Abbott – Natural Fragrances to Transport You Around The World 

Meet Jose Alvarez, co-founder of the eco-friendly fragrance company, Abbott. Jose created Abbott based on the idea that nature is the deepest form of therapy. For those times when nature isn’t easily accessible, Abbott aims to transport you there via the power of smell. 

Read on as we dig a little deeper into Jose’s views on nature, health, and finding inspiration from the world around him. 

Where do/have you lived? 

I currently live in Williamsburg, where I’ve been for seven years. I’m originally from Nicaragua, however, which was a major inspiration for my company.

What’s the story behind your brand? 

Abbott is a clean fragrance house, we make scents that are designed to transport you to various places in nature. We believe that the best form of therapy is escaping to the natural world, and we have designed a line of fine personal and home fragrances that do just that. 

Where I grew up in Nicaragua, I was surrounded by untouched, virgin land. When I moved to New York City in my early 20s to take a job on Wall Street, being away from nature was one of the hardest adjustments. I’ve always believed in the power of fragrance to evoke memories of places that are important to you, and so I started experimenting with various smells that reminded me of home and the natural world. I found that even with limited access to nature, I could wear or smell something that transported me to the living world, and I was able to escape my city life and find that same sense of peace. I knew that there were others looking for ways to connect with the natural world, and that creating these fragrances was the way to provide that for them and myself.

What are the mission and core values of your business?

Abbott’s core mission is to create beautiful products that are safe for nature and our consumers. We strive to always be transparent about what we do, including the ingredients we use, our packaging, and our environmental impact. We also believe in genderless fragrances, and the freedom to choose what you wear and how you wear it. 

Your brand is based on taking nature and your health seriously…

What are your favorite destinations for connecting with nature?

My favorites destinations are definitely the ones that have inspired our fragrance line. I prefer areas that are very remote and are free from signs of any other humans.

I love The Mojave Desert because it is so vast and you can easily get lost there. There is something about waking up and seeing the sunrise in the desert, the pastel colors and immense open space, that really makes me feel disconnected and alive. 

I also really love Montana. It feels like the last frontier of the United States. The terrain is so diverse with huge rugged mountains, ancient glaciers, and expansive prairies. It’s easy to break free here. 

And finally, my home country of Nicaragua. If you want raw and undiscovered nature, this is the place for you. Nicaragua has the second largest rainforest in the western hemisphere and thousands of miles of untouched coasts. It is truly a nature enthusiast’s dream.

How do you prioritize your health while traveling?

Disconnect. I do my best to shut off my social media, emails, and chat apps. I also prioritize rest and don’t use an alarm, I just let my body wake up when it’s ready. Staying hydrated is also key. I notice that my energy levels always increase when I drink lots of water. And when flying, I take time to read books and sometimes meditate as well. 

Any tips for small steps that every traveler can take to be more environmentally conscious? 

As a nature lover, one of the most heartbreaking things is to see plastic when you are on a beautiful, untouched piece of earth or water. Unfortunately plastic seems to be infiltrating even the most remote areas, like an unwanted but easily spread weed. Because of this, I really try to be plastic conscious and rely heavily on reusable items. There are so many products that make swapping out plastic easy: aluminum water bottles, glass coffee cups (don’t be scared to have them filled at your local coffee shop), and reusable silicone bags instead of ziplock bags. Every small swap has a considerable impact. 

Each of your products is inspired by an ecological destination…

What was your process for selecting destinations to capture via fragrance?

Authenticity is infectious, so when I started Abbott we focused on destinations that were personal to me. The biggest challenge, however, wasn’t choosing the destinations, but rather transforming them into a fine fragrance. Take, for example, our Crescent Beach scent. That fragrance was inspired by a beach off the coast of Long Island that I frequently visit. One Spring day, I was riding my bike and came across a large field of blooming flowers right next to the open ocean. On the field there was a laundry line with clothes drying, which was ultimately the inspiration for our Crescent Beach fragrance. 

What are some of your favorite/most memorable scents from your travels?

There are so many! The cold crisp mountain air from your first day up on the slopes. The smell of jasmine flowers opening in the evening while watching the sun disappear over the Pacific. The scent of sitting around a campfire under a starry night surrounded by huge ancient trees. The humid and refreshing smell of rain as it hits hot soil. 

And some general travel-related questions…

What do you always bring with you in your carry on?

I always keep my passport and a book in my carry on. Both are indispensable and also work well without electricity. 

If you could swap suitcases with anyone in the world at baggage claim, who would it be?

Kai Lenny, as I expect that he travels with an insane quiver of surfboards. 

Best travel advice you’ve ever received, and from whom?

To try and become friends with a local. The best way to really experience a place is through the eyes of a native. My mom shared this advice with me prior to my first solo trip to Europe.