside Leland Francis's New Clean Fragrance

There is a particular kind of smell that doesn't belong to any single flower. It lives in the negative space: in the water left in the bucket, the green residue on your hands, the sharp, slightly b...

Before the Bloom

A study in stem, structure, and the quiet life beneath the flower.There is a specific scent that lingers in the air of flower markets and florist before the city fully wakes. In NYC flower markets ...

Slow, By Design

Being a founder means wearing many hats. Some days it feels like all of them at once.There is constant pressure to keep up with the next social platform, the next affiliate program, the next idea t...

In Praise of the Small and Intentional

On choosing niche over mass, handmade over hurried, and intentional over easy. This time of year always reminds me why small businesses matter so much. They shape our neighborhoods, anchor our com...

Find Your Calm

There is a moment when everything feels loud and all you want is quiet.Holi Water came from that feeling. A need for calm. A return to yourself. I built the fragrance from ingredients that bring me...

Why We Use Organic Sugarcane Alcohol (and Never Denatured Alcohol)

In the world of fragrance, not all ingredients are created equal. At Leland Francis, every choice—from our natural fragrance oils to the materials that hold them—is guided by a deep respect for you...

Why I Created the Roller Ball Trio

From a conversation in Santa Barbara to our very first gift set, how the Roller Ball Trio came to life through creativity, connection, and a love of fragrance.

Honoring Hispanic Heritage Through Family and Fragrance

Hispanic Heritage Month is more than a moment on the calendar. It is a reminder to look back, to honor the people and stories that shaped us, and to carry those lessons forward. For me, it brings m...