Fragrance house

Raw Spirit

Raw Spirit originated in Australia as a socially conscious fragrance company founded by Joyce Lanigan and photographer Russell James. It developed from James’s Nomad Two Worlds collaborative art project, which began in 2009 and evolved into a consumer-products concept linking creative work with economic opportunities for marginalized communities. The first fragrance, Fire Tree, was released in October 2012 through Nomad Two Worlds in collaboration with members of Western Australia’s Nyoongar community; it used oil from the region’s fire tree. Raw Spirit’s place-based, story-led concept draws on travel through landscapes and communities in Australia, Haiti, Bali, Namibia, the United States, and the Florida Everglades, with James’s photography and experiences informing the fragrance concept. Firmenich Master Perfumer Harry Fremont created the fragrances introduced after Fire Tree. The brand launched at Barneys in 2015, and by May that year six fragrances had been released. Raw Spirit is especially associated with Australian-inspired fragrances, including Wild Fire and Desert Blush, identified as its first two fragrances and reported as best sellers in 2020. Its collaborations have also included communities in Indonesia, Haiti, and the United States, alongside a focus on clean, cruelty-free, sustainably sourced fragrance.